Ten-year-old Bodhana Sivananda, living in London, has made new history in the world of chess. She earned the title of International Master and became the youngest female chess player to ever receive this title. In addition, at the beginning of August, she became the youngest girl to defeat a grandmaster at the British Championship, reports BBC.
According to information, Sivananda achieved victory at the age of 10 years, 5 months, and 3 days. Thus, she broke the record set by American Carissa Yip in 2019 (10 years, 11 months, and 20 days). The British Chess Federation described this achievement as one of the brightest events in the country’s chess history.
The “International Master (Women)” title is the second-highest rank after Grandmaster, and obtaining it is considered a major achievement for any chess player. The title of Grandmaster, however, is the highest possible title and is held for life.
Sivananda’s interest in chess began during the pandemic when she was only 5 years old. Her first chessboard was a gift from a friend of her father who was preparing to return to India. At first, the girl used the chess pieces as toys, but soon she became deeply interested in learning the rules of the game.
Interestingly, no one in her family is interested in or plays chess professionally. Her father, Siva, and her mother both work in engineering and never took chess seriously. Nevertheless, the girl’s talent quickly revealed itself and made her name known worldwide.
A year ago, Bodhana became the youngest British athlete to join the national chess team. Now, she is considered an inspiration not only for her homeland but for the entire chess world.
Experts believe that this victory will further increase young people’s interest in chess and significantly contribute to the popularization of intellectual sports in the United Kingdom.
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