The Sutton Grammar School pupil broke a record held jointly by two of England’s strongest players, Luke McShane and David Howell. They became international masters at 13 years and two months in 1997 and 2004 respectively. Both went on to become grandmasters.
His achievement also surpasses the new British champion GM Shreyas Royal’s mark of 13 years seven months, and is another milestone for a remarkable generation of young English chess talent that includes Britain’s youngest WGM, 11-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan.
Supratit’s mother Pooja described his journey:
“Starting in Glasgow with limited coaching, guidance, resources and opportunities, Supratit’s journey to becoming the UK’s youngest International Master has been one of perseverance, hard work and family sacrifice. With parents who had little knowledge of chess or its competitive pathways, much of the journey after moving to London was experimental - navigating an unfamiliar chess world and finding the right direction with little guidance. Balancing chess training and tournaments with 11+ exams, homework, academics and catching up on missed classes has been a constant challenge. Over time, well-wishers from the chess fraternity, supportive clubs, dedicated coaches, the ECF and Chess Trusts joined the journey, generously offering encouragement and support that made a real difference. Through it all, Supratit’s determination, clear goals and positivity have kept him moving forward with a smile. We are immensely proud of how far he has come - and this is just the beginning.”
Supratit’s achievement was formally ratified at a meeting of the FIDE Council in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 27, with the decision announced on October 7. The youngster, who represents England internationally, earned the title after securing the required three International Master norms and surpassing the 2400 rating threshold.
Here is a 10-move win by Supratit over an experienced IM, when the boy was just 10 years old:
Supratit has impressed on the international circuit with performances against experienced grandmasters and international masters. He secured an IM norm at the 2025 British Chess Championships and has continued to make rapid progress while balancing competitive chess with his school commitments.
Here's a win against a strong player rated 2550+:
The International Master title is the second-highest open title awarded by the world chess governing body, behind Grandmaster, and is held by some of the world's strongest players. The English Chess Federation congratulates Supratit, his family, coaches and everyone who has supported him on this outstanding achievement.
A solid draw against the legend Michael Adams:
A spokesperson for the federation said: “Supratit’s skill and hard work are paying off with the honour of this title. He has a wonderful future ahead of him in the game. We wish him well and hope he continues to power up the rankings.”
