Bodhana Sivanandan is only 10 years old but she already has shocked the chess world. The young player from London has stunned everyone with her focus, skill, and confidence.

Bodhana started playing when she was only five, after getting her first chess set during the COVID lockdown. She says she loves chess because “I like to play harder opponents so if I lose, I can learn from them.”

Before chess, Bodhana was a curious kid who loved using her mind. Her parents, both engineering graduates, discovered her interest when a friend donated toys, including a chessboard that caught her eye. Her father downloaded Chess.com and helped her learn by watching its videos, supporting her while balancing school and her many interests. Bodhana also enjoys music and reading, and is often described by her family as a normal, creative kid with big dreams.

By eight, she had already become a triple world youth champion, winning in classical, rapid, and blitz chess, something no English player had done in 25 years. In 2025, she made history again by becoming the youngest player ever to earn a Woman Grandmaster norm, breaking a long-standing record. Soon after, she defeated Grandmaster Peter Wells at the British Chess Championships, which gave her the Woman International Master title.

Her success has also drawn attention to her Tamil heritage, with many in the Indian community celebrating her rise in chess. Commentators say her calm and creative style is far beyond her age, with one even calling her play “magical.”

For Bodhana, this is only the beginning.