Latest news with #WomanInternationalMaster
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This 10-Year-Old Girl Just Became the Youngest Ever Woman International Master in Chess
Bodhana Sivanandan attained the title after she beat a 60-year-old Grandmaster during a tournament in Liverpool, England, on Aug. 10 NEED TO KNOW A 10-year-old girl just became the youngest person ever to win the Woman International Master title in chess Bodhana Sivanandan, from London, took the title at a tournament in Liverpool, England, on Aug. 10 Bodhana 'pulled off the win' after she beat '60-year-old Grandmaster Peter Wells,' per the International Chess Federation A 10-year-old girl just became the youngest person ever to win the Woman International Master Title in chess. Bodhana Sivanandan, from London, took the title on Sunday, Aug. 10, at a tournament in Liverpool, England, the International Chess Federation announced on X. 'British sensation Bodhana Sivanandan has made history by becoming the youngest female chess player ever to beat a grandmaster!' the Federation wrote in their post. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. They added that Bodhana 'pulled off the win' after she beat '60-year-old Grandmaster Peter Wells in the last round of the 2025 British Chess Championships.' Grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can achieve, and the rank is held for life. Bodhana's new title, Woman International Master, is the second-highest title for women, and it is second only to Woman Grandmaster, per the BBC. Bodhana's victory at 10 years, five months and three days bumped the previous 2019 record, which was held by American player Carissa Yip at 10 years, 11 months and 20 days. As to where Bodhana got her epic chess skills? Her father says it's a mystery. "I'm an engineering graduate, as is my wife, but I'm not good at chess,' he previously told the BBC. "I tried a couple of league games, but I was very poor." Bodhana began playing the game during the pandemic when one of her father's friends left a bag of his belongings at their house before moving to India — and one of the items he left was a chessboard, the outlet reported. "I was interested in the pieces so I started playing,' she told the BBC, adding that playing chess makes her feel 'good' and helps her with "lots of other things like maths, how to calculate." Bodhana typically practices chess for about an hour after school and also plays in tournaments on weekends to keep her skills sharp, the outlet reported. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! While attending Trafalgar Square's ChessFest in London in July 2024, Bodhana told the BBC that she doesn't typically get intimidated by her opponents, despite the fact that many of them are old enough to be her grandparents. 'I don't really notice who I'm playing. I just play the board,' she said at the time."My advice to those wanting to learn is that if you lose a game, you should try and learn from it,' she added. Read the original article on People
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Meet the 10-year-old chess player making history
Meet 10-year-old chess player just made history thanks to her super impressive chess has become the youngest person to earn the woman international master title - the second highest level a player can ever her amazing feat doesn't stop also became the youngest female player to beat a chess grandmaster (the highest title a chess player can get) at the recent 2025 British Chess Championship. Bodhana's win is not only a massive achievement for someone her age, but an incredible win for anyone of any age started playing chess in 2020, at the age of five, and when she first began - she initially thought that the chess pieces were toys! Bodhana explained: "I saw a chessboard, and I was interested in the pieces."I wanted to use the pieces as toys. Instead, my dad said that I could play the game, and then I started from there," she quickly progressed and her natural talent for the sport shone year, aged nine years old, she was selected to represent thought that Bodhana is the youngest person ever to represent England internationally in any why does she like the chess?According to Bodhana, chess makes her feel "good" and helps her with "lots of other things like maths, how to calculate".She says she now hopes to achieve her ultimate goal of becoming a grandmaster - the highest title a chess player can achieve.
