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11-Year-Old Bodhana Sivanandan Becomes Youngest Woman Grandmaster

By Drooid · Sep 28, 2026, 4:26 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Bodhana Sivanandan, 11, earned the Woman Grandmaster title at the Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan.
Sivanandan secured her third WGM norm on England’s top board, scoring eight points in eleven games.
She became the youngest ever WGM, surpassing Kateryna Lagno’s record.
She also earned a second International Master norm, moving toward the open IM title.
She taught herself chess during Covid lockdowns using YouTube after finding an old board.

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Story summary

Bodhana Sivanandan, 11, earned the Woman Grandmaster title at the Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan.
Sivanandan secured her third WGM norm on England’s top board, scoring eight points in eleven games.
She became the youngest ever WGM, surpassing Kateryna Lagno’s record.
She also earned a second International Master norm, moving toward the open IM title.
She taught herself chess during Covid lockdowns using YouTube after finding an old board.