Bodhana Sivanandan, a 10-year-old from northwest London, has just made her mark in the chess world — and in the record books.
During the final round of the 2025 British Chess Championships in Liverpool, Bodhana defeated 60-year-old grandmaster Pete Wells, becoming the youngest female player ever to achieve such a feat.
Breaking a Longstanding Record
- Age at victory: 10 years, 5 months, 3 days
- Previous record holder: American Carissa Yip (10 years, 11 months, 20 days in 2019)
- Source: International Chess Federation (FIDE)
New Milestone in Her Career
With this win, Bodhana has earned the Woman International Master (WIM) title — just one step below the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) rank.
- The ultimate chess title, Grandmaster (GM), is held by elite players like Gukesh Dommaraju (current world champion) and Magnus Carlsen (world No. 1).
From Lockdown Hobby to Historic Win
Bodhana’s journey started in an unexpected way:
- In 2020, during the Covid lockdown, one of her father’s friends gave the family bags of toys and books.
- Inside one bag was a chessboard.
- “I wanted to use the pieces as toys,” Bodhana told the BBC, “but my dad said I could play the game, and I started from there.”
Her father revealed that no one in their family had previously excelled at chess — making her rise even more remarkable.
Why This Matters
- Highlights the growing success of young female players in a traditionally male-dominated sport.
- Inspires more girls worldwide to take up chess seriously.
- Adds to Britain’s chess legacy with a new generation of talent.