The last few weeks have been nervy for England's Indian-origin nine-year-old chess prodigy Shreyas Royal. His family stared at an exit from the UK, which they had made their home for the last five years.
However, the family received some good news on Friday after a lot of struggle as the British government granted his father, Jitendra Singh, a visa extension, thereby allowing the family to stay back for another five years.
Chess legends from Viswanathan Anand and Nigel Short to British Member of Parliaments, English Chess Federation and local fans, everyone rallied around Shreyas to be a future chess player for England.
DNA spoke to Shreyas's father, Jitendra, about what their recent struggles and how the youngster felt about getting the extension, thereby giving him a shot at living his dream of playing for England:
Your issue received global coverage...
Yes. We were on work visa for five years, which is expiring by September 10. After 10th, we couldn't stay in the UK. Shreyas is one of the exceptional talents of UK. And English Chess Federation, local players and even we didn't want to return to India. We made an appeal to Home Office and Home Secretary. First time, when the letter was written to Home Secretary, we got a response on August 1 that we have to leave the country and they can't consider. But today (Friday), we got a positive response from the Home Office. They called me and said that the Home Secretary has considered your case. They are allowing you stay on a different visa.
How did Shreyas react after hearing the news?
Shreyas became very happy and delighted. He was jumping on the sofa. He is very happy because when we came here, he was three. He thinks of UK as his country. From the past five years, we have not gone to India, and that is why he doesn't want to go to India. He is very much delighted.
Did Shreyas know about the struggle?
Yes, because he was giving a lot of interviews and the press was giving good coverage to it. We told him two weeks before that this is the situation and we will have to go back to India. He was sad. And surprised also. Today's news has made him very happy. He was asking a lot of questions.
It wasn't that he was affected a lot but we thought once we return, what will happen? When he heard the news, his mouth remained open in joy and he was pleasantly surprised.
When did he start playing chess?
He started playing at the age of five-and-a-half years. When we came to England from India, his mother wanted him to have some mental activity. She was the one who suggested that he play chess. Then he started going to a club nearby. He the played in the junior section of a tournament called London Classic and won gold. This was one year after he started playing. We realised that he had talent and the calibre.
Don't you want him to play for India and follow the legendary Anand?
He started playing in UK. He also played the first move for Anand, the ceremonial move, in London Classic. He grew up in this environment. He believes this is his first country.
Players like Anand and Short have supported him...
Anand also recently gave an interview where he said Shreyas should play for England where he grew up. Nigel Short, a lot of MPs, English Chess Federation too came out in his support.
What does it mean for him to play for England?
He feels proud of playing for England. They are considering him as British now. He will play for his country – England.
Why is Shreyas's surname Royal and not Singh?
It's because of our astrologers. They suggested the initials of his name be SR. So, we removed our surname and added new surname — Royal.
