Nine-Year-Old Chess Prodigy Makes History as Youngest Player to Represent England Internationally

Nine-year-old chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan has made history by becoming the youngest player to represent England internationally in any sport. The young girl from Harrow, North West London, will join England’s women’s chess team at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest in September.

Bodhana’s journey in chess began at the age of five during the pandemic, and she has set her sights on becoming a grandmaster, England’s youngest Olympic gold medallist, and eventually winning a world title. In 2022, she made headlines by winning the world youth championship, marking England’s first victory in over 25 years.

Despite being just nine years old, Bodhana will be competing alongside teammates who are at least 20 years older than her, including her youngest teammate Lan Yao, 23. The record-breaking announcement has been attributed to the growing talent pool in chess, with some crediting the popular Netflix show “The Queen’s Gambit” for inspiring new players.

Bodhana’s impressive achievements include winning titles in classical, rapid, and blitz competitions at the youth world championship and being crowned the best female player at the European blitz championship in Zagreb. Renowned chess commentator Lawrence Trent has praised her talent, calling her play “truly breathtaking.”

The young prodigy’s journey has been filled with remarkable moments, from playing chess with the Prime Minister at Downing Street to participating in London’s ChessFest alongside other young talents. Bodhana’s passion for the game started with rescuing a chessboard from the rubbish, and she has since dedicated herself to mastering the game with the support of her family.

As Bodhana prepares to represent England on the international stage, her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring chess players of all ages. With her determination and talent, she is poised to make a significant impact on the world of chess for years to come.