10-Year-Old Bodhana Sivanandan, Indian Origin From UK Youngest Chess Player To Defeat Grandmaster

Bodhana Sivanandan, a 10-year-old UK girl of Indian origin, created history by becoming the youngest-ever chess player. Bodhana went on to defeat Grandmaster, Peter Wells during the last round of the British Chess Championship in 2025. Bodhana, at the mere age of 10, set the record straight by defeating a grandmaster. Bodhana broke the record of American Carissa Yip, who was 10 years and 11 months old when she defeated a grandmaster for the first time in 2019. Bodhana did the same in merely 10 years, five months and three days.

Bodhana Sivanandan defeats 60-year-old Grandmaster, Peter Wells 

Bodhana defeated 60-year-old Grandmaster, Peter Wells during the final round of the British Chess Championship held in Liverpool. Carissa Yip of the USA was the record holder who achieved success in 2019. Bodhana did not just break the record, but in a way she also became one of the youngest Women's International Masters by defeating Wells, and also secured the first Women's Grand Master title during the event course.

Bodhana never had any plans of playing chess. It was just that a chessboard at home changed her life when she started playing with the same. Bodhana's father also revealed that he knew only the basics of chess, and so he downloaded Chess.