Indian-origin duo shine at 2026 British Chess Championships; 11-year-old becomes youngest champion

Two Indian-origin youngsters with roots in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have made their mark at the 2026 British Chess Championships in Coventry.

Eleven-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan, whose family hails from Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) in Tamil Nadu, became the youngest-ever British women's champion. Seventeen-year-old Shreyas Royal, whose family moved from Bengaluru, Karnataka, to Britain when he was three, won the open title.

The championships concluded in Coventry on Sunday, with more than 1,750 entries making this year's edition the biggest in the event's 122-year history.

Bodhana becomes youngest British women's champion

Bodhana secured the women's title after beating 14-year-old Ireland-based player Trisha Kanyamarala in a rapid-chess playoff.

The north-west London schoolgirl has already won the UK Open Women's Blitz Championship and shared the British Women's Rapid Championship. Her latest success gives her titles across three formats.

Bodhana's family has roots in Trichy. Her father, Sivanandan Velayutham, works in the IT sector and moved to London in 2007.

Her chess journey began unexpectedly during the Covid-19 lockdown. A family friend returning to India left behind some bags, including a chessboard, which sparked her interest in the game.

Shreyas Royal wins first British title

Royal finished at the top after nine rounds, ending half a point ahead of established English grandmasters.

Born in India, Royal moved to the UK with his parents, Jitendra and Anju Singh, from Bengaluru at the age of three. He became England's youngest grandmaster at 15.

His continued stay in Britain had earlier received support from the English Chess Federation, which campaigned with the Home Office for his family to remain in the country and allow him to develop his chess career.

Former Home Secretary Sajid Javid also highlighted his role in the 2018 decision allowing the family to stay in Britain.

Record British Chess Championships

The 2026 British Chess Championships had a record £34,000 prize fund for the open championship and more than 1,750 participants.

The victories of Bodhana and Royal have put two young players of Indian origin at the centre of this year's British chess championships, with their family roots tracing back to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.