The International Chess Federation (FIDE) ranking list is out, and we have an Indian-origin chess prodigy who has made her presence known as England’s top-ranked player today. 11-year-old youngster Bodhana Sivanandan has earned the FIDE rating of 2366 points.
Her ranking has now surpassed four-time British women’s champion, Lan Yao. In addition to that she has also made her entry among the world’s top 100 women for the first time in her career. She currently sits at number 72.
Sivanandan’s parents had relocated from Tamil Nadu to England in 2007. She is a primary school student studying in North London.
In a press release, the English Chess Federation shared the news about Sivanandan’s ranking.
“It is an extraordinary rise for a Harrow schoolgirl who took up the game during (the 2020 COVID-19) lockdown after finding a chessboard and a set in a bag her father wanted to throw out,” the release stated.
Sivanandan was named the Woman International Master last year. Meanwhile, at the European Club Cup in Rhodes, Greece, she had defeated Ukraine’s former world champion and Grandmaster Mariya Muzychuk.
Former British PM acknowledge Sivanandan
Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who also comes from an Indian origin, had congratulated Sivanandan on his social media post on X. He also recalled the time when he played with her at his official residence.
His post read, “Huge congratulations to Bodhana Sivanandan on becoming England’s top female chess player at just 11 years old. We once played each other in the Downing Street garden. Let’s just say her success has not come as a shock.”
After Sunak, English Chess Federation CEO Richard Walsh also congratulated Sivanandan on her achievement.
“She is blazing a trail not just for women and girls in the game, but for all chess players in England. Across all sports, she must be one of the most prodigious talents England has ever produced. We cannot wait to see what she can do in her career. Bodhana has worked so hard, her family have worked so hard, and now she is competing at the highest level, flying the flag,” he said.
