Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has shared a personal moment with rising chess star Bodhana Sivanandan, after the 11-year-old became England’s top-ranked female player.
In a post on X, Rishi Sunak congratulated the young prodigy and revealed that he had once played a game of chess with her in the Downing Street garden, long before her rapid rise through the rankings.
What Rishi Sunak Shared?
Rishi Sunak wrote: “Huge congratulations to Bodhana Sivanandan on becoming England’s top female chess player at just 11 years old. We once played each other in the Downing Street garden. Let’s just say her success has not come as a shock.”
Huge congratulations to Bodhana Sivanandan on becoming England’s top female chess player at just 11 years old.
We once played each other in the Downing Street garden. Let’s just say her success has not come as a shock! pic.twitter.com/KZ2EcXysyO
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) April 2, 2026
The rise of Sivanandan Bodhana from North London has been amazing in 2026.
Read More
She has achieved great consistency with all her performances at both national and international events, which have contributed to improving her position compared to many established players in such a short time.
Her latest accomplishment is being ranked number one among female players in England, which is an incredible achievement for someone only 11 years old.
Sivanandan has also risen into the top 100 players worldwide for the first time, according to ratings produced by the English Chess Federation, and today sits at 72nd place in the world.
Read More
One of the key moments in her rise came when she overtook four-time British Women’s Champion Lan Yao in the latest rankings.
The jump is not just about being able to progress, but also consistent ability, which can be hard to find at such a young age.
Sivanandan’s rating has now surpassed the top-rated female players in the UK and shows how she is starting to dominate the National circuit.
Having been born in London in 2015 to parents who are originally from Tiruchirappalli (India), the chess world has had Bodhana Sivanandan on their radar for a while, but 2026 has seen her blossom.
Rishi Sunak’s narrative adds an added layer of depth to this entire story, showing that Sivanandan’s ability was easily visible from an early age.
Considering all of these aspects, we could be witnessing the beginning of an exciting career.
Read More
Also Read: How India’s Chess Champions Are Reshaping The Global Board Rankings?
