Rishi Sunak Applauds Young Chess Sensation Bodhana Sivanandan's Remarkable Achievement
On April 3, 2026, British politician and former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took to social media platform X to extend his heartfelt congratulations to Bodhana Sivanandan, an 11-year-old Indian-origin chess prodigy from Harrow, who has recently ascended to the position of England's top female chess player.
Sunak's Personal Connection and Praise
In his post, Sunak wrote, "Huge congratulations to Bodhana Sivanandan on becoming England’s top female chess player at just 11 years old." He added a personal anecdote, revealing, "We once played each other in the Downing Street garden," and noted that her success did not come as a shock, underscoring her evident talent and dedication.
Who is Bodhana Sivanandan?
Bodhana Sivanandan was born on March 7, 2015, in London, to parents who had relocated to the United Kingdom from Tiruchirappalli, India, in 2007. Her recent achievement includes securing the 72nd position in the International Chess Federation's global women's rankings, making her the top-rated female player in England with an impressive rating of 2,366. This accomplishment has led her to replace 25-year-old Lan Yao, who previously held the top spot.
Early Beginnings and Rapid Rise
Sivanandan's journey into chess began at the tender age of five. During the pandemic, she discovered a chessboard that her father, an IT professional, had intended to donate to charity. Her father recounted to The Times, "I said it’s a game but she didn’t believe me, so I had to put on a YouTube video to explain. Then she asked about the rules — I knew just the very, very basics. Slowly her interest got better and better, and she started playing better as well, so we kept playing more and more chess."
Her talent quickly became apparent. At just seven years old, she competed in the European Schools Championship in 2022, winning all 24 of her matches and securing three gold medals. In 2023, she earned the official FIDE title of Women's Candidate Master after her rating surpassed 2,000.
Record-Breaking Milestones
The year 2024 marked another historic moment when Sivanandan became the youngest person ever to represent England in any sport, selected for the Chess Olympiad in Hungary. A year later, in August 2025, she achieved yet another feat by becoming the youngest female player to defeat a grandmaster, besting 60-year-old Peter Wells at the British Chess Championships in Liverpool.
Aspiring for Greater Heights
Currently a sixth-year student, Sivanandan harbors ambitious goals, aiming to become the youngest grandmaster in history. She follows in the footsteps of other British chess prodigies, such as Shreyas Royal, who became the UK's youngest grandmaster at age 15 in 2024, and Supratit Banerjee, a 12-year-old recently elevated to the rank of master.
Her story is a testament to perseverance, skill, and the growing influence of Indian-origin talents in global sports, inspiring many with her rapid ascent in the competitive world of chess.
