Meet Bodhana Sivanandan: The 11-Year-Old Girl in the Women's Top 100 — And Why She Should Inspire Your Child
By Lalit Akhade, Founder & Head Coach, ChessMates Academy · Published 2026-04-26 · 8 min read
The 11-Year-Old Who Just Entered the World's Top 100 Women
Her name is Bodhana Sivanandan. She is 11 years old. She lives in England. She is of Indian origin. And as of April 2026, she is ranked among the top 100 women chess players in the entire world.
In a single month, Bodhana gained 98 FIDE rating points, reaching a live rating of 2366. She is now the 72nd ranked women's player globally, the 8th ranked girl in the world, and the 2nd ranked player under age 11.
If you are a parent who has been wondering whether to enrol your child in chess classes — particularly if your child is a girl — Bodhana's story is the one to bookmark.
Who Is Bodhana Sivanandan?
Bodhana is an English FIDE Master of Indian heritage. She became famous in chess circles when she competed in the Chess Olympiad at a very young age and performed spectacularly against adult international players. Since then she has continued her rapid ascent, consistently gaining rating points through a combination of tournament performance and exceptional training.
She plays with aggression, creativity, and a calm maturity that belies her age. She has defeated titled players rated hundreds of points above her.
The 98-Point Month — What It Actually Means
Gaining 98 FIDE rating points in a single month is extraordinary at any level. Most players gain or lose a few points per tournament. Gaining nearly 100 in 30 days signals a sudden crystallisation of months and years of training into competitive results.
Chess coaches describe these as "breakthrough moments" — periods when all the patterns learned in training suddenly start firing in real games. For parents, this means something important: don't measure your child's chess progress only by immediate tournament results. The learning happens continuously. The breakthrough moment comes when it's ready — and it is almost always dramatic when it does.
Why Girls in Chess Need Role Models Like Bodhana
What the data actually shows is that the gender gap in chess performance correlates with participation rates, not ability. Countries where girls participate at similar rates to boys produce similar levels of female performance. The gap is cultural, not cognitive.
Bodhana Sivanandan — British-Indian, 11 years old, top 100 in the world — is one of the most powerful counter-arguments to the lingering perception that chess is a boy's game.
The Indian Chess Diaspora Connection
Bodhana's background is particularly relevant for Indian families living abroad — in the UK, UAE, Singapore, and Australia. Indian-origin children competing in international chess increasingly arrive with structured online training that gives them a head start.
What Bodhana's Journey Teaches Parents
- Start early, but it's never too late. Players make breakthroughs at all ages.
- Consistency beats intensity. Regular training — weekly lessons, daily puzzles, consistent tournament play — builds the foundation for breakthrough moments.
- Find good coaching. Behind every exceptional young player is quality instruction.
- Let them love the game. Children who are genuinely excited about chess develop faster.
- Support, don't pressure. Your job as a parent is to provide access, encouragement, and patience.
Bodhana's journey is extraordinary. Your child's can be too. Book a free trial class at ChessMates and give your child the foundation to write their own chess story.