10-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan shocks Grandmaster, sets historic chess record | Chess News

Bodhana Sivanandan (Yuri Krylov / @ecfchess)

British chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan has etched her identify in historical past, turning into the youngest feminine participant ever to defeat a grandmaster.The 10-year-old from Harrow achieved the exceptional feat on Sunday, toppling 60-year-old Grandmaster Peter Wells within the closing spherical of the 2025 British Chess Championships in Liverpool.At simply 10 years, 5 months and three days, Sivanandan broke the earlier record set in 2019 by American Carissa Yip, who was 10 years, 11 months and 20 days outdated when she claimed her first grandmaster scalp.

“How on earth did she win this? She must be some kind of magician,” GM Danny Gormally stated whereas commentating for the English Chess Federation broadcast.She additionally acquired excessive reward from legendary chess participant Susan Polgar.“Bodhana Sivanandan became the youngest girl to defeat a GM at just 10 years, 5 months and 3 days in the final round of the 2025 British Chess Championships! The previous record was held by IM Carissa Yip,” Polgar wrote on X.Sivanandan additionally secured her maiden Woman Grandmaster (WGM) norm in the course of the match. Her triumph within the occasion earned her the third norm required to seal the Woman International Master (WIM) title, making her the youngest participant ever to attain it.

“According to several chess news sites, by beating a GM in the final round, she also earned her final WIM norm and became a WIM at 10! Double congratulations,” Polgar added.Bodhana, a Woman FIDE Master, has her roots in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, the place her household lived till 2007, when her father, IT skilled Sivanandan Velayutham, relocated to London.

Born and raised within the UK capital, she has shortly emerged because the face of British chess regardless of her tender age.In August 2023, at simply eight years outdated, Bodhana was invited to 10 Downing Street by then–Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who was set to announce a monetary package deal to assist chess within the UK.