Chess fans across the United Kingdom are buzzing after ten-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan, a prodigy from Harrow Primary School, delivered a stunning performance at the UK Open Blitz Championships in Royal Leamington Spa over the weekend. With nerves of steel and a mind sharper than ever, Bodhana not only clinched the women’s first prize of £500 but also made history in a series of ways that have left the chess world awestruck.
Sivanandan, who began playing chess during the COVID-19 lockdown, scored an extraordinary 13.5 out of 15 points in the fiercely contested event. The championship, held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, saw her outmaneuver much older and more experienced rivals. She won eight consecutive games in the UK Women's Blitz Championship, a feat that earned her a coveted place among the top 50 women worldwide in the blitz category—a remarkable achievement for someone so young.
Her journey through the tournament was nothing short of electrifying. In the penultimate round, she faced defending champion Elmira Mirzoeva. The match teetered on a knife’s edge until Mirzoeva made a crucial pawn error in what was otherwise a winning rook endgame, handing victory to Sivanandan. That pivotal moment all but sealed Bodhana’s dominance in the women’s field, and her cool composure under pressure was evident to all in attendance.
"I don't mind who I compete against, I only care about the game," Bodhana told the BBC after her win, capturing the fearless spirit that has propelled her to the forefront of British chess. Her father, Siva, echoed the family’s pride: "She is doing her best, and we are supporting her." Such unwavering support seems to be a key ingredient in her extraordinary ascent.
Malcolm Pein, a prominent figure in the English Chess Federation, didn’t mince words in his praise. "It's hard to say what is more remarkable – the fact that a 10-year-old is a top seed in a British chess championship, or that she strolls to victory by a huge margin, leaving three other England internationals in her wake," Pein remarked, also calling Bodhana a "generational talent with no equivalent in any other sport." High praise indeed!
Bodhana’s recent triumph is just the latest in a string of historic milestones. Born in London in 2015 to parents from Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, she has been smashing records with a regularity that belies her age. Earlier this year, at just 10 years, five months, and three days old, she became the youngest female chess player ever to defeat a grandmaster by besting 60-year-old Grandmaster Peter Wells at the British Chess Championships in Liverpool. That victory shattered the previous record held by American Carissa Yip since 2019 and also earned Bodhana her first Woman Grandmaster (WGM) norm—another feather in her already crowded cap.
But the accolades don’t stop there. In August 2025, Bodhana achieved the Woman International Master (WIM) title, the second-highest ranking in chess, making her the youngest person ever to do so. This accomplishment placed her in elite company, and her ambitions show no sign of slowing down. She’s made it clear she wants to become the youngest grandmaster in history—a record currently held by American Abhimanyu Mishra, who claimed the title at the age of just 12. With the momentum she’s built, who would bet against her?
Last month, Bodhana’s star shone brightly on the European stage as well. Competing at the European Club Cup in Greece, she defeated none other than former World Champion Grandmaster Mariya Muzychuk while representing the She Plays to Win Lionesses, the 12th-seeded team in the competition. Victories like these have thrust Bodhana into the international spotlight and cemented her reputation as one of the brightest young talents in the game today.
Her rapid rise has been nothing short of meteoric. In 2024, at just nine years old, Bodhana became the youngest person to represent England internationally in any sport at the Chess Olympiad in Hungary. That record-breaking appearance was a sign of things to come, as she continues to blaze a trail for a new generation of English chess talent. Her story is inspiring countless youngsters to pick up the game, proving that age is no barrier to excellence on the sixty-four squares.
Chess insiders and fans alike have marveled at her maturity and presence at the board. When asked about the impact of chess on her life, Bodhana said, "Chess helps me with so many other things, at school it helps with maths, art and music." Her holistic approach to the game and its benefits stands as a testament to the power of chess in developing young minds.
The UK Open Blitz Championships also saw notable performances in the open section. Daniel Gormally, a 49-year-old grandmaster from Alnwick, took the Open Blitz title and a £1,000 prize with 11.5 out of 15 points. He narrowly edged out 16-year-old Stanley Badacsonyi from north London by just half a point, with top players like GM Gawain Maroroa Jones and Frederick Waldhausen Gordon finishing close behind. Badacsonyi, despite not yet having any International Master norms, is showing all the signs of a dedicated and creative player with a bright future ahead.
Blitz chess, the format in which Bodhana has excelled, is a high-octane variant where each player has no more than ten minutes to complete all their moves. The pace is relentless, the pressure intense, and only the sharpest minds can consistently thrive. Bodhana’s ability to outthink seasoned competitors in this format speaks volumes about her tactical acumen and nerves.
As the chess world digests Bodhana Sivanandan’s latest achievements, attention is already turning to her next moves—both on and off the board. Will she continue her march toward the grandmaster title and rewrite the record books yet again? For now, one thing’s for certain: England’s chess scene is in the midst of a youth-driven renaissance, and Bodhana is leading the charge with poise, brilliance, and an infectious love for the game.
With her eyes set on new horizons and her name already etched in chess history, Bodhana Sivanandan is proving that the future of the sport is in exceptionally capable hands.
