Who is Bodhana Sivanandan?10-year-old prodigy becomes youngest female to defeat a chess grandmaster
10-Year-Old Bodhana Sivanandan Makes Chess History at British Championships
Bodhana Sivanandan has taken the chess world by storm, becoming the youngest female in history to defeat a grandmaster — a feat achieved at just 10 years old.
The breakthrough came on Sunday during the 2025 British Chess Championships in Liverpool, where Sivanandan toppled 60-year-old grandmaster Peter Wells in the event’s final round. The win places her just shy of the highest title in the sport, earning her the coveted rank of International Master.
Her victory shatters the previous record set by an American player in 2019, with Sivanandan claiming the honor roughly six months younger than the former titleholder, according to the International Chess Federation.
A Rising Talent Years in the Making
Sivanandan has been on the radar of the chess community for years. At just 8, she dominated the European Blitz Chess Championship in Croatia, securing the title of top female player. The following year, she made history again as the youngest ever to represent England in international chess competitions.
English chess master Lawrence Trent has called her “one of the most remarkable talents” he’s seen in recent memory.
🇬🇧♟👏 British sensation Bodhana Sivanandan has made history by becoming the youngest female chess player ever to beat a grandmaster!
The 10-year-old, from Harrow, pulled off the win on Sunday against 60-year-old Grandmaster Peter Wells in the last round of the 2025 British… pic.twitter.com/bAMqeyFZHm
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) August 11, 2025
Speaking to the BBC last year, Sivanandan recalled that her journey began during the COVID-19 lockdown, when a friend of her father gifted the family a chess set. “I wanted to play with the pieces like toys,” she said. “Instead, my dad showed me how to play, and I never stopped.”
Continuing a Tradition of Young Trailblazers
The chess world has seen its share of youthful record-breakers. In 2024, 8-year-old Ashwath Kaushik set a world record as the youngest player to ever beat a grandmaster — a title previously held by Leonid Ivanovic, who was just five months older at the time of his win.
Sivanandan’s latest achievement adds to this legacy, inspiring young players worldwide and underscoring the growing influence of prodigies in competitive chess.