Samarkand, September 28 (Daily Kiran) : Bodhana Shivanandan, an 11-year-old of Indian descent, has made history in the world of chess. Competing at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, she achieved her third and final Woman Grandmaster (WGM) norm while representing England. This remarkable feat makes her the youngest player ever to earn the title of Woman Grandmaster.
Playing on the top board for the England women’s team, Bodhana led her squad with impressive results. She won six games and finished with a score of 8.0 out of 11, helping the team secure 15th place in the women’s division. Notably, she ranked as the 13th best player in the tournament on board 1.
Previously, the record for the youngest Woman Grandmaster was held by Russian Grandmaster Kateryna Lagno, who achieved the title at the age of 12. Chinese former World Champion Hou Yifan also won the title at 12.
Bodhana’s chess journey began during the COVID-19 lockdown. A friend of her father gifted her family a chessboard while returning to India, sparking her interest in the game. She started teaching herself the intricacies of chess from that moment.
In 2022, she showcased her talent by winning all 24 matches at the European Schools Championship. A year later, she became the youngest player to compete without losing against a Grandmaster.
At just nine years old, Bodhana was selected for the England team for the 2024 Chess Olympiad, making her the youngest athlete to represent England internationally in any sport. Now, at 11, her achievement of the WGM title marks another significant milestone in her young career.
Residing in northwest London, Bodhana excels not only in chess but also in her studies. She is the UK Open Women’s Blitz Champion and has shared the title of British Women’s Rapid Champion.
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