Bodhana Sivanandan, an 11-year-old schoolgirl from London, has become the youngest woman grandmaster in chess history. She secured the final qualifying result needed for the title while playing on England’s top board at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where she represented her country in all 11 rounds and scored eight points.
Sivanandan has broken the WGM age record that was previously held by Kateryna Lagno, who earned the title at 12. Her performance has also brought her closer to achieving the mark of International Master.
From gift to grandmaster
A family friend gave Sivanandan her first chess set, which launched her career. She later described that moment in a 2025 interview with the BBC, recalling how she first laid eyes on the chessboard.
“One of my dad’s friends was going back to India, and he had a few toys and books, and he gave them to us. And in one of the bags, I saw a chessboard, and I was interested in the pieces. I wanted to use the pieces as toys. Instead, my dad said that I could play the game, and then I started from there,” she said.
The path of her life was altered by her father’s choice. From a desire to treat the pieces as mere playthings, she moved to actually playing the game, and the rest of her development happened swiftly after that.
Early wins and national records
Reports say Sivanandan made quick gains from the start. At seven years old, she took all 24 of her matches at the European Schools Championship. By the time she was nine, she had been chosen for England’s team at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, where she became the youngest person ever to represent the nation in any sport.
Since then, she has become Britain’s youngest women’s chess champion and the youngest female player to defeat a grandmaster, all while attending school full-time.
Samarkand and the final result
At the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Sivanandan competed in all 11 rounds. Her eight-point haul secured the final result needed for the grandmaster title.
Speaking to chess governing body FIDE after the tournament, she remained focused on what comes next. “I’m happy to do it, but I want to keep going and keep making history as well, instead of just stopping here,” she said.
Breaking the record
The former WGM age record belonged to Kateryna Lagno, who reached the title at 12.
The string of victories Sivanandan assembled goes beyond that standard. She secured her place among the top players by winning 24 straight contests at the European Schools Championship and taking part in international competition before anyone else from British sports had done so at such a young age.
| Record | Holder | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Youngest woman grandmaster | Bodhana Sivanandan | 11 |
| Previous WGM age record | Kateryna Lagno | 12 |
Travelling and schoolwork
FIDE reported that Sivanandan spoke warmly about how she manages her chess career alongside her education, describing both with equal fondness. She noted that she enjoys the travel that chess demands and finds a clear link between the game and her schoolwork.
“I like travelling and also because I do full-time school as well, it links to loads of school subjects, so it’s really useful there as well,” she said.
Curiosity was what drove her initial approach to the game. She had no set plan to break records when she first began playing. Instead, she answered the question her father asked when she discovered the chessboard.
Skills and consistency
Since Sivanandan first put her hand to a chessboard, she has displayed both skill and consistency. At the European Schools Championship, her record speaks for itself: she won all 24 games. That suggests an unusual mix of talent.
Since then, she has bested a grandmaster and played at the very top ranks of the game.
It is worth noting that she manages this while keeping up with a full-time course load.
The path so far
What Sivanandan has accomplished follows the usual path for a young chess talent. The record of her achievements runs like this:
- Won all 24 games at the European Schools Championship by age seven
- Became the youngest person to represent England internationally in any sport
- Became Britain’s youngest women’s chess champion
- Became the youngest female player to defeat a grandmaster
- Became the youngest woman grandmaster in chess history
Her career followed a clear arc, with each achievement resting upon the one before it. She first earned recognition through her successes at the European Schools Championship. That foundation carried her to the England team, where her selection for Budapest confirmed her standing among the country’s top players. The championship and grandmaster win came next, sealing her lasting reputation in the game.
Why this matters
A record exists to be broken, and Sivanandan did so, surpassing a mark set by Kateryna Lagno, who earned the title at 12.
She pulled off an outstanding accomplishment even while keeping up with a full-time school schedule. Rather than trading education for chess, she has managed to balance both at once. She remains a student first, one who also happens to rank among the best players in the world.
The future of chess
A father who was willing to let his daughter try something new helped shape Sivanandan’s career from the very start. She began with a gift, a curious eye, and that support from her father.
She refused to stop after any single record, whether it was the first, the second or the third. Instead, she persisted, and eventually earned a title that no one else can claim.
Source material: “11-year-old British chess prodigy becomes youngest woman grandmaster,” Dexerto.
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