A ten-year-old chess sensation from Britain has stunned the competitive chess world after dominating a national women’s tournament and securing a ranking among the top 50 female blitz players worldwide.
Bodhana Sivanandan delivered a flawless performance at the UK Women’s Blitz Championship in Royal Leamington Spa over the weekend, winning eight consecutive games against opponents far older and more seasoned than herself.
“I don’t mind who I face — I only focus on the game,” she told the BBC after her impressive victory.
Malcolm Pein of the English Chess Federation called Bodhana a “once-in-a-generation talent, unparalleled in any other sport.” He added, “It’s astonishing enough that a ten-year-old enters a national championship as the top seed — but even more extraordinary that she wins so decisively, finishing well ahead of three England internationals.”
Hailing from Harrow in northwest London, Bodhana said she was “really happy” about her win, noting that chess has improved her skills across school subjects: “Chess helps me with maths, art, and music.”
Her father, Siva, highlighted her drive and dedication: “She gives everything her best, and we’re here to support her.”
This latest victory is another milestone in what has already been a remarkable career. In August, Bodhana became the youngest-ever recipient of the Woman International Master (WIM) title, the second-highest title in women’s chess.
Last year, at just nine years old, she became the youngest athlete in history to represent England internationally in any sport.
Her ambitions don’t stop there: Bodhana hopes to become the youngest chess grandmaster ever — a record currently held by Abhimanyu Mishra, who earned the title at age 12.
Blitz chess, the format in which she excelled this weekend, is a fast-paced variant where each player has no more than ten minutes to complete an entire game.
