Whiz kids creating a storm - 22nd January 2024

A crop of new young prodigies from the UK are creating a storm in their respective fields.

Londoner Bodhana Sivanandan has just clinched the title of best female player at the European ‘blitz’ chess championships. Defeating an international master and tying with a grandmaster, the eight year old proved herself to be a force to be reckoned with.

Quick fire blitz chess matches, lasting three to five minutes, demand swift decisions which can make or break chances of success. Shaking off losses, Sivanandan said, “I always try my best to win, sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t.”

Upon becoming the youngest person to qualify for the World Darts Championship finals, rising star Luke Littler from a small English town near Manchester is equally nonchalant. Interviewed ahead of the big match, the 16 year old evidently had no intention of breaking his usual pre-match routine, stating, "In the morning I'll go for my ham and cheese omelette and then come here, have a pizza and then prep on the board."

Meanwhile, Teddy Hobbs is also making waves, attaining an IQ score achieved by a mere two percent of the population and subsequently becoming Mensa’s youngest ever member by the age of five. Aged two, the toddler had taught himself to read, leading to a rapid acquisition of knowledge. By his first day of school, he was reeling off his times tables and counting from one to a hundred in six languages, leaving his genius status in no doubt.

Although there are clearly benefits to being a child star, there are downsides to being so exceptional at such a tender age. While such prodigies will be spurred on and given countless opportunities, they are distanced from their peers, which can prove challenging.

A survey of budding young athletes conducted by the charity SportsAid concluded that virtually 50 percent struggled with mental health related issues, including anxiety and depression. Such findings corroborate personal comments made by past and present sports celebrities , Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles and Michael Phelps on their own upbringing.

While the strain of competition experienced by young prodigies seems inevitable, when asked, Sivanandan denied any stress, saying, “No, I just play the board.”