Checkmate at 11: Bodhana Sivanandan Tops England Chess Rankings

Indian-origin chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan has emerged as England’s top-rated female chess player, according to the latest rankings released by the International Chess Federation.

The 11-year-old sensation, whose parents hail from Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu and moved to England in 2007, currently holds an impressive FIDE rating of 2366 . Raised in North London, she has surpassed four-time British women’s champion Lan Yao, 25, to claim the No. 1 spot among women players in England.

Marking another milestone, Sivanandan has also broken into the world’s top 100 women players for the first time, securing the 72nd position , the English Chess Federation said in a statement.

Sivanandan’s journey reflects a remarkable rise in a short span. She took up chess during the COVID-19 lockdown , after discovering a chess set her father had intended to discard. From those modest beginnings, she rapidly climbed the ranks to become a Woman International Master , emerging as one of the fastest-rising young talents in world chess.

Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak congratulated the young player, recalling a game he once played with her at Downing Street. “Huge congratulations to Bodhana Sivanandan on becoming England’s top female chess player at just 11 years old… her success has not come as a shock,” he wrote on X.

On the global stage, she has already made a mark, notably defeating Ukraine’s former world champion Mariya Muzychuk at the European Club Cup in Rhodes, Greece.

Praising her meteoric rise, English Chess Federation CEO Richard Walsh described her as a trailblazer, highlighting that her dedication and strong family support have been key to her success.

With her extraordinary progress at a young age , Sivanandan is widely regarded as one of the most promising talents in international chess, with the chess world closely watching her next moves.