In a historic moment for the chess world, 10-year-old British sensation Bodhana Sivanandan from Harrow has become the youngest female player ever to beat a grandmaster. Her remarkable victory came in the final round of the 2025 British Chess Championships held in Liverpool, where she overcame 60-year-old Grandmaster Peter Wells.
At just 10 years, five months, and three days old, Sivanandan surpassed the previous record set in 2019 by American Carissa Yip. Over the past year, Sivanandan has rapidly ascended through the chess ranks, capturing three junior world titles and earning recognition as a rising star by top players worldwide.
Despite facing a highly experienced opponent, Sivanandan staged a dramatic comeback in her match against Wells — an impressive feat that left commentators in awe. The full game is available for enthusiasts to study. This victory also secured her final norm for the Women’s International Master title, a significant milestone on the path to becoming a Grandmaster.
English Chess Federation commentator Danny Gormally, while streaming the event, expressed astonishment, stating, “How on earth did she win this? She must be some kind of magician!” He also predicted that Sivanandan could become the youngest player to cross the world-class 2700 FIDE rating barrier. Gormally described her playing style as solid and positional, likening her composure and strategic play to world champions Magnus Carlsen and Jose Raul Capablanca.
During the event, Sivanandan gained 24 rating points, finishing in equal 26th place—a notable achievement for such a young competitor.
The 2025 British Chess Championship title was claimed by Grandmaster Michael Adams, who secured his ninth national title in a thrilling three-way playoff. Veteran players Lan Yao and Elmira Mirzoeva were crowned joint British Women’s champions, continuing a tradition of high-caliber competition.
The championship attracted over 1,000 participants from across the UK, ranging from elite grandmasters to promising young talents. Highlights included strong performances by England’s youngest grandmaster Shreyas Royal and 11-year-old Supratit Banerjee, who secured two grandmaster wins and his first International Master norm.
Looking ahead, the 2026 British Chess Championships will be held at the University of Warwick in Coventry, continuing a prestigious legacy dating back to 1904.