Bodhana Sivanandan - Young Chess Prodigies
You might have noticed that you're suddenly seeing the name Bodhana all over the chess world! If you're reading this article, there's a good chance that you're curious about this amazing ChessKid ambassador and would like to know more. This edition of ChessKid Spotlight focuses on the young British prodigy and all of her accomplishments so far.Learn All About Bodhana
Who Is Bodhana Sivanandan?
Bodhana is an English chess prodigy, and World Under-8 Champion. She has been making waves around the chess world with incredible performances against much more experienced players, and is seen as one of the most talented young female chess players in the world.
In 2024, she crossed an Elo rating of 2000, one of the highest ratings ever for an eight-year-old.
When she was only eight years old, she appeared in a viral video where she met and played against 78-year-old former British champion Peter Lee, with the theme of bringing together people of very different ages through chess.
In 2026 at 11 years old, Bodhana has completed the requirements for the Woman Grandmaster title. She achieved this milestone at the 46th Women’s Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan, making her the youngest player ever to earn the title. In addition, Bodhana scored her second International Master norm during the same event. This was her second Chess Olympiad representing England, and she finished with an impressive score of 8/11.
Also in 2026, at only 11 years old, Bodhana surpassed Judit Polgar's long-standing record by becoming the youngest female chess player in history to earn the International Master title. Her achievement also ranks her as the seventh-youngest player ever to attain the title. She reached all of the qualifications at the European Club Cub in October 2026 with a score of 5.5 out of 7.
Bodhana is a ChessKid ambassador and used the website to learn to move some of the pieces when she was originally learning how to play the game at around five years old.
How Old Is Bodhana?
Bodhana was born on March 7, 2015.
Background & Achievements
- Bodhana won the 2022 UK Women’s Blitz Championship at seven years old, breaking the age record by over four years!
- She was also a star of the show at London ChessFest in 2023, playing an online match in front of a huge crowd.
- In 2023, Bodhana became England’s first world youth champion in 25 years!
- She held the ‘triple crown’ in the Under-8 category, meaning she was the champion in three different time controls: classical, rapid, and blitz.
- Bodhana won every single one of her 32 games on the way to winning her three Under-8 world championships.
- She won the tournament’s top individual prize for women at the 2023 European Blitz Championship.
- Bodhana earned her first WIM norm in 2024 at only nine years old, likely becoming the youngest person ever to do so.
- She is the youngest player to represent England at a Chess Olympiad.
- Bodhana is the youngest player to achieve the WIM title.
- She is the youngest girl to defeat a 2600-rated grandmaster in classical chess.
- Youngest player in chess history to gain the WGM title.
- At 11 years old became the youngest female chess player to achieve the international master title.
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Bodhana focuses on her next move / Photo: Maria Emelianova
Bodhana's Best Games
Here are a few of Bodhana's top games.
FunMasterMike Says…
“I met Bodhana for the first time at the London Chess Festival this summer, where she played an online match in front of thousands of people. Even though her games were displayed on a Jumbotron in Trafalgar Square, she acted like it was a walk in the park. I'm not surprised at all that she handled the pressure well in her world championship quest and I'm thinking this is the first of many.”
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Bodhana and FunMasterMike at London's ChessFest.
Fun Facts About Bodhana
- Her favorite game ever is the famous ‘King Walk’ game between GMs Nigel Short and Jan Timman.
- Playing games against adults doesn’t scare Bodhana; in fact, the adults are often more nervous to play her than she is to play them!
- Bodhana would rather give a chess lesson to the King of England than to Taylor Swift.
- Her favorite opening as Black is the Caro-Kann.
- If Bodhana could play a game of chess against anyone, she'd pick GM Magnus Carlsen.
We're looking forward to seeing what Bodhana will achieve in all of her future events, and will be there every step of the way to cheer her on!