LONDON — He’s been called Britain’s “greatest chess prospect in a generation.” But when his father’s work visa runs out next month, 9-year-old Shreyas Royal must return to India, chess prodigy or not, according to Britain’s Home Office.

The case of Shreyas, who was born in India, grew up in south London and is among the top players in the world in his age group, turns on Britain’s strict enforcement of its immigration laws, the nature of his father’s visa and even the question of whether chess is a sport.

“It is just bureaucracy gone mad,” said Dominic Lawson, the president of the English Chess Federation, on Thursday.

The case has drawn the attention of at least two members of Parliament, who say that Britain could lose one of its most promising young chess players if the authorities fail to make an exception to allow his family to remain in the country.