Chess Prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan, 10, Eyes Grandmaster Title After Making History

LONDON — Bodhana Sivanandan, the 10-year-old chess prodigy from north-west London, continues to be a major talking point in the global chess community following her historic accomplishments at the British Chess Championship. After becoming the youngest person to earn the Woman International Master title, she has reiterated her ambition to become a grandmaster.

The chess world is still buzzing about Bodhana’s victory over 60-year-old Grandmaster Peter Wells. This win in the final round of the championships in Liverpool made her the youngest female player in history to defeat a grandmaster, a feat she accomplished at just 10 years, five months, and three days old. The International Chess Federation highlighted the achievement, noting it broke the previous record by a significant margin.

Experts and fellow players have been quick to praise the young star. International chess master Malcolm Pein reiterated his belief that she is on a brilliant path, possibly to become a world champion. Another commentator, Danny Gormally, remarked that there's a "touch of a Magnus Carlsen or the great Jose Raul Capablanca" about her play, praising her composed and solid style.

The remarkable achievement has also drawn attention to Bodhana's journey, which began during the Covid-19 pandemic when a friend gifted her family a chessboard. Her parents, who are both engineering graduates with no background in the game, have expressed their joy and surprise, stating that their main priority is for her to continue enjoying the game she loves.