British schoolgirl becomes youngest woman grandmaster

Share Save Add as preferred on Google Florence Freeman Reuters 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.