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A remarkable young British chess player has made waves at a national tournament, securing her position among the world’s top 50 women in the blitz chess category. Bodhana Sivanandan, just ten years old, achieved a stunning feat by winning eight consecutive games at the UK Women’s Blitz Championship held in Royal Leamington Spa. Her victories came against considerably older and highly experienced competitors.
Speaking to the BBC after her impressive run, Bodhana expressed her focus on the game itself rather than on her opponents, stating, “I don’t mind who I compete against, I only care about the game.” Malcolm Pein from the English Chess Federation praised her extraordinary talent, calling her a “generational talent with no equivalent in any other sport.” He further remarked on the unusual nature of her success: “It’s hard to say what is more remarkable – the fact that a 10-year-old is a top seed in a British chess championship, or that she strolls to victory by a huge margin, leaving three other England internationals in her wake.”
Hailing from Harrow in northwest London, Bodhana shared how happy she was with her accomplishment and highlighted the broader benefits of chess in her life, saying, “Chess helps me with so many other things, at school it helps with maths, art and music.” Her father, Siva, expressed pride in her dedication and determination, stating, “She is doing her best, and we are supporting her.” This latest victory adds to a string of extraordinary milestones in Bodhana’s career, including becoming the youngest ever to earn the Woman International Master title earlier this year—the second-highest chess ranking after grandmaster.
Bodhana’s history-making achievements extend beyond national titles. At nine years old, she became the youngest person to represent England internationally across any sport. Looking ahead, she aspires to become the youngest grandmaster in history, a record currently held by American player Abhimanyu Mishra, who achieved the title at just 12 years of age. The blitz format in which Bodhana excels involves fast-paced games where each player has no more than ten minutes to complete their moves
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