Liverpool, UK — In a moment destined for the chess history books, 10-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan from northwest London has become the youngest female player ever to defeat a grandmaster, toppling 60-year-old GM Pete Wells in the final round of the 2025 British Chess Championships.
At just 10 years, 5 months, and 3 days old, Sivanandan shattered the previous record set by American chess talent Carissa Yip, who was nearly 11 when she achieved a similar feat in 2019. The record-breaking victory has earned Sivanandan the prestigious title of Woman International Master (WIM), just one tier below the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title.
What makes her achievement even more extraordinary is her humble origin in the game: she only started playing chess at age five, inspired by a gift of books and toys from a family friend during the Covid-19 pandemic. Her father told the BBC last year that no one in their family had a chess background—making her rise all the more remarkable.
The match took place in Liverpool during the final round of one of the UK’s most competitive chess events. Sivanandan’s sharp tactics, composure under pressure, and intuitive play stunned both the crowd and her grandmaster opponent, Pete Wells, a seasoned veteran of the game.
This young prodigy now finds herself on a path walked by legends like Judit Polgár and Hou Yifan. With the global chess community taking notice, she stands as one of the brightest young talents in the game—male or female.
As of now, Bodhana is poised to pursue even higher goals, perhaps aiming for the full Grandmaster (GM) title in the future—a title held by world elite players like Magnus Carlsen and Gukesh Dommaraju.
For now, though, the chess world celebrates a milestone moment: a 10-year-old girl rewriting history with a single brilliant checkmate.
