Four British Tamil chess players have been ranked among the top 20 female players in the United Kingdom, according to the April 2026 rating list published by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
Leading the rankings is 11-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan, who has become Britain’s top-rated female chess player with an Elo rating of 2366. The Harrow-based student overtook four-time British women’s champion Lan Yao to claim the number one position among players representing England.
Her rapid ascent has drawn widespread recognition. Already a Woman International Master, Sivanandan has secured notable victories in international competition and is widely regarded as one of the most promising young talents in global chess. Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, recalling a game played with her in the Downing Street garden, remarked that “her success has not come as a shock” in a post on X. Her rise marks one of the most striking breakthroughs in British chess in recent years.
Also featuring in the top 20 are Akshaya Kalaiyalahan (10th), Anusha Subramanian (14th), and Shambavi Hariharan (15th), underscoring the growing presence of British Tamil players within elite national rankings.
Separately, nine-year-old Tara Tamilselvan from Leicester has also gained national attention following strong performances in competitive rapid chess tournaments, where she is currently ranked 46th. Her emergence further signals a rising generation of British Tamil talent making its mark on the sport.
