Bodhana Sivanandan became the youngest Woman Grandmaster (WGM) in chess history at the age of 11 years on 28 September 2026. She secured her third and final WGM norm at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, while representing England. The WGM title is awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and is one of the recognised women’s titles in chess.
Woman Grandmaster Title
The Woman Grandmaster title is the highest title reserved for women by FIDE, below the open Grandmaster title and the International Master title in the overall title hierarchy. A player earns the WGM title by completing title norms and reaching the required rating threshold under FIDE regulations. Sivanandan also earned a second International Master norm at the same Olympiad, which is a separate title in the open category.
Chess Olympiad and Norms
The Chess Olympiad is a biennial team chess event organised by FIDE. The 46th edition was held in Samarkand, a city in Uzbekistan, and featured national teams from across the world. Sivanandan played on England’s top board in all 11 rounds and scored eight points, which contributed to her final WGM norm and IM norm.
Important Facts for Exams
- Kateryna Lagno of Russia held the previous record for the youngest Woman Grandmaster at 12 years and four months.
- Bodhana Sivanandan began playing chess during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
- She became Britain’s youngest-ever Women’s Chess Champion at the British Chess Championships in Coventry in August 2026.
- She became the youngest female player to defeat a Grandmaster when she beat Peter Wells in August 2025.
Related Chess Records
In July 2025, Sivanandan became the youngest chess player to earn a Woman Grandmaster norm at the age of 10. Her record against Peter Wells was achieved at 10 years, five months, and three days of age. She is a self-taught player from northwest London with Indian heritage.
