UK (Commonwealth Union)_ Nine-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan, an Indian-origin chess prodigy hailing from London, is set to make history as the youngest athlete to represent England in any sport. Her debut will take place with the England women’s team at the Chess Olympiad scheduled for September in Budapest. Bodhana’s remarkable talent first garnered widespread recognition in 2022 when, at just eight years old, she became England’s first world youth champion in 25 years. She achieved this feat by triumphing in classical, rapid, and blitz competitions.
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According to media sources, Bodhana’s father, Sivanandan Velayutham, revealed that his daughter received the surprising news while engrossed in chess videos after school on a Tuesday. He typically refrained from informing her about tournaments until shortly before they packed their bags. However, this occasion warranted early notification due to the extensive preparations required. He expressed their family’s joy and satisfaction at her selection, emphasizing, “We are very happy and glad with her selection.”
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Bodhana herself expressed her delight at being chosen to represent England, describing it as a tremendous honor and eagerly anticipating the experience of being part of a team. She said, “I’m so pleased to be picked for England. It’s a great honor and I’m looking forward to being part of a team.” Additionally, Bodhana will be notably younger than her teammates, some of whom are in their twenties, thirties, and even forties. Further highlighting her prowess, Bodhana emerged as the top female player at the European blitz championship held in Zagreb and notably became the youngest player to secure an undefeated result against a grandmaster in a competitive game.
As per media reports, residing in northwest London, Bodhana embarked on her chess journey at the age of five during the pandemic. Accordingly, in the upcoming event, Bodhana will participate alongside other young talents at ChessFest in London, an event organized by Chess in Schools and Communities. Expected to draw over 15,000 attendees, ChessFest promises a day of games and friendship among enthusiasts and grandmasters alike. According to reports, joining Bodhana at ChessFest will be Shreyas Royal, 15, who is on track to become England’s youngest grandmaster. The event will also feature Ethan Pang, the world’s top under-9 player, and Supratit Banerjee, 10, ranked second in his age group globally.
Bodhana Sivanandan, a nine-year-old chess prodigy, etched her name in chess history by securing the first prize in the European Blitz Chess Championship with an impressive score of 8.5/13. Her triumph included victories against several grandmasters throughout the tournament. Adding to her accolades, Bodhana also made headlines when she became the winner of England’s first world youth champion in 25 years, achieving the rare feat of winning the classical, rapid, and blitz titles, the coveted triple crown. Recognizing her exceptional achievement, the European Chess Union extended congratulations for her triumph in the European Blitz Chess Championship’s women’s category, where she earned 211.2 blitz ELO points and was honored with the best women’s player award.
Currently holding the title of Woman Candidate Master, Bodhana was also invited by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to 10 Downing Street this summer, where they engaged in a game of chess. Additionally, Bodhana’s remarkable performance garnered widespread acclaim within the chess community. Accordingly, Romanian International Master Irina Bulmaga, British International Master and commentator Lawrence Trent, and Dominic Lawson, President of the English Chess Federation, all praised her victory as unprecedented for someone so young in the country. Commenting on her playing style, Lawson remarked that she exhibits an exceptionally mature approach, characterized by strategy and patience. Her focus is clearly on the long game, a trait rarely seen at such a young age.
