- Bodhana Sivanandan, 11, becomes the youngest player ever to achieve the Woman Grandmaster title
- The British chess prodigy completed the WGM requirements at the 46th Women’s Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
- She also scored her second International Master norm, moving closer to the IM title
- She breaks a record previously held by world number-one GM Hou Yifan, who earned the title at age 12 in 2006
Historic Achievement at Chess Olympiad
British chess sensation FM Bodhana Sivanandan has written another chapter in her remarkable career. The 11-year-old London schoolgirl has become the youngest player ever to achieve the Woman Grandmaster title, completing the requirements at the 46th Women’s Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Playing on the top board for England’s women’s team, Sivanandan delivered an outstanding performance throughout the tournament. She scored 8 out of 11 games, recording six victories, four draws, and just a single loss. The strong result also earned her a second International Master norm, bringing her within reach of the IM title.
Exceptional Performance Against Elite Opposition
During the competition, Sivanandan demonstrated her growing strength by holding draws against formidable opponents, including 16-year-old WFM Anastasiia Hnatyshyn, the reigning European Women’s Champion, and GM Nana Dzagnidze, the former European champion from Georgia.
After securing her final WGM norm in the ninth round, Sivanandan capped her tournament with a convincing victory over Philippines WGM Janelle Mae Frayna in the final round. In that game, she capitalized on her opponent’s middlegame error and executed a technically proficient queen endgame to seal the win.
Rapid Rating Climb
Her performances in Samarkand yielded a rating performance of 2432, earning her 28 rating points. This places her upcoming October rating at 2382, positioning her as the second-highest rated player born in 2015 or later globally, trailing only IM Roman Shogdzhiev.
The achievement breaks a record that had stood for two decades. GM Hou Yifan, the current world number-one, previously held the distinction of being the youngest WGM, achieving the title at age 12 years and three months in 2006.
Building on Previous Records
Sivanandan’s WGM title represents her latest milestone in an already record-breaking chess journey. She previously became the youngest player to achieve the Woman International Master title at age 10 years and five months during the 2025 British Championship, surpassing the previous record holder by approximately one year.
Earlier in 2026, she continued her record-breaking streak by becoming the youngest girl to score an International Master norm at the Dole Open in France—a record previously held by legendary GM Judit Polgar. At the same event, she became the youngest girl to defeat a player rated above 2600 in classical chess, overcoming 2628-rated GM Marc’Andria Maurizzi in the opening round.
She also won the British Women’s Championship in August, becoming its youngest-ever champion after defeating WGM Trisha Kanyamarala in a rapid playoff match.
Eyes on the International Master Title
With a trajectory that has seen her rating climb from below 2200 at the start of the year to approaching 2400, Sivanandan appears poised for further rapid advancement. She currently requires one additional International Master norm and continued rating progress to complete the full IM title.
When asked about her ambitions, Sivanandan expressed her determination to keep pushing boundaries. “I’m happy to do it, but I want to keep going and keep making history as well, instead of just stopping here,” she stated in an interview with FIDE.
From Reserve to Board One
This tournament marked a significant evolution in Sivanandan’s Olympiad experience. She made her Olympiad debut two years earlier in Budapest in 2024 as the youngest player to represent England at the competition, playing on board five as a reserve player. In Samarkand, the England team entrusted her with the top board position, reflecting the confidence they have in her abilities.
In an interview with Chess.com, she reflected on this progression: “In the 1st Chess Olympiad I was the reserve player, and this time I’m the 1st board player, so it’s the opposite end of the table, but I’m still here to enjoy the Olympiad and playing people from all over the world!”
Looking Beyond Chess
Sivanandan balances her chess ambitions with full-time schooling, and she credits her tournaments with providing valuable educational connections. “I like traveling and also because I do full-time school as well, it links to loads of school subjects, so it’s really useful there as well,” she explained to FIDE.
The WGM title will be formally awarded to Sivanandan later in 2026, cementing her place in chess history as the youngest player ever to achieve this distinction.