Tyrion Lannister is the true protagonist in George R R Martin's books and the HBO show "Game of Thrones", according to a study by the Mathematical Association of America.
Using a graphing system, the study concludes that the clever Lannister prince (played by Peter Dinklage on the show) is best positioned as the central figure of the epic and sprawling saga, which is known for its propensity of killing off beloved characters, reported the Wrap.
This is due to his role as the Hand of the King, which puts him at the center of much of the larger stories' intrigue.
The study was conducted using "A Storm of Swords," the third book in Martin's series, and examines the characters' relationships to each other and to various locations.
Jon Snow (Kit Harington), who was controversially killed off in the last season's finale, is also an important central figure of the drama so is his half-sister Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner).
She's often depicted as a captive of more powerful figures, but her role as a living heir of the kingdom of the North makes her hugely important.
Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), the Mother of Dragons, may be in exile and cut off from most of the action but is still important to the story, especially as she plans to reclaim the Iron Throne.
Season 6 of "Game of Thrones" premieres Sunday, April 24 on HBO.
