British chess prodigy, 11, becomes youngest woman grandmaster
11-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan has become the youngest woman to earn the Woman Grandmaster title in chess history. She achieved this milestone at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan.
Why it matters
This achievement marks a significant historical milestone in professional chess, highlighting the rise of young talent in the sport.
Image caption, Bodhana first took up chess during the Covid pandemic
A British child chess prodigy has become the youngest player in history to earn the woman grandmaster (WGM) title.
Bodhana Sivanandan, 11, from north-west London, secured her third and final WGM norm - a certified title-level performance - while representing England at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) confirmed.
Speaking to FIDE, Sivanandan said she was happy about the achievement but wanted to "keep making history".
It is the latest milestone in a remarkable rise for the schoolgirl, who has already become Britain's youngest women's chess champion and the youngest person to represent England internationally in any sport.
Sivanandan, from Harrow, played all 11 rounds on England's top board - a position assigned to the team's top player - and finished the tournament with eight points.
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