This video is about the success and development of Bodhana Sivanandan, an 11-year-old young chess talent from England.
Remarkable Achievement: At 11, Bodhana has reached a rating of 2366 Elo and is presented as one of the brightest names of the future; she gained 203 Elo points in just the last two months (0:00–0:20).
Training and Support: Working in a disciplined way four days a week with her chess coach, Grandmaster Mert Erdoğdu, Bodhana is also supported by Evren Ucok (0:24–0:42).
Playing Style: Naming Capablanca as her favourite player, Bodhana has a simple, natural style, far from unnecessary complication. She stands out especially for her mastery of endgames (2:14–3:00).
Game Analysis: In the video, a game Bodhana played with the white pieces is analysed step by step: the plans she used against her opponent’s Sicilian Defence, the positional manoeuvres and the strategic moves that brought the win (3:07–9:25).
As emphasised by Evren Ucok, chess education is seen as a wonderful tool for developing children’s concentration and logical thinking skills (0:48–1:24).
English version: this video has an English dub. If you hear the Turkish original, click the gear icon in the player, choose Audio track and select English (US). English subtitles are also available under Subtitles/CC.
Bodhana Sivanandan: 2366 Elo at Age 11
We are talking about a very young rising chess star from England: Bodhana Sivanandan. She is only 11 and already has 2366 Elo. Seen as one of the brightest stars of the future, Bodhana has gained a full 203 Elo points in the last two months.
Training That Starts at Six in the Morning
There is an important name in Bodhana’s development: her coach, Grandmaster Mert Erdoğdu. The two get up at 6 a.m. four days a week to work. This regular, disciplined effort is one of the most important factors behind the young star’s rapid leap.
Evren Ucok’s Support
Evren Ucok, who supports many young talents around the world, Yağız first among them, now supports Bodhana as well. So why does Ucok support talents outside Turkey too? Because he believes the world will become a better place through chess.
Why Is Chess Important for Children?
Children are our future. Their developing in an ethically and logically sound way is of great importance for the future of the world. Social media and unnecessary noise around them can seriously harm young people. One of the best solutions is to teach children chess, because chess increases concentration and improves logical thinking.
A Pleasant Get-Together After the Tournament
After the tournament there was a lovely moment: Mert Erdoğdu and Evren Ucok got together with the young players and their families. Bodhana was among the young talents at this gathering.
Together they played a fun format known in the chess world as “Hands and Brain”. In this game one player says which piece to move, and his partner tries to find the move he has in mind. It is both fun and a test of chess understanding.
A doubles game that provided enjoyable moments was also played: Evren Ucok and Bodhana played against Mert Erdoğdu and the young player Luca Protopopescu.
A Capablanca Admirer: A Simple, Natural Style
Bodhana’s playing style is truly remarkable. When asked about her favourite player, her answer was one of the greatest names in chess history: Capablanca. When you look at her games, you see that this choice is no coincidence. Bodhana’s games have a very simple, natural style: clean positions, far from unnecessary complication. She especially loves playing endgames.
Later in the video, a game Bodhana played with the white pieces is analysed step by step. You can watch the game analysis in the video above.
The images are taken from the video on the Satranç Okulu YouTube channel.
Follow the Game Step by Step: Sivanandan – Sarbania
You can follow the game described in the video, together with the spoken comments, step by step in the game viewer below. Bodhana Sivanandan (2163) plays White and Aarav Sarbania (2281) plays Black. Bodhana gives her opponent a simple, natural game in the Sicilian Defence, exchanges queens to reach the endgame she loves, and makes Black resign on move 46.
