11-Year-Old Chess Prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan Becomes Youngest Woman Grandmaster
Historic Achievement for Young Chess Star
Bodhana Sivanandan, a chess prodigy of Indian descent, has made history by becoming the youngest Woman Grandmaster (WGM) while representing England at the 46th Chess Olympiad held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
At just 11 years old, this London schoolgirl has set a record as the youngest chess player ever to achieve the WGM title. She previously made headlines by being the youngest athlete to represent England in any sport at the age of nine, playing for the English Chess Federation.
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has officially recognized her remarkable achievement after she participated in all 11 rounds on England’s top board, a role designated for the leading player of the team, and concluded the tournament with an impressive eight points.
Expressing her excitement, Bodhana stated, “I’m happy to do it, but I want to keep going and keep making history as well, instead of just stopping here,” according to FIDE.
Her recent accomplishments have also earned her a second International Master (IM) norm, bringing her closer to achieving the title of international master.
“I enjoy traveling, and since I attend school full-time, it connects to many subjects, making it quite beneficial,” shared the young chess enthusiast, who resides with her family in Harrow, located in north-west London.
Bodhana is known for being a self-taught chess genius, having discovered the game during the COVID pandemic lockdown when her father’s friend gifted her a chessboard as he returned to India.
Just last month, she claimed the title of Britain’s youngest-ever women’s chess champion at the 2026 British Chess Championships in Coventry, consistently breaking records as one of the youngest competitors in the chess circuit.
In addition to her achievements, Bodhana is the current UK Open Women’s Blitz Champion and a joint British Women’s Rapid Champion in faster game formats.