July 3rd 2024.
Bodhana Sivanandan is known as one of the brightest chess prodigies of our time. At just nine years old, she is about to make history as the youngest player ever to represent England on the international stage in any sport. This impressive young girl has been chosen to join England's women's chess team and will make her debut at the upcoming Chess Olympiad in Budapest this September. When Bodhana heard the news, she was overjoyed and expressed her gratitude, saying, "I am so honored to be selected for England. I am excited to be a part of a team and to represent my country."
Hailing from London, Bodhana began playing chess during the Covid-19 pandemic at the tender age of five. Despite her young age, she has already taken the chess world by storm. In 2022, she achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the world youth champion, a title that England had not won in over 25 years. She swept the competition, winning the classical, rapid, and blitz titles. It is worth noting that Bodhana is over a decade younger than her youngest teammate, 23-year-old Lan Yao. Her fellow England teammates, Katarzyna Toma, Jovanka Houska, and Harriet Hunt, are all in their thirties and forties.
Bodhana's father, Sivanandan Velayutham, revealed that she found out about her selection after coming home from school one afternoon. He shared, "I usually don't tell her about a tournament until a day or two before we have to pack our bags, but this time is different. There is a lot to prepare for, and we are thrilled and proud of her selection." After her incredible achievements in 2022, Bodhana received high praise from Lawrence Trent, a renowned chess commentator and international master, who described her as "one of the greatest talents I've witnessed in recent memory."
The young chess prodigy also had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last year, adding another impressive highlight to her already remarkable journey. Bodhana is part of a golden generation of emerging talents, as highlighted by Malcolm Pein, who helped select England's team. He remarked, "At just nine years old, she must be the youngest person ever to represent England in an international sporting competition." This is a testament to her exceptional skills and dedication to the game.
It is worth noting that Bodhana is among the new wave of chess players who picked up the sport during the lockdown period, a trend that has been attributed to the popularity of the Netflix show, The Queen's Gambit. This mini-series, starring Anya Taylor-Joy, tells the story of fictional chess prodigy Beth Harmon. It has been credited with inspiring a new generation of chess players, including Bodhana. With her impressive talent and achievements at such a young age, Bodhana is undoubtedly one to watch in the world of chess. We can't wait to see what she will accomplish in the future.
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