Bodhana Sivanandan, an 11-year-old chess prodigy, has become the youngest player to earn the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title. Bodhana achieved the milestone during the ongoing 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. She surpassed Kateryna Lagno to become the youngest-ever Woman Grandmaster. Lagno, who has played for both Ukraine and Russia, had achieved the feat back in 2002 at the age of 12 and held the record for more than two decades.<h2>Who is Bodhana Sivanandan?</h2>Bodhana is a schoolgirl who lives in northwest London's Harrow. She was born on March 7, 2015, to Indian parents who moved to the UK in 2007. The Indian-origin chess prodigy started playing chess during the COVID-19 pandemic and was initially fascinated by how the pieces looked.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tale-of-two-goats-ronaldo-benched-in-portugal-win-as-messi-s-stunning-free-kick-can-t-save-inter-miami-1790581563312">Tale of two GOATs: Ronaldo benched in Portugal win as Messi's stunning free-kick can't save Inter Miami</a>"I was fascinated by how the pieces looked, especially the knight and the queen, and I wanted to use them as toys outside of chess," she had said in one of her previous interviews, as reported by GB News. She learned to play chess by watching YouTube tutorials during the early days.She participated in her first tournament at the Harrow Chess Club in July 2021 and later won all her matches at the European Schools Championship a year later at the age of 7.In August 2025, Bodhana became the youngest female chess player ever to beat a Grandmaster, defeating 60-year-old Peter Wells in the last round of the 2025 British Chess Championship in Liverpool at the age of 10.In August 2023, she was also invited by then-UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to 10 Downing Street during the announcement of a funding plan to support chess in the UK.In August 2026, Bodhana became Britain's youngest-ever women's champion at the British Chess Championship by defeating 14-year-old WGM Trisha Kanyamarala.

At 11, British-Indian prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan became the youngest Woman Grandmaster in chess history. Playing at the Chess Olympiad, she broke Kateryna Lagno’s 24-year record.

Bodhana Sivanandan, an 11-year-old chess prodigy, has become the youngest player to earn the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title. Bodhana achieved the milestone during the ongoing 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. She surpassed Kateryna Lagno to become the youngest-ever Woman Grandmaster. Lagno, who has played for both Ukraine and Russia, had achieved the feat back in 2002 at the age of 12 and held the record for more than two decades. Who is Bodhana Sivanandan? Bodhana is a schoolgirl who lives in northwest London's Harrow. She was born on March 7, 2015, to Indian parents who moved to the UK in 2007. The Indian-origin chess prodigy started playing chess during the COVID-19 pandemic and was initially fascinated by how the pieces looked. Also Read - Tale of two GOATs: Ronaldo benched in Portugal win as Messi's stunning free-kick can't save Inter Miami "I was fascinated by how the pieces looked, especially the knight and the queen, and I wanted to use them as toys outside of chess," she had said in one of her previous interviews, as reported by GB News. She learned to play chess by watching YouTube tutorials during the early days. She participated in her first tournament at the Harrow Chess Club in July 2021 and later won all her matches at the European Schools Championship a year later at the age of 7. In August 2025, Bodhana became the youngest female chess player ever to beat a Grandmaster, defeating 60-year-old Peter Wells in the last round of the 2025 British Chess Championship in Liverpool at the age of 10. In August 2023, she was also invited by then-UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to 10 Downing Street during the announcement of a funding plan to support chess in the UK. In August 2026, Bodhana became Britain's youngest-ever women's champion at the British Chess Championship by defeating 14-year-old WGM Trisha Kanyamarala.

At 11, British-Indian prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan became the youngest Woman Grandmaster in chess history. Playing at the Chess Olympiad, she broke Kateryna Lagno’s 24-year record.

Meet Bodhana Sivanandan: 11-year-old Indian-origin British schoolgirl becomes youngest to earn Woman Grandmaster title

England's rising chess sensation Bodhana Sivanandan continues to rewrite the record books after producing the biggest victory of her young career by defeating French Grandmaster Marc'Andria Maurizzi at the Dole Trophy in Aix-en-Provence. The 11-year-old Harrow schoolgirl stunned Maurizzi, the reigning French champion and the 2023 World Under-20 champion, in the opening round of the prestigious tournament. With a FIDE rating of 2628, Maurizzi became the highest-rated grandmaster Sivanandan has defeated to date.&nbsp;Although the French grandmaster controlled much of the game during the opening stages, the momentum shifted dramatically after move 27 when Maurizzi made a costly tactical mistake that allowed Sivanandan to win his queen, leaving him with insufficient compensation. The remarkable victory established a new world age record for the youngest girl to defeat a grandmaster rated above 2600.&nbsp;The previous record belonged to legendary Hungarian chess icon Judit Polgar, who defeated Grandmaster Lajos Portisch during the 1988 Hungarian Championship at the age of 12 years and two months. Portisch was a former World Championship challenger and one of the strongest players of his era. At just 11 years and four months old, Sivanandan also became the fifth-youngest player ever to defeat a grandmaster rated above 2600. She joins an elite list that includes Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who achieved the feat at age nine, Faustino Oro at 10, and Roman Shogdzhiev and R. Praggnanandhaa at 11 years and one month.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-final-replay-spain-star-reacts-as-argentina-fans-80-000-signature-petition-takes-the-internet-by-storm-1784902042493">FIFA World Cup final replay? Spain star reacts as Argentina Fans' 80,000-signature petition takes the internet by storm</a>&nbsp;Sivanandan was unable to extend her winning start in the second round, where she lost to Israeli International Master Benny Aizenberg. However, she bounced back impressively in the third round by holding Israeli Grandmaster Maxim Rodshtein to a draw. Rodshtein, currently Israel's second-highest-ranked player, reached a peak FIDE rating of 2710 and has previously won both the Israeli Championship and the prestigious Rilton Cup in Stockholm.&nbsp;After six of the tournament's nine rounds, Sivanandan had collected three points against a field dominated by significantly higher-rated opponents, keeping her firmly in contention for her second Women's Grandmaster (WGM) norm. She earned her first WGM norm at the age of 10 during the same Dole Open in 2025, setting another world age record and further cementing her status as one of the brightest young talents in world chess.

