Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

9-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan aims to become youngest grandmaster

Bodhana is set to join the women’s team at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest this September, a milestone she describes as an honour.

9-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan aims to become youngest grandmaster

"I hope to win," says nine-year-old chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan, who will soon become the youngest person to represent England internationally in any sport.

Bodhana is set to join the women's team at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest this September, a milestone she describes as an honour. She is also clear about her long-term ambition: "I want to become the youngest grandmaster in the world," she told The Times.


Bodhana, from Harrow in northwest London, became the world number one girl under ten in March. Malcolm Pein, manager of the England team, and chess master Leonard Barden have praised her as a remarkable prodigy.

Her parents, Sivanandan and Lakshmy Priya, are puzzled by her talent, as neither they nor her twin sisters play chess competitively. "We never forced her to train; it all came naturally," her mother Lakshmy told the newspaper. Her father, Sivanandan, added, "She was just drawn to it."

Bodhana first encountered chess at age five when a family friend gave her a chess set. During the Covid-19 lockdown, she began watching chess videos online, rapidly advancing her skills. "My husband found free videos for her to watch, and she finished them within a week," Lakshmy said.

In July 2021, she played her first tournament. By March 2022, she won a silver medal at the European Youth Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships. Last December, she became the youngest girl to avoid defeat against a grandmaster in a competitive game at the European Rapid and Blitz Chess Tournament in Croatia.

Bodhana stays calm during games. "I just try to stay calm to find the best moves," she said. Her mother noted that her expression remains unchanged regardless of the outcome.

Bodhana met former prime minister Rishi Sunak last August and inspired her school, St John Fisher Catholic Primary, to set up a chess club.

Bodhana also plays the violin and piano, excels in maths, and links chess with pattern recognition and calculation, reported The Times.

She trains for an hour daily and competes in tournaments on weekends. The English Chess Federation provides her with weekly online training.

Bodhana hopes to inspire more girls to play chess, where currently 69 per cent of players in the UK are male. "A few more girls are starting to play, but I would love to encourage more," she told the newspaper.

She faced over 40 amateurs on Sunday afternoon at ChessFest in Trafalgar Square.

At the event, her father told BBC London: "We don't want to get too excited or carried away, but quietly entertain her chess passion."

ChessFest is the UK's largest chess event, catering to anyone who loves chess or wants to learn to play.

More For You

Syed Abid Ali

Abid Ali made his Test debut in December 1967 against Australia in Adelaide, taking 6/55 in the first innings—his best bowling figures in Test cricket. (Photo: BCCI)

Former India allrounder Syed Abid Ali passes away at 83

FORMER India allrounder Syed Abid Ali died on Wednesday after a prolonged illness. He was 83.

Abid Ali, who was known for his all-round abilities and sharp fielding, passed away in the United States. He was part of a distinguished group of Hyderabad cricketers that included MAK Pataudi, ML Jaisimha, and Abbas Ali Baig.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ben Stokes considered to lead England’s white-ball teams after Buttler’s exit

Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes considered to lead England’s white-ball teams after Buttler’s exit

Eastern Eye

ENGLAND cricket chiefs are considering Test captain Ben Stokes as a potential leader for the struggling white-ball teams following Jos Buttler’s resignation.

Rob Key, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) managing director for men’s cricket, confirmed last week that “nothing’s off the table” when it comes to finding Buttler’s replacement for both the 50-over and Twenty20 sides.

Keep ReadingShow less
All England Open: Satwik-Chirag duo storm into second round

FILE PHOTO: Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (Photo by Morgan Harlow/Getty Images)

All England Open: Satwik-Chirag duo storm into second round

INDIA's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty advanced to the second round of the men’s doubles competition at the All England Open with a straight-game victory over Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard on Wednesday (12).

Returning to the court after his father’s loss last month, Satwik, along with his doubles partner Chirag, put on an impressive display, securing a 21-17, 21-15 win in just 40 minutes.

Keep ReadingShow less
London Marathon 2025

Historic race set to feature the biggest field ever

iStock

London Marathon 2025 set to welcome record-breaking number of runners

The 2025 London Marathon is set to break records as the world’s largest marathon, with over 56,000 runners expected to cross the finish line on Sunday, 27 April. This would surpass the current record held by the New York Marathon, which saw 55,646 participants complete the race in November.

This year's event has already seen record-breaking interest, with more than 840,000 people applying for the ballot, far exceeding the previous record of 578,304 set in 2024. Of the UK applicants, 49% were female, and applications from those aged 20-29 saw a notable 105% rise, reflecting growing participation across younger demographics.

Keep ReadingShow less
Harry Brook

Brook was vice-captain of the England squad which suffered an early exit from the Champions Trophy after losing all three group games. (Photo: Getty Images)

Brook faces IPL ban after Delhi Capitals no show

ENGLAND batsman Harry Brook pulled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the second successive year, a decision that could trigger a ban from future editions.

Brook was signed by Delhi Capitals in December 2023, but pulled out of last year's campaign following the death of his grandmother.

Keep ReadingShow less