Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

British Indian prodigy creates history in European chess championship

Bodhana Sivanandan, 8, from Harrow won the European blitz chess championship

British Indian prodigy creates history in European chess championship

AN eight-year-old British Indian schoolgirl has made history after being named the “super talented” best female player at a European chess championship.

Bodhana Sivanandan, from Harrow in north-west London, won the European blitz chess Championship in Zagreb, Croatia, over the weekend.


During the event, she went head-to-head with some of the best players in the world and defeated an international master to win the crown.

“Eight-year-old super talented Bodhana Sivanandan (ENG, 1944) made an astonishing result in the Blitz competition. She scored 8.5/13 points to win the first women prize and earn 211.2 blitz ELO points,” said a statement from the European rapid and blitz chess championships, which concluded in on Sunday (17).

Praise for the chess prodigy has since been pouring in on social media, with leading professionals highlighting her “unbelievable” performance.

“I always try my best to win, sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t,” Bodhana told the BBC after her win.

Father Siva Sivanandan said his daughter was “trying her best and it has worked in favour of her”.

“She likes chess and she likes travelling. We keep trying and keep going,” he said.

Dominic Lawson, president of the English Chess Federation, termed her achievement "extraordinary" for an eight-year-old, unprecedented in the country.

Lawson commended her mature playing style, describing it as strategic and patient, emphasizing her aptitude for the long game.

British International Master and commentator Lawrence Trent praised her as one of the greatest talents he's witnessed, expressing confidence that she will become England's greatest player and possibly one of the game's all-time greats.

Sivanandan took up chess at age five during the pandemic after discovering a chess set in a bag given by her father’s friend.

The young champion expressed uncertainty about her chances in the upcoming International Chess Congress in Hastings, East Sussex on 28 December.

She has shared her aspirations to become a grandmaster, England’s youngest Olympic gold medalist, and eventually secure a world title.

A few months ago, Sivanandan was among a group of young chess enthusiasts invited by prime minister Rishi Sunak to 10 Downing Street to mark the government’s major new £1 million investment package for the game.

The package has since been in place to support children attending schools in disadvantaged areas across England to learn and play chess, improve visibility and availability of the game and fund elite playing.

(with inputs from PTI)

More For You

england-india-lords-getty

The match ended when Shoaib Bashir bowled Mohammed Siraj for four.

getty images

Jadeja's valiant effort falls short as England win thriller at Lord’s

ENGLAND defeated India by 22 runs on the final day of the third test at Lord’s on Monday to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

The match ended when Shoaib Bashir bowled Mohammed Siraj for four. Siraj had tried to defend the ball, but it rolled off his bat and hit the stumps, leaving him looking back in disbelief. As England players celebrated, Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten on 61 and walked off after coming close to pulling off a remarkable win for India.

Keep ReadingShow less
india-england-lords-getty

Brydon Carse celebrates dismissing Karun Nair during day four of the 3rd Test between England and India at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 13, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

India stumble after bowling out England, third Test set for final-day finish

INDIA were left needing 135 more runs to win with six wickets in hand after a top-order collapse on the fourth day of the third Test against England at Lord’s on Sunday.

Chasing 193 for victory, India ended the day on 58-4 after earlier bowling out England for 192 in their second innings. Washington Sundar was the pick of the bowlers with 4-22, dismissing Joe Root, Jamie Smith and England captain Ben Stokes on an increasingly challenging surface.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sinner-Wimbledon-Trophy-Getty

Sinner said he was living his 'dream', receiving a loud reaction from the Centre Court crowd. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Sinner claims maiden Wimbledon crown, beats Alcaraz in final

Highlights:

  • Sinner becomes the first Italian man to win singles at the All England Club
  • Sinner avenges French Open loss, wins in four sets
  • Sinner and Alcaraz have now shared the last seven Grand Slam titles

Jannik Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday to win his first Wimbledon title and take revenge for his loss to the Spaniard in the French Open final.

Keep ReadingShow less
Crawley's last-over 'theatrics' ignite time-wasting controversy at Lord's

England's Zak Crawley clashes with India's Shubman Gill. Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Crawley's last-over 'theatrics' ignite time-wasting controversy at Lord's

A GRIPPING third day of the third Test at Lord’s ended in controversy on Saturday (12) as England opener Zak Crawley was accused of time-wasting, with tempers flaring between players from both sides.

What began as a tense cricketing contest turned into a verbal battle, as England and India pointed fingers at each other over questionable delays late in the day.

Keep ReadingShow less
Iga Swiatek crushes Anisimova to claim historic Wimbledon title

Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates with the trophy after winning the women's singles final against Amanda Anisimova of the US. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

Iga Swiatek crushes Anisimova to claim historic Wimbledon title

IGA SWIATEK took another stride towards tennis greatness by ruthlessly tearing apart American 13th seed Amanda Anisimova 6-0 6-0 and lifting her first Wimbledon trophy on Saturday (12).

The big occasion turned into a nightmare for Anisimova who became the first woman to lose a Wimbledon final by that painful scoreline since 1911 and the first to do so at any major since Steffi Graf routed Natasha Zvereva at the 1988 French Open.

Keep ReadingShow less