Ten-year-old chess queen making the right moves

Youngest ever Master takes on her rivals at St George's Hall event

- By MEGAN BANNER

THERE was excitement building at St George’s Hall yesterday as a British Chess Master came to take on her peers.

You might think a master of this 1,500 year-old sport would have decades of experience - but you'd be wrong.

Ten-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan has battled her way to the top and was crowned the Woman FIDE Master in 2024 - making her the youngest chess player to earn the title. She travelled up from her home in London with her “proud” mum yesterday to take on players in the British Chess Championships at St George’s Hall.

The schoolgirl told the ECHO about where her chess career began - and surprisingly it was from an unwanted chess board that was bound for a charity shop.