Bodhana Sivanandan Becomes UK’s Best Female Chess Player at 11

Bodhana Sivanandan Becomes Britain’s No. 1 Female Chess Player

Eleven-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan from Harrow is now Britain’s best female chess player. According to the April 2026 FIDE ratings, her rating of 2,366 qualifies her for the top ranking amongst female chess players globally.

Introduction to Chess and Rapid Progress

Sivanandan learned chess when she was only five years old. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she developed an interest after seeing a chessboard at home. With minimal family assistance and participation in club-level chess activities, such as those organized by Harrow Chess Club, she gained fundamental knowledge about the game.

Competitive Success in Tournaments

The European Schools Championship was her first significant tournament, where she won all her games and collected several gold medals. By 2023, she had achieved a FIDE rating of 2,000, securing the Women’s Candidate Master title. She continued performing well in numerous chess tournaments in Europe.

Landmark Achievements

She became the youngest sports personality representing England at the Chess Olympiad in 2024. In 2025, she won against Grandmaster Peter Wells in the British Chess Championships, becoming the youngest woman to defeat a grandmaster in British history.

Key Facts to Remember

• FIDE = Fédération Internationale des Échecs (world chess organization)
• Rating: 2366 (April 2026)
• Title: Women’s Candidate Master
• Youngest English participant in Chess Olympiad (2024)
• Won against a grandmaster (Peter Wells) in 2025

Other Skills and Future Ambitions

Bodhana balances chess, studies, and music lessons. While practicing the violin and piano, she also attends regular classes. She plans to become one of the world’s youngest grandmasters in history.