At the 2025 British Chess Championships in Liverpool, history was made.
Bodhana Sivanandan, just 10 years old, defeated Grandmaster Peter Wells in a classical game — becoming the youngest girl in history to beat a GM.
This extraordinary victory didn’t just stun the crowd; it secured Bodhana the Woman International Master (WIM) title, making her the youngest ever to achieve it.
A Record-Breaking Performance
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Historic Win: Bodhana’s victory came at 10 years, 5 months, 3 days old — breaking the previous record held by U.S. prodigy Carissa Yip.
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Double Achievement: She not only defeated a GM but also crossed the required 2300+ performance rating, locking in her WIM title.
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Future Grandmaster Potential: Experts believe this could be the first step toward her becoming England’s next major international chess star.
Bodhana’s Chess Journey
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Lockdown Beginnings: She first picked up chess during the 2020 lockdown when a family friend left a board at her home.
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Rapid Rise: By age nine, she was already representing England at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest, becoming the youngest athlete in any sport to play for a full national team.
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Breaking Barriers: Just a month before Liverpool, she achieved her first WGM (Woman Grandmaster) norm at age 10 years and 3 months.
Why This Matters for Chess in the UK
Bodhana’s achievements go beyond records:
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She is inspiring young girls and boys to take up the game.
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She highlights the growth of British chess talent, showing the next generation can compete on the world stage.
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Her story shines a light on the importance of access to chess sets, coaching, and tournaments — the very tools that Chessmaze is proud to provide.
Chessmaze Insight
At Chessmaze.co.uk, we’re passionate about supporting chess at every level — from beginners discovering the game (just as Bodhana did) to serious tournament players.
👉 If Bodhana’s story has inspired you, now is the perfect time to:
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Explore our range of professional tournament chess sets
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Shop digital clocks and boards for training
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Encourage young players with our junior chess bundles
