Bodhana Sivanandan, a 10-year-old chess prodigy from Harrow, London, has become the youngest ever Woman International Master, this after competing in the 2025 British Chess Championship in Liverpool on August 10. She made history by becoming the youngest female to beat a grandmaster.
Bodhana’s new title is the second-highest awarded exclusively to women, just below Woman Grandmaster. She began playing chess during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you are reminded of the young protagonist of the 2020 Netflix miniseries 'The Queen's Gambit,' you are not alone. The TV show brought into the spotlight a game that often sits in the shadows: chess. Dating back to the 6th century, chess has a rich history and is a game that over the years has taken on political, social, and cultural importance.
Check out this gallery to learn all about the history of chess.