Bodhana Sivanandan: England's Youngest Female Chess Star
Bodhana Sivanandan Achieves Top Ranking
Bodhana Sivanandan, a chess prodigy of Indian descent, has recently been recognized as the highest-rated female chess player in England, according to the latest International Chess Federation (FIDE) ratings.
At just 11 years old, Sivanandan boasts an impressive FIDE rating of 2366 points. Her family relocated from Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, to England in 2007.
Currently residing in North London, she has surpassed Lan Yao, a four-time British women's champion aged 25, to claim the top spot among female players in England.
This achievement has also propelled her into the global top 100 women players for the first time, where she is ranked 72nd, as reported by the English Chess Federation.
Her remarkable journey began during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 when she discovered a chess set that her father intended to discard, igniting her passion for the game.
Rishi Sunak, the former British Prime Minister of Indian heritage, expressed his congratulations to Sivanandan, reminiscing about their chess match at his official residence.
Huge congratulations to Bodhana Sivanandan on becoming England’s top female chess player at just 11 years old.
We once played each other in the Downing Street garden. Let’s just say her success has not come as a shock! pic.twitter.com/KZ2EcXysyO
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) April 2, 2026
Last year, Sivanandan earned the title of Woman International Master and showcased her skills by defeating former world champion Grandmaster Mariya Muzychuk from Ukraine at the European Club Cup held in Rhodes, Greece.
Richard Walsh, CEO of the English Chess Federation, praised her achievements, stating, "She is blazing a trail not just for women and girls in the game, but for all chess players in England. Across all sports, she must be one of the most prodigious talents England has ever produced."
Walsh expressed excitement for her future, acknowledging the hard work of Sivanandan and her family as she competes at the highest levels while representing England.