England's 11-year-old chess sensation Bodhana Sivanandan set a world record after defeating 2628-rated Grandmaster Marc'Andria Maurizzi at the Dole Trophy in France

England's rising chess sensation Bodhana Sivanandan continues to rewrite the record books after producing the biggest victory of her young career by defeating French Grandmaster Marc'Andria Maurizzi at the Dole Trophy in Aix-en-Provence. The 11-year-old Harrow schoolgirl stunned Maurizzi, the reigning French champion and the 2023 World Under-20 champion, in the opening round of the prestigious tournament. With a FIDE rating of 2628, Maurizzi became the highest-rated grandmaster Sivanandan has defeated to date. Although the French grandmaster controlled much of the game during the opening stages, the momentum shifted dramatically after move 27 when Maurizzi made a costly tactical mistake that allowed Sivanandan to win his queen, leaving him with insufficient compensation. The remarkable victory established a new world age record for the youngest girl to defeat a grandmaster rated above 2600. The previous record belonged to legendary Hungarian chess icon Judit Polgar, who defeated Grandmaster Lajos Portisch during the 1988 Hungarian Championship at the age of 12 years and two months. Portisch was a former World Championship challenger and one of the strongest players of his era. At just 11 years and four months old, Sivanandan also became the fifth-youngest player ever to defeat a grandmaster rated above 2600. She joins an elite list that includes Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who achieved the feat at age nine, Faustino Oro at 10, and Roman Shogdzhiev and R. Praggnanandhaa at 11 years and one month. Also Read: FIFA World Cup final replay? Spain star reacts as Argentina Fans' 80,000-signature petition takes the internet by storm Sivanandan was unable to extend her winning start in the second round, where she lost to Israeli International Master Benny Aizenberg. However, she bounced back impressively in the third round by holding Israeli Grandmaster Maxim Rodshtein to a draw. Rodshtein, currently Israel's second-highest-ranked player, reached a peak FIDE rating of 2710 and has previously won both the Israeli Championship and the prestigious Rilton Cup in Stockholm. After six of the tournament's nine rounds, Sivanandan had collected three points against a field dominated by significantly higher-rated opponents, keeping her firmly in contention for her second Women's Grandmaster (WGM) norm. She earned her first WGM norm at the age of 10 during the same Dole Open in 2025, setting another world age record and further cementing her status as one of the brightest young talents in world chess.

England's 11-year-old chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan set a world record by defeating 2628-rated Grandmaster Marc'Andria Maurizzi

11-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan sets world record with stunning win, beats France’s 2628-rated grandmaster Marc’Andria Maurizzi

A 10-year-old British girl has become the youngest female player ever to defeat a grandmaster. Bodhana Sivanandan, from northwest London, beat 60-year-old grandmaster Pete Wells in the last round of the 2025 British Chess Championships in Liverpool on Sunday. At five months and three days shy of 10 years old, Sivanandan surpassed the achievement of American Carissa Yip, who was 10 years, 11 months and 20 days old when she beat a grand master in 2019, as per the International Chess Federation (FIDE).&nbsp;Sivanandan has now attained woman international master status, one rung below the female-only woman grandmaster title; the top accolade in chess is grandmaster, held by the likes of current world chess champion Gukesh Dommaraju and world no. 1 Magnus Carlsen.&nbsp;Her father spoke to the BBC in 2024 that "nobody at all" from their family had ever done well at chess.Sivanandan explained she learned the sport during the Covid pandemic when she was five years old, after one of her dad's friends gave them some books and toys. "In one bag, I used to see a chessboard, and I was fascinated with the pieces," she was quoted saying to the BBC.&nbsp;"I wanted to play with the pieces as toys. But instead, my dad told me that I could play the game, and then I began from there. Last year, Sivanandan was the youngest individual to be chosen to compete for England abroad at any sport. She was chosen to compete for the nation at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, where all the other team members were 20, 30, or 40 years old.&nbsp;Malcolm Pein, England chess team manager, said the schoolgirl was among the greatest British chess prodigies he had ever witnessed. She was also part of a group of young chess players who were invited by then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to 10 Downing Street to celebrate the government's significant new GBP 1 million package of investment for the game.

