Bodhana Sivanandan becomes youngest Woman Grand Master at 11

Eleven-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan has become the youngest player in history to earn the Woman Grand Master title, one of the highest titles a chess player can receive. She is from northwest London and represented England at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan, where she won eight of her 11 matches.

The result adds to a fast-growing list of records. Bodhana was already the UK's youngest woman's chess champion and the youngest person to represent England internationally in any sport. She first came to wider attention at eight, after only a few years of playing, when she drew with a Grand Master and was named best female player at a European grown-up championships.

She said: 'I'm happy to do it but I want to keep going and keep making history as well instead of just stop here.' She also said she does not focus on the ages of her opponents: 'I don't really look at how old they are, I just play the board so I don't really mind it.'

Despite the milestone, she is still a normal 11-year-old away from the board. At competitions she needs a car booster seat so she can see the board properly. Those around her described a change when she sits down to play, pointing to laser focus and an unusual understanding of the game.

A supporter said: 'I do think she will be a future world champion.' Her progress has also been put down to hard work as well as talent, with those around her saying hard work at school or on the international stage has never been a problem.