Samarkand: Eleven-year-old British-Indian chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan has become the youngest Woman Grandmaster (WGM) in chess history after fulfilling her final title requirements at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Representing England on Board 1, the London schoolgirl played all 11 rounds and scored an impressive eight points to secure her third WGM norm alongside a second International Master (IM) norm. As confirmed by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Sivanandan’s achievement breaks the long-standing record set by Kateryna Lagno, who earned the WGM title in 2002 at the age of 12 years and four months.
Rapid Ascent and Rigorous Standards
Sivanandan’s title confirmation follows a sustained period of elite performance on the international circuit. According to official FIDE rating records, she surpassed the mandatory 2,300 rating threshold required for the WGM title earlier in 2026, reaching a peak rating of 2,374 in May. Earning the WGM title requires stringent performance norms against grandmaster-level competition rather than ceremonial nomination. In an interview published by FIDE, Sivanandan reflected on her record-breaking achievement, stating that while she was thrilled with the milestone, she remains focused on progressing further and pursuing additional history in open competitions.
From Lockdown Beginner to World Record Holder
Sivanandan’s journey to the pinnacle of world chess began during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020, when she taught herself the rules at age five using a chessboard left behind by a family friend. Her extraordinary tactical aptitude saw her sweep all 24 games at the 2022 European Schools Championship before making history in 2024 as the youngest person to represent England in any international sport. Having previously become the youngest player to defeat a classical grandmaster in August 2025, the Harrow pupil continues to balance schoolwork with her rapidly expanding collection of international accolades.