London's Bodhana Sivanandan, 10, beats grandmaster, earns WIM

A 10-year-old chess prodigy from northwest London has achieved a historic milestone by defeating a grandmaster, becoming the youngest female player to beat a rival at that level in the game's modern era. Bodhana Sivanandan, who hails from Harrow, accomplished the feat in the final round of the 2025 British Chess Championships in Liverpool, defeating 60-year-old Peter Wells. She was 10 years, five months, and three days old, surpassing the previous record set in 2019 and earning the title of Woman International Master, the second-highest competitive rank for women in chess.

The British Championship victory not only marks a personal milestone for Bodhana but also underscores a broader narrative about youth progression in chess. The International Chess Federation highlighted her accomplishment as a landmark moment, noting that her win came at a time when a string of exceptionally young players has begun to challenge established norms in the sport. Bodhana’s new WIM title places her among a small group of players who have balanced rapid technical development with consistent performance at high levels, and many observers view her progress as a potential precursor to further...