Historic win: Bodhana Sivanandan, aged 10 years, becomes youngest girl to defeat a grandmaster

A 10-year-old British girl has become the youngest female player ever to defeat a grandmaster. Bodhana Sivanandan, from northwest London, beat 60-year-old grandmaster Pete Wells in the last round of the 2025 British Chess Championships in Liverpool on Sunday. At five months and three days shy of 10 years old, Sivanandan surpassed the achievement of American Carissa Yip, who was 10 years, 11 months and 20 days old when she beat a grand master in 2019, as per the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Sivanandan has now attained woman international master status, one rung below the female-only woman grandmaster title; the top accolade in chess is grandmaster, held by the likes of current world chess champion Gukesh Dommaraju and world no. 1 Magnus Carlsen. Her father spoke to the BBC in 2024 that "nobody at all" from their family had ever done well at chess. Sivanandan explained she learned the sport during the Covid pandemic when she was five years old, after one of her dad's friends gave them some books and toys. "In one bag, I used to see a chessboard, and I was fascinated with the pieces," she was quoted saying to the BBC. "I wanted to play with the pieces as toys. But instead, my dad told me that I could play the game, and then I began from there. Last year, Sivanandan was the youngest individual to be chosen to compete for England abroad at any sport. She was chosen to compete for the nation at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, where all the other team members were 20, 30, or 40 years old. Malcolm Pein, England chess team manager, said the schoolgirl was among the greatest British chess prodigies he had ever witnessed. She was also part of a group of young chess players who were invited by then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to 10 Downing Street to celebrate the government's significant new GBP 1 million package of investment for the game.

At 10 years, five months and three days, Sivanandan broke the record set by American Carissa Yip, who was 10 years, 11 months and 20 days old when she defeated a grand master in 2019, as per the FIDE

Bodhana Sivananda has scripted history by becoming the youngest player to ever represent England in an international competition. The nine-year-old has been named to England's team for September's Chess Olympiad.

Gravitas: Nine-year-old Sivanandan to become youngest England International

Bodhana Sivanandan, an eight-year-old girl, created history in the world of chess after she won the first prize in the European Blitz Chess Championship with a remarkable 8.

Bodhana Sivanandan, an eight-year-old girl, created history in the world of chess after she won the first prize in the European Blitz Chess Championship with a remarkable 8.5/13 score. She defeated several grandmasters during the tournament. Bodhana is a primary school student from Harrow, England. In the penultimate round, she defeated an international master, Lorin D'Costa, the coach of England's women's chess team. The European Blitz Chess Championship had a massive registration number of 555, including 48 grandmasters and 50 international masters who participated. However, the chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan made history as she clinched the title of England's first world youth champion in 25 years. She also won the triple crown, classical, rapid, and blitz. The European Chess Union congratulated her for winning the first women's prize in the European Blitz Chess Championship, earning 211.2 blitz ELO points. She also won the best women's player award. Bodhana Sivanandan started playing chess when she was five years old, reported BBC. After her "unbelievable" performance, the chess prodigy said she was "proud" of it. "I always try my best to win. Sometimes it happens, and sometimes it doesn't. I was very proud of myself when I got top girl in the European Blitz" Speaking further Bodhana said she doesn't get nervous and "just plays the board." Her current title is Woman Candidate Master. In an interview with Today, Bodhana's father, Sivanandan Velayutham, said, "Accidentally she started chess. She was curious, so I started taking her around the English Chess Federation and the people in England who play chess and support chess; they are very friendly and very supportive." This summer the British PM Rishi Sunak also invited her to 10 Downing Street and played chess with her. Praises For Bodhana Sivanandan Bodhana's outstanding performance has received a lot of praise from the Chess world. Romanian International Master Irina Bulmaga posting on X wrote, "Unbelievable result by 8 yo girl- Bodhana, who held a draw in the last round of the European Blitz Championship to score 8,5p/ 13, winning the 1st prize among women ahead of me and a bunch of other experienced players! What a phenomenon she is!" British International Master and commentator Lawrence Trent also took to X and wrote, "Bodhana Sivanandan is one of the greatest talents I've witnessed in recent memory. The maturity of her play, her sublime touch, it's truly breathtaking. I have no doubt she will be England's greatest player and most likely one of the greatest the game has ever seen." President of the English Chess Federation, Dominic Lawson, described her victory as an "extraordinary result for an eight-year-old and something we've certainly never seen in this country." "She has a remarkably mature playing style, it's strategic and patient. She has what you might describe as a long game," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Bodhana Sivanandan? Eight-year-old prodigy who won best female player at European Chess tournament

Bodhana Sivanandan, an eight-year-old chess prodigy of Indian origin, makes history at the European Blitz Championship in Croatia. Competing against over 550 players, including grandmasters and international masters, she scored an impressive 8.5 out of 13.

Gravitas: 8-Year-Old Chess sensation Bodhana Sivanandan dominates European Blitz Championship