British schoolgirl becomes youngest female chess player ever to defeat grandmaster

A 10-year-old Indian-origin chess prodigy from London has become the youngest female player ever to defeat a grandmaster.

Bodhana Sivanandan achieved the rare feat by beating 60-year-old Grandmaster Peter Wells in the final round of this year’s British Chess Championships in Liverpool this week.

The International Chess Federation (ICF), which governs the sport, confirmed that Sivanandan broke the record previously held by American Carissa Yip, as reported by NDTV.

“British sensation Bodhana Sivanandan has made history by becoming the youngest female chess player ever to beat a grandmaster!” the ICF announced. “Her victory at 10 years, five months, and three days surpasses Yip’s 2019 record of 10 years, 11 months, and 20 days.”

Following the win, Sivanandan earned the title of woman international master—the second-highest ranking awarded exclusively to women, just below woman grandmaster.

Last year, Sivanandan, whose family moved from South India to London in 2007, became the youngest person to represent England internationally in any sport. She competed at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, alongside teammates decades older than her.

Malcolm Pein, manager of the England chess team, described her as one of the most extraordinary British chess talents he has ever encountered.

She was also among the young chess players invited by then-UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to 10 Downing Street to mark a government investment of £1 million into the sport.

By Nazrin Sadigova