10-Year-Old Chess Star Stuns Grandmaster in Liverpool

Bodhana Sivanandan, a 10-year-old from northwest London, has become the youngest female player to defeat a grandmaster. She defeated 60-year-old Pete Wells in the last round of the 2025 British Chess Championship in Liverpool.

At 10 years, 5 months, and 3 days old, Sivanandan broke the previous record set by American Carissa Yip, who was 10 years, 11 months, and 20 days old, when she defeated a grandmaster in 2019. A step below the Woman Grandmaster title, Bodhana's triumph also earned her the title of Woman International Master (WIM).

Bodhana learned chess during the Covid pandemic when she was five, after receiving a chess set as a gift. She claimed that although her father urged her to play the game, at first she thought the pieces were toys.

In the British Championship, Bodhana scored 5 out of 9 points, securing her final WIM norm. She gained 24 rating points and tied for 26th place overall, yet her performance made her the youngest-ever WIM at 10 years, five months, and three days—breaking the previous record by more than a year.

Commentators praised her solid and positional style, comparing her play to greats like Magnus Carlsen and Jose Raul Capablanca. Bodhana aims to become a world champion in the future.

Meanwhile, 53-year-old Michael Adams won the championship title after a short playoff against Stuart Conquest and Peter Roberson, winning his ninth-ever British title. 

Another prodigy, 11-year-old Supratit Banerjee, earned his first International Master norm by scoring 6/9, including victories against two grandmasters. 

The UK government recently announced £1.5 million in investment in young chess talent, continuing its mission to develop chess nationally. Chess continues to grow in popularity in Britain, aided by tournaments and media coverage.

The 2026 British Chess Championship is scheduled to take place in Coventry.