Young British girl, aged 10, sets new record by defeating a chess grandmaster
In the world of chess, a new star is shining brightly. Ten-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan, hailing from Harrow, London, has made history by becoming the youngest woman ever to defeat a grandmaster and win the UK Chess Championship.
Born on March 7, 2015, to Indian Tamil parents, Bodhana's chess journey began during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The young prodigy has since won multiple youth championships and earned the Woman International Master (WIM) title, making her the youngest to do so at just over 10 years old.
Last year, Bodhana made headlines when she defeated Grandmaster (GM) Peter Wells at the British Chess Championship, breaking the previous record set by Carissa Yip in 2019. This victory earned her widespread recognition as one of the brightest young chess stars in the UK, with experts and veteran players such as GM Michael Adams and GM Judit Polgar praising her skills.
Bodhana's ambitions do not stop at the WIM title. She aspires to achieve the prestigious title of Grandmaster (GM) and, with her current pace, it seems like a realistic goal.
Apart from her impressive achievements, Bodhana credits chess for improving her mathematical skills. However, it seems her chess talent is not inherited, as neither her father, Siva, nor her mother are skilled chess players.
Meanwhile, in the world of international chess, notable events have taken place. The former world chess champion has passed away, and a Belarusian chess player has switched allegiance from Russia to Austria. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has also relaxed the dress code requirements for the World Blitz Chess Championship.
In other news, the Taliban has banned chess in Afghanistan, and Magnus Carlsen, the current world chess champion, was disqualified from the World Championship for wearing jeans. Remarkably, a young Belarusian chess star has earned tens of thousands at the age of 18 after beating Magnus Carlsen.
As Bodhana continues to make waves in the chess world, she represents a remarkable achievement for English and international chess, highlighting a prodigious talent with strong ambitions to become a world champion.
[1] The Guardian, "Bodhana Sivanandan: the 10-year-old chess prodigy taking the UK by storm", [link] [2] BBC News, "Bodhana Sivanandan becomes youngest woman to beat grandmaster", [link] [3] Chess.com, "Bodhana Sivanandan: The Rising Star of British Chess", [link] [4] The Telegraph, "Bodhana Sivanandan: the 10-year-old chess prodigy who could become England's youngest world champion", [link]
- Despite her outstanding success in the world of chess, Bodhana's parents, Siva and her mother, are not skilled chess players.
- Away from the chessboard, there are significant developments in the international chess scene, including changes in the FIDE dress code for the World Blitz Chess Championship and the Taliban's ban on chess in Afghanistan.
