11-Year-Old Girl Becomes Chess’ Youngest-Ever Woman Grandmaster, Says She Wants to ‘Keep Making History’

Eleven-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan from London has become the youngest-ever Woman Grandmaster in chess history. The British girl represented England at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, which took place from September 15 to September 27. Bodhana earned the prestigious title by securing her third and final "norm" in the competition, after facing tough competition from players around the world. She achieved eight points out of eleven games, according to The Times.

When asked about the achievement, Bodhana admitted she didn't realize she was the youngest Woman Grandmaster until after the fact. She expressed her happiness upon learning the news. Bodhana plays chess on board one, the top board in the competition, usually reserved for the strongest player on a team. She described competing in the Olympiad as similar to her previous experience, but with a different board.

When asked about any pressure she felt during the competition, Bodhana replied, "Not really, I just tried to enjoy it, especially because this is my second Olympiad."

Bodhana also shared her love for chess, saying she enjoys the game "everything," and enjoys the travel aspect of competing in tournaments. She pointed out that chess complements her full-time schooling, linking to various school subjects. Bodhana plans to continue her chess journey, expressing her desire to "keep going" and "keep making history."

The record for the youngest-ever Woman Grandmaster was previously held by Kateryna Lagno, who achieved the rank at 12 years old. British politician Rachel Reeves congratulated Bodhana on social media, calling her a "chess superstar," while acknowledging her young age. Other notable women to earn the title at the age of 12 include Hou Yifan from China and Bodhana's predecessor, Kateryna Lagno.