Bodhana Sivanandan, a 10-year-old chess prodigy from Harrow, north-west London, recently etched her name into chess history by becoming the youngest female player ever to defeat a chess grandmaster. On 10 August 2025, she triumphed over 60-year-old Grandmaster Peter Wells in the final round of the prestigious British Chess Championships held in Liverpool.
At just 10 years, five months, and three days old, Bodhana broke the previous record set by American Carissa Yip in 2019, who was nearly seven months older when she achieved a similar feat.
Importantly, this victory also secured Bodhana her final norm required to earn the Woman International Master (WIM) title, the second highest title awarded exclusively to women in chess, marking a dual milestone in her nascent career.
An Impressive Journey of Tenacity and Skill
Bodhana’s victory was far from straightforward. Despite being under significant pressure mid-game, when Grandmaster Wells’ knights advanced menacingly and she faced what seemed like a losing position by the 37th move, Bodhana showed remarkable resilience and strategic insight.
Capitalising on a critical error by Wells on move 39, she executed an aggressive rook manoeuvre that turned the tide, leading to his resignation just a few moves later. This comeback not only demonstrated her deep understanding of chess tactics but also her impressive composure under high-stakes competition.
Tournament officials and chess experts alike have praised her calmness and maturity, heralding her as a rising star in British chess.
A Remarkable Rise and Influential Background
Though born and raised in London, Bodhana has Indian roots tracing back to Tamil Nadu’s Trichy region. Her journey in chess begun almost serendipitously at the age of five when she discovered a chessboard at home. With her parents, both engineers and novices in chess, supporting her learning through online platforms like Chess.com, she quickly ascended the ranks.
By 2023, she made history as England’s first World Youth Chess Champion in 25 years, winning a triple gold medal in three different formats with a perfect score. She has also been publicly recognised by notable personalities, including a visit to 10 Downing Street at age eight with then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Bodhana’s rapid rise has been accompanied by breaking records, such as being the youngest player to achieve a Woman Grandmaster (WGM) norm earlier in 2025, surpassing even prodigies like Hou Yifan. Beyond her skills, she draws inspiration from chess greats like José Capablanca, reflecting a deep engagement with chess history and strategy.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Bodhana Sivanandan’s extraordinary achievements at such a young age exemplify the power of early encouragement, family support, and access to resources in nurturing talent. Her success story transcends chess, symbolising the broader potential of children everywhere to excel when given opportunities irrespective of gender or background.
The Logical Indian views this breakthrough as a call to action for communities globally to invest in youth development, foster inclusive spaces in traditionally male-dominated fields, and celebrate perseverance and dedication. How can societies amplify such support systems to ensure promising young talents across diverse domains not only emerge but thrive and inspire generations to come?
🇬🇧♟👏 British sensation Bodhana Sivanandan has made history by becoming the youngest female chess player ever to beat a grandmaster!
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) August 11, 2025
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
