An 11-year-old chess star from Harrow has made history by becoming the youngest player ever to achieve the Woman Grandmaster title.
Bodhana Sivanandan secured her third and final Woman Grandmaster norm while representing England at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The achievement puts the Harrow youngster into the record books once again following a remarkable rise through international chess.
Bodhana grew up in Harrow and spent her younger school years at St John Fisher Catholic Primary School in Pinner, where her chess journey developed alongside her education.
Speaking to Harrow Online following her latest achievement, Bodhana said: “I would like to enjoy playing chess and keep going.”
Record-breaking performance for England
Bodhana played all 11 rounds on England’s top board at the Chess Olympiad, the position normally occupied by the team’s strongest player.
She finished the tournament with eight points and secured the final norm needed for the Woman Grandmaster title. At just 11 years old, she has now become the youngest player ever to fulfil the requirements for the title.
Her performance in Uzbekistan also earned her another International Master norm, taking her another step towards one of the higher titles in international chess.
From Harrow to the international stage
Bodhana first began playing chess during the Covid pandemic and has gone on to build an extraordinary record while still at primary school age.
She has previously represented England internationally, competed against some of the world’s strongest players and broken a string of age records.
Earlier this year she also became Britain’s youngest-ever Women’s Chess Champion after winning the women’s title at the British Chess Championships.
Her latest achievement follows another major milestone in 2025, when she became the youngest person to earn the Woman International Master title.
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Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
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