Bodhana Srika became England's highest-rated female chess player this week, reaching the top of the national women's rating list at the age of 11. The schoolgirl from Surrey broke through after a run of strong results in British and European events over the past six months.
Bodhana has been on the radar of English chess for two years. She earned her Woman FIDE Master title at nine and has been collecting rating points rapidly since. Her current standard rating is approaching 2300, placing her in the top 200 female players globally.
She plays a mature style unusual for her age. Her endgame understanding and positional sense are the qualities coaches cite most. She is not primarily a tactician, though she handles complications well. She is, simply, a chess player.
England has produced strong female players before, but reaching the top of the national women's list at 11 is without precedent. The English Chess Federation issued a statement congratulating her on the achievement. She is currently preparing for the European youth championships. Her parents told reporters she practices three hours a day and still finishes her homework on time.