Mumbai, September 30: In a remarkable achievement, 11-year-old Bodhana Shivnandan has become the youngest woman Grandmaster (WGM) in chess history. The British player of Indian origin secured her title during the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where she achieved her third and final WGM norm. Bodhana has broken the previous record held by Russian player Kateryna Lagno, who earned the title at the age of 12.
Originally from Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, Bodhana has been raised in London. In addition to her WGM title, she also earned her second International Master (IM) norm during the tournament. The WGM title is the highest honor awarded to female chess players, while the Grandmaster (GM) and IM titles are open to all players.
Bodhana played all 11 rounds on the top board for England during the Olympiad, scoring an impressive 8 points. Her achievement not only highlights her exceptional talent but also adds to India’s growing prominence in the chess world.
This milestone is expected to inspire many young chess enthusiasts across the country and beyond.