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First Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Graphics: How Bodhana Sivanandan became the youngest female to defeat a Grandmaster
Let's take a look at the journey of Bodhana Sivanandan, a 10-year-old British chess prodigy of Indian origin, who became the youngest female to defeat a Grandmaster. She also earned her Woman International Master title and first Woman Grandmaster norm in the same event. Bodhana Sivanandan, a 10-year-old British girl of Indian origin, has just etched her name in history books. She stunned the chess world by becoming the youngest female player ever to defeat a Grandmaster. The chess prodigy beat 60-year-old English GM Peter Wells in the final round of the 2025 British Chess Championship in Liverpool on Sunday, August 10. Bodhana also became the youngest Woman International Master (WIM) and secured her first Woman Grandmaster (WGM) norm in the same event. Her family is originally from Trichy, Tamil Nadu but Bodhana was born and brought up in Harrow, London. Her remarkable achievements at such a young age have made her one of the biggest rising players in world chess. Let's explore her journey so far through some creative graphics attached below. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'If there were chess tournaments in Bangladesh, why would I come to India?': 80-year-old Rani Hamid
NEW DELHI: Balaji Sudarshan is a 2012-born chess prodigy from Tamil Nadu who was up against 80-year-old Bangladeshi legend Rani Hamid in round 6 of the Delhi International GM Open Chess Tournament 2025. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Going into the game, Hamid had suffered three losses, all against lower-rated opponents in the first five rounds, and that, perhaps, played a part in the Woman International Master (WIM) arriving at the playing hall five minutes late for the scheduled start of 4pm IST. Carrying her familiar orange-coloured juice in a plastic bottle, a habit she has followed throughout the tournament, Hamid first quietly deposited her belongings, including her bags and mobile phone, at the volunteer's desk. The deposit desk (Photo credit: Special arrangement) Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. With steady eyes and the absolute calm of experience, she entered the playing hall, bottle in hand, determined to change the course of her campaign. But little did she know that the 13-year-old across the board had enough answers to her questions on the 64 squares. Within the next hour-and-a-half, Hamid, the first Bangladeshi to earn the WIM title, was back at the volunteer's desk, gathering her belongings. Accompanying her was a young Sudarshan. Noticing the curious glances from volunteers, Hamid, born as Sayeda Jasimunnessa Khatun, offered a warm smile and said, "He has played really well. I want to analyse games with him." Outside the playing hall, three tables were set up with chessboards. It was here that the octogenarian legend and the teenage talent sat down, chess pieces between them, as equals, as friends, speaking the language of the game. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Rani Hamid analyzing game with young Balaji Sudarshan (Photo Credit: Special arrangement) For the next 45 minutes, they discussed moves and ideas, their age gap bridged by their shared love for chess. As Hamid herself put it, "I don't try to teach or show off to anyone. I play for the joy of it, I enjoy it. I believe we should do whatever brings us happiness, don't you think?" (laughs) This isn't Hamid's first visit to Delhi for chess. In fact, her association with the capital goes back nearly five decades. 'I first came here for a tournament when Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed was President of India,' she recalled, referring to the period between 1974 and 1977. Early years of Viswanathan Anand Among the memories etched in her mind from those early tournaments is one involving a young Viswanathan Anand, long before he became a household name. 'Anand, at that time, wouldn't usually spend more than five minutes on anyone. He'd make his move quickly, get up, and walk around while your clock ran. But against me, he didn't get up from his chair for half an hour. Can you believe it? I waited half an hour before making my move, and as soon as I moved, I left the board," Hamid told "His mother was pacing nervously. I told her, 'Don't worry, I've made a bad move. Your son is winning now.' I had actually launched a really good attack, but he sacrificed his rook, defended, and then promoted a pawn to queen. I didn't even see it coming. I wasn't that good at the game!' 'Mojar Khela Daba' Hamid's path into chess was never part of a grand plan. Chess evolved in her life from a family pastime to a national legacy. Growing up in a sports-oriented family, with a father who excelled in various games, including chess, and later marrying a supportive, sports-loving army officer, Rani was always surrounded by encouragement. While she modestly claims she only focused on playing, her consistent success, winning the Bangladesh national championship 20 times and the British Chess Championship three times, turned her into an inspiration. Exclusive | Arjuna Awardee Vantika Agrawal: 'People still ask, 'Chess is fine, but what do you really do?'' Her late husband MA Hamid, deeply involved in promoting sports, pushed her to write "Mojar Khela Daba" (The Fun Game: Chess), a guide that became widely popular, especially in Kolkata. "Whenever I'd go to Kolkata for tournaments, the coaches would ask me to bring copies of the book because it helped them teach. I tried to write it in a style that was easy to follow, almost like grammar lessons. In the beginning, it explained how to write moves, what to do because players would come from villages and small towns, and they didn't know how to notate their games. None of us knew! In the villages, they'd just play for fun," She explained. 'I was actually really lucky. The Bangladesh champion back then was my neighbour; he was married to my classmate's elder sister. Playing with him helped me improve quickly... People say I'm 80, but I started playing when I was 33. I never played to gain anything. If I'd known chess could give so much, maybe I'd have taken it more seriously, prepared better, tried for the GM title. But I didn't do any of that. You can't become a GM playing one tournament a year!' India's Khadilkar sisters With the Bangladesh Chess Federation joining FIDE in 1979, her first major exposure on the international stage came at the 1981 Asian Women's Championship in Hyderabad. Hamid was untested on such platforms. 