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Harrow Chess Prodigy Becomes Youngest Female to Beat a Grandmaster
Ten-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan, a chess prodigy from Harrow, London, achieved a historic feat this week, becoming the youngest female to defeat a chess grandmaster. During the final round of the 2025 British Chess Championships, Bodhana bested Grandmaster Peter Wells, 60, securing her place in chess history.
This impressive victory breaks the previous record held by American Carissa Yip, set in 2019. Bodhana achieved this milestone at the age of 10 years, five months, and three days old, several months younger than Yip. She currently holds the title of Woman International Master, the second-highest ranking for female chess players.
Bodhana’s parents shared that her chess journey began during the COVID-19 pandemic when she was just five years old. This rapid rise to success highlights her exceptional talent and dedication to the game. While the Grandmaster title remains the highest achievable rank in chess for all players, Bodhana’s accomplishment marks a significant step in her promising chess career.