At just 12, London-based Indian-origin chess player Supratit Banerjee is making his mark on the international chess scene, becoming the UK’s youngest International Master. A pupil at Sutton Grammar School, he secured his third IM norm at the 2026 British Chess Championship before crossing the required 2,400 FIDE classical rating in Sweden.
His rise has already included winning the 2026 ChessKid U13 Youth Championship and earning bronze at the 2023 FIDE World Cadet U10 Championship, with his sights now set on becoming a Grandmaster.
Speaking to Asian Voice, Supratit recalls what first attracted him to chess, “I first joined Lenzie Chess Academy after school, like some of the other children from my school, without thinking too much about chess. About a month later, the Covid lockdown began, leaving me with more free time. Lenzie introduced me to ChessKid, where I really enjoyed solving puzzles, collecting stars and improving my scores. The academy also organised weekly online competitions, giving me the chance to play against older children. When I started beating some of them, it made me happy and gave me the confidence to believe I could be good at chess. I also began recognising opponents by their online usernames and looked forward to playing against them each week. That was when chess really started to interest me. There was always something new to learn, and every game or puzzle brought a fresh challenge.”
Reflecting on when he realised chess could become more than a hobby, Supratit said, “If I had to pick one moment, it would probably be winning the British Under-8 Championship in 2022. The year before, I had competed in the British Under-8 Rapid and Blitz Championships and thought I had a chance of winning a trophy, but it didn’t quite happen. I remember watching the winners at the prize-giving ceremony and telling myself, ‘I’m going to win it next year.’ In 2022, I managed to fulfil that promise. I had moved from Glasgow to London that year, so I wasn’t very well known and probably wasn’t among the favourites. Winning the championship, especially after beating some of the strongest players in my age group, gave me a huge confidence boost. Later that year, I competed in the World Cadets Under-8 Championship and finished fourth against some of the best young players in the world. Those experiences made me believe I could take chess seriously and potentially achieve something significant in the sport.”
“My next goal is to become a Grandmaster”
Speaking about achieving his final IM norm at the British Chess Championship, Supratit said, “It was a huge relief and reassured me that hard work would eventually pay off. I earned my first norm at the same championship in 2025 and hoped to achieve all three within months, but it took longer than expected. The support of my coaches, clubs and parents helped me stay positive. Securing the final norm was a major milestone, which I celebrated with my family before turning my attention to my next goal: becoming a Grandmaster.”
On balancing school and personal life, Supratit said, “I usually plan my homework around my training sessions to make sure I meet all my school deadlines. During the week, I don’t have much free time, so I try to divide it between schoolwork and chess. Weekends give me more flexibility for longer training sessions.
“I also make sure I don’t spend all my time studying or playing chess. I take breaks to relax and play table tennis or backyard cricket, and sometimes badminton on weekends. I think these breaks help me return to chess feeling refreshed.
“Tournaments can make it difficult to keep up with homework, as I often have very little time for schoolwork. Fortunately, my school and teachers are very supportive. They allow me to catch up on assignments after tournaments and help me stay on track with my studies. Balancing everything can be challenging, but planning ahead and having the support of my family, coaches and school makes it manageable,” he added.
Highlighting the importance of his parents, coaches and chess clubs in his journey, Supratit said, “They have all played a very important role in helping me achieve what I have so far. My parents have been incredibly supportive and are probably my biggest fans. Although they both work full-time, they always ensure that one of them accompanies me when I travel for tournaments. They organise my travel and training sessions, make sure everything runs smoothly, and regularly discuss my plans with me. They are always there whenever I need anything to prepare well.
“My coaches have also been instrumental in my development. They help me identify areas for improvement, analyse my games and prepare for different opponents and tournaments. They encourage me when things don’t go as planned, helping me stay positive and trust the process. Sometimes, they even surprise me with chess books or other treats. They also take time out of their busy schedules to call and discuss chess with me. During some of my lowest moments, their calls and encouraging words have really lifted my spirits.
“My chess clubs have also been important from the very beginning. They gave me opportunities to play in adult teams, allowing me to gain experience in longer games against adult players. They also placed me on higher boards, where I could regularly compete against stronger opponents. Even when I was younger, they trusted me with important club matches, and those experiences helped me grow as a chess player,” he added.
Beyond his ambitions on the chessboard, Supratit’s British-Indian heritage remains an important part of his identity. Born in Ranchi, India, he moved to the UK at a young age and has grown up embracing both cultures. “Representing England in international tournaments is special to me because this is where I’ve grown up and developed as a chess player. At the same time, my Indian roots remain a big part of my life. I enjoy visiting India, spending time with my family and staying connected to the culture. I feel fortunate to have grown up with both influences, and travelling for chess tournaments has further broadened my appreciation of different cultures and perspectives.”
Speaking about his future ambitions, Supratit said, “My next big goal is to become a Grandmaster, but I see it as a continuous journey of improvement rather than simply achieving a title or rating. Having completed the requirements for the International Master title, I want to keep developing my game, become more consistent against stronger opponents and compete in more challenging tournaments. One of my main priorities is to bring greater variety to my play. I don’t want to become predictable, so I’m working on expanding my repertoire of openings and becoming comfortable with different positions and playing styles. I believe this will give me more options at the board and make it harder for opponents to prepare against me.”
“I know there will be good tournaments and bad ones along the way, so consistency is key. I want to learn from every game, address my weaknesses and keep getting stronger. Becoming a Grandmaster is my next milestone, but my long-term ambition goes beyond that. I want to challenge myself against the best players in the world and, one day, compete for the World Championship, “ he added.