'Before that, we hardly had any international exposure. I went to Hyderabad with no expectations. Niaz Murshed, the first South Asian Grandmaster, told my companion, 'You might get 1-2 points, but the lady going with you will get nothing,'' she recounted. "Back then, women's chess in India was led by the Khadilkar sisters: Jayshree, Vasanti, and Rohini. Two of them had already become WIMs, so they wanted the youngest to get the title too... But when I went and won 6 rounds, Rohini's coach got nervous. I had a match against her in the next round. He even came up to me to ask if I had read the latest Informant (a chess publication). I didn't even know what that was! I tried to avoid his questions, but he kept asking until I finally gave up, 'What is this latest Informant?' That was the level of our preparation; I just played for the love of it. " 'If Bangladesh had chess tournaments, why would I come to India?' Despite individual flashes of brilliance, Hamid is honest about the challenges that have held back chess in her country, admitting, 'Bangladesh hasn't progressed in chess the way India has because we don't have strong organisers. We lack good guidance, and everyone wants to sponsor football or cricket. The economic challenges are real. But above all, the weakness in the organisation has hurt us the most. There aren't any tournaments. If there were, why would I come all the way here to play? But the DCA (Delhi Chess Association) invited me, arranged tickets, food, I'm grateful.' ALSO READ: Hamid, mother of one daughter and three sons, smiles when reminded of past victories that surprised even her. 'I beat the U18 World Champion once, and I also beat the world No. 3 at one point. That created quite a stir. But neither the federation nor I ever planned anything for my chess career, so it never became something bigger' When enquired about future plans, she would take a sip from her bottle and said: 'I live in the future now!' (laughs)
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Exclusive: Bangladeshi chess player deported from India; 80-year-old legend Rani Hamid 'disturbed' by events
80-year-old Bangladeshi chess legend Rani Hamid NEW DELHI: Bangladesh's renowned 80-year-old chess player Sayeda Jasimunnessa Khatun, better known as Rani Hamid, arrived in India earlier this month to participate in the 21st edition of the Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament (June 7-14). The journey that began in high spirits took a troubling turn when her travel companion and compatriot, Ashiya Sultana, was denied entry into the country upon arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Sultana, 37, was reportedly blacklisted by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for participating in a chess tournament in Kolkata while on a medical visa during a previous visit. As a result, she was held at the Airport immigration centre overnight and denied access to her luggage. Subsequently, she was deported to Bangladesh the following day. The incident left Rani Hamid visibly shaken and emotionally distressed. 'I am very sad," Hamid told on the sidelines of the Delhi GM Open. "The person who came with me was not allowed to enter India. She was made to sit overnight at the immigration centre. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo They did not even give her access to her luggage. The next day, she was forced to buy a return ticket at double the price,' she said. 'My mind is disturbed, and I am unable to focus on the game.' As a result of the unfortunate turn of events, Hamid (rated 1800+) has had a challenging run in the tournament so far, securing one win and one draw out of six rounds, all against lower-rated opponents. Hamid, who has long refrained from travelling alone for tournaments due to her growing age, added, 'I never travel alone. I always have someone with me. She was accompanying me, and now she is gone. I have been left alone.' Poll Do you think the immigration policies regarding sports participants need to be more transparent? Yes, definitely No, they are fine as is Not sure Speaking further on the situation, the 80-year-old, who became Bangladesh's first Woman International Master (WIM) in 1985, voiced deep concern over the apparent lack of coordination between the Indian and Bangladeshi authorities. 'Her passport was clear, all documents were in order, but immigration told her she had been blacklisted for playing in a previous tournament on a medical visa," Hamid continued. "At the time, she wasn't even aware that it was a violation. If she had been informed earlier, she would never have come. The Indian authorities should have notified the Bangladesh Chess Federation.' Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket's TV market and the watershed moments Hamid added that she pleaded with immigration officials for leniency. 'I requested them: if you believe she violated the rules, then impose a fine, $100, $200, whatever, but let her stay and play for seven days. She is not a criminal. She hasn't committed any crime. She didn't kill, steal, or rob anyone. Her only offence is that she played chess.' Despite the emotional strain, Rani Hamid, however, acknowledged the support and hospitality provided by the organising committee of the Delhi Chess Association (DCA). ALSO READ: Rs 50,000 a month and countless sacrifices: How India's chess future shapes up in Chennai hut With the tournament held at The Tivoli, a resort in Chhatarpur, Delhi, where international participants are also accommodated, it takes Hamid less than five minutes to walk from her room to the playing hall. 'It is very comfortable here. I can play only because of that comfort. I am very grateful to the organisers who sent tickets and invited us so warmly,' she said. DCA president Bharat Singh Chauhan described the incident as one of the many challenges that come with organising a major international event. "Visa issues are common for foreign players. In this case, the FRRO had blacklisted her. Perhaps she had previously come to India for medical treatment and ended up playing in a chess tournament, which may have led someone to file a complaint. As a result, she was denied entry. These kinds of challenges are part and parcel of hosting large-scale events," he explained.
