Bodhana Sivanandan Becomes Youngest Woman Grandmaster at Age 11

Eleven-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan, a chess prodigy of Indian origin, has become the youngest Woman Grandmaster (WGM) in chess history. She earned the title while playing for England at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Bodhana Sivanandan is the youngest chess player in history

Bodhana is a schoolgirl from Harrow, north-west London. No chess player before her has won the WGM title at such a young age. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) confirmed the achievement.

How She Started Chess

Bodhana is self-taught. During the COVID-19 lockdown, a friend of her father Siva was going back to India and passed on some bags to the family. One of them held a chessboard, and this is how she first got interested in the game.

Earlier Record

At age nine, she became the youngest person to play internationally for England in any sport, representing the English Chess Federation.

Bodhana Sivanandan: A trailblazing Olympiad

Performance at the Chess Olympiad

In Samarkand, Bodhana played all 11 rounds on England's top board, which is given to a team's strongest player. She ended the event with eight points on Sunday.

Second IM Norm

Her performance also gave her a second International Master (IM) norm. This brings her one step closer to the International Master title. Bodhana said she was happy with the result but wants to keep making history rather than stop here. She also said travelling for chess helps her, as she studies in school full-time and the trips connect to many of her school subjects.

Britain's youngest women's chess champion

Last month, Bodhana became the youngest-ever Women's Chess Champion of Britain at the 2026 British Chess Championships in Coventry. She has been breaking age records on the circuit for the past few years.

Success in Faster Formats

She is also strong in quicker versions of the game:

• UK Open Women's Blitz Champion
• Joint British Women's Rapid Champion

Key Points for Exams

• Bodhana Sivanandan is the youngest WGM in chess history at age 11.
• She earned the title at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, representing England.
• She won a second IM norm at the same event.
• She is Britain's youngest Women's Chess Champion (2026, Coventry).
• FIDE is the international body that confirmed her title.