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Indian-origin chess prodigy wins UK blitz title
Born in London in 2015 to parents from Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, Sivanandan began playing chess during the COVID lockdown
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Pranavi Sharma - Mon, 24, Nov 2025
- 23:27 EST
- 13
Bodhana Sivanandan. / Via Chess.com
Ten-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan won the women’s first prize at the UK Open Blitz Championships in Leamington Spa on Nov. 22, marking another milestone in her rise as one of the most promising young chess players in Britain. She scored 13.5 out of 15 points and received £500.
Sivanandan, a student at Harrow Primary School, built her win on steady play throughout the tournament. One of the most decisive moments came in the penultimate round when defending champion Elmira Mirzoeva held a strong position. Mirzoeva blundered a pawn in a winning rook endgame, and Sivanandan converted the chance with accuracy.
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Speaking to the BBC, Sivanandan said she focuses on competition rather than opponents. “I don’t mind who I compete against, I only care about the game," she said. She also described how chess supports other areas of her education. “Chess helps me with so many other things. At school it helps with maths, art and music.”
The victory continues a year of high-profile results. In October, she gained international attention at the European Club Cup in Greece after defeating former world champion Mariya Muzychuk while representing the She Plays to Win Lionesses.
Earlier in 2025 at the British Chess Championships in Liverpool, she became the youngest female player to defeat a grandmaster, surpassing a record set in 2019. She also achieved a Women’s Grandmaster norm during the event.
Born in London in 2015 to parents from Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, Sivanandan began playing chess during the COVID lockdown and represented England at the 2024 Chess Olympiad. Her latest win strengthens her position as one of the leading young talents in English chess.
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