British Chess Championship 2026: Shreyas Royal Leads After Beating McShane

Shreyas Royal leads the 2026 British Chess Championship with 6/7 after beating top seed Luke McShane, half a point ahead of Michael Adams and four others.

GM Shreyas Royal is the sole leader of the 2026 British Chess Championship after seven rounds. The young English grandmaster has 6 points from 7 games, half a point ahead of a group of five players.

Royal's biggest win came in round 7, when he beat the top seed, GM Luke McShane, with the white pieces in the Scotch Game. The game lasted just 38 moves. It was a statement win against one of England's most experienced players.

Royal had already been playing well. In round 4 he beat FM Supratit Banerjee in 52 moves of the Queen's Gambit Declined, and in round 5 he drew with IM Svyatoslav Bazakutsa.

The chasing group on 5.5 points includes GM Michael Adams, IM Harry Grieve, Bazakutsa, IM Peter Roberson and GM Simon Williams.

Bazakutsa has been one of the stories of the tournament. In round 4 he beat Michael Adams, a former world top-ten player, in the English Opening. Adams bounced back quickly, beating IM Yichen Han in round 6, and drew with Grieve in round 7.

Royal's round 7 result has a lesson for students. When you play a higher-rated opponent, you do not need to play differently from usual. Royal played a clear, active opening and took his chances when they came. Trusting your own preparation and style, rather than being frozen by an opponent's reputation, is one of the most important mental skills in chess.

With two rounds left, the title race is wide open. Royal plays Adams in round 8, a game that could go a long way towards deciding the championship.