Dubai: Online users are furious and they have reason to be. Shreyas Royal, a 9-year-old Indian-origin chess prodigy has been asked to leave the UK when his father’s visa expires in September.

Social media users were quick to come to the prodigy’s defence and his name became a top trend online.

British newspaper The Guardian reported that Royal’s parents have been staying under a “two long-term work permit” and the only way to renew the visa would be if his father, Jitendra Singh, earned more than £120,000 (Dh569,027) a year, which he does not.

The newspaper added that the parents appealed to the Home Office stating that Shreyas is a “national asset”, but received a letter which read, “while the nine-year-old showed ‘immense promise’, it did not mean he could remain in the country”.

Royal is ranked number four in the world in his age group, and has been dubbed as Britain’s “greatest chess prospect in a generation”. However, if he is deported, he will no longer be able to play for England.His father told the newspaper: “It’s disappointing for us. My son is feeling very bad right now. He is playing at the British Championships at the moment. He feels bad and we have to console him.”

The Home Office’s decision has made many Members of Parliament (MP) appeal to them to reconsider Royal’s visa status.

The Guardian reported that “Labour MPs Rachel Reeves, a former junior chess champion, and Matthew Pennycook, who represents Greenwich and Woolwich where Royal currently lives – have written to two cabinet ministers urging them to let the nine-year-old stay as he attempts to become England’s first world chess champion”.

Both MP’s agree that if Royal is forced to go back to India, “the UK will lose an exceptional talent”.

His story started a discussion on social media and people talked about UK’s immigration laws and whether leeway can be given in special cases.

English Actor and film producer @JohnCleese posted: “In the matter of the impending deportation of chess prodigy Shreyas Royal and his parents, the family cannot extend their visas because the father earns less that £120,000 per year.... It is characteristic of this dreadful government that they put money before talent.”

In the matter of the impending deportation of chess prodigy Shreyas Royal and his parents, the family cannot extend their visas because the father earns less that £120,000 per year



It is characteristic of this dreadful government that they put money before talent — John Cleese (@JohnCleese) August 4, 2018

His comment was liked more than 3,000 times and received 990 retweets. @DebbieD74799118 echoed the same: “A member of my family married a person from outside the EU so I am aware of the total unfairness of these immigration laws, and I honestly believe they need to change. The concessions that Theresa May as made with the EU concerning EU migrants, why should they be treated better than we are?”

And @Jenifer06379229 said: “Why £120,000? Any immigrant who is law-abiding and contributing to our economy should be allowed to stay. Why don’t they renew it and state that before it expires they should have to apply for British Citizenship or else just extend it until Shreyas is 18?”

Why £120,000?

Any immigrant who is lawabiding and contributing to our economy should be allowed to stay. Why don't they renew it and state that before it expires they should have to apply for British Citizenship or else just extend it until Shreyas is 18. — Jennifer Goldsmith (@Jennife06379229) August 5, 2018

Some tweeps asked if there was a way to provide Royal’s family with the necessary amount of money through “public funding” or “sponsors”.

In an interview with Indian newspaper Times of India, grandmaster, Viswanathan Anand spoke about meeting the chess prodigy in 2017 at a tournament and was aware of his talent. He said: “If [Shreyas] grew up there, it is the appropriate place for him to continue... I don’t think we should make an effort to bring him back [to India]... let’s see how the laws are interpreted.”

Shreyas Royal aka ‘Shrez’ learnt the game in Britain and has represented England internationally. He is currently competing in the British Chess Championship, which could be his last tournament in the UK, if there is no change in his visa process.

According to reports, “The UK Home Office said, ‘Every visa case is assessed on its own merits in line with immigration rules’.”