10-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Female Chess Player To Defeat A Grandmaster

Bodhana Sivanandan , a 10-year-old chess prodigy from Harrow, London, has made history by becoming the youngest female to defeat a chess grandmaster . On Sunday (August 10), during the final round of the 2025 British Chess Championships in Liverpool, she triumphed over 60-year-old Grandmaster Peter Wells. This victory broke the previous record held by American Carissa Yip , who achieved a similar feat at 10 years, 11 months, and 20 days.

Bodhana's victory also earned her the Woman International Master (WIM) title, making her the youngest player to achieve this distinction. The International Chess Federation announced her win on social media, highlighting her remarkable accomplishment at just 10 years, five months, and three days old . Bodhana first began playing chess during the CO