10-Year-Old Bodhana Makes Chess History

“Kokcha News Agency” – Bodhana Sivanandan, a 10-year-old chess prodigy from the UK, has etched her name in chess history by defeating grandmaster Pete Wells at the British Chess Championship in Liverpool. At just 10 years and 5 months old, Bodhana has become the youngest female player to ever defeat a grandmaster.

In the final round of the championship, Bodhana, who lives in northwest London, triumphed over 60-year-old Pete Wells. According to the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Bodhana has broken the previous record set by American Carissa Yip in 2019, who was 10 years, 11 months, and 20 days old when she achieved the feat.

Bodhana has also earned the title of Woman International Master (WIM), which is one level below the highest title of Woman Grandmaster (WGM). The highest title in chess, Grandmaster (GM), is currently held by players like Magnus Carlsen and world champion Gukesh Dommaraju.

**Chess Journey Started with a Gift**
Bodhana shared her chess journey with the BBC, saying, “During the Covid pandemic, a friend of my dad brought us toys and books. In one of the bags, there was a chessboard. The pieces caught my attention, and I wanted to play with them. My dad said I could learn the game, and that’s how it started.” Her father also mentioned in a 2024 statement that no one in their family had previously achieved success in chess.