Harrow 11-year-old becomes youngest Woman Grandmaster
Bodhana Sivanandan achieved the historic chess title at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan.
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An 11-year-old from Harrow has achieved the title of Woman Grandmaster (WGM), making her the youngest player in history to hold the distinction. Bodhana Sivanandan secured her third and final WGM norm at the 46th Chess Olympiad held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) confirmed the achievement, which marks a significant milestone in her chess career.
Sivanandan represented England at the Olympiad, playing on the team's top board for all 11 rounds and accumulating eight points. She had already surpassed the 2300 rating requirement for the WGM title prior to securing her final norm. The WGM title is the highest honour a female player can attain and is held for life. Kateryna Lagno previously held the age record for the WGM title, achieving it at 12 years old.
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In addition to the WGM title, Sivanandan also earned her second International Master (IM) norm at the Samarkand tournament. The IM title, which ranks higher than WGM and is open to all genders, requires players to achieve three qualifying norms and maintain a rating of at least 2400. Sivanandan has now achieved two IM norms.
A rapid ascent in chess
Sivanandan's journey in chess began during the coronavirus lockdown when she taught herself to play. Her first competitive tournament was at Harrow Chess Club in July 2021. Her progress has been notably swift; a year later, at seven years old, she won all 24 of her games at the European Schools Championship.
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Her achievements include becoming the youngest person to avoid defeat against a grandmaster in a competitive game at the European Rapid and Blitz championship in Croatia in 2023. The following year, aged nine, she was selected to represent England at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, an event that made her the youngest person to represent England internationally in any sport, according to the English Chess Federation.
Further milestones include becoming the youngest female player to defeat a grandmaster, Peter Wells, at the British Chess Championships last year when she was 10. In July of this year, she earned her first IM norm at the Dole Open in France, becoming the youngest girl to do so at 11 years and four months old. She also defeated grandmaster Marc'Andria Maurizzi at that event, noted as the youngest girl to beat a player rated above 2600 in a classical game.
Sivanandan expressed her ambition to FIDE, stating, "I'm happy to do it, but I want to keep going and keep making history as well, instead of just stopping here." She also noted her enjoyment of travelling and how chess connects to various school subjects, making it beneficial for her education.
Questions this report answers
+How old is Bodhana Sivanandan?
Bodhana Sivanandan is 11 years old. She achieved the title of Woman Grandmaster (WGM) at this age, making her the youngest in history to do so. She also earned her second International Master (IM) norm at the same tournament.
+Where did Bodhana Sivanandan achieve her Woman Grandmaster title?
She secured her third and final Woman Grandmaster (WGM) norm at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. This event saw her representing England and competing against international players.
+What other chess achievements does Bodhana Sivanandan hold?
Sivanandan is Britain's youngest women's chess champion and the youngest person to represent England internationally in any sport. She also holds two International Master (IM) norms and has defeated grandmasters in competitive games.
+When did Bodhana Sivanandan start playing chess?
Bodhana Sivanandan taught herself chess during the coronavirus lockdown. She entered her first tournament at Harrow Chess Club in July 2021, marking the beginning of her competitive chess journey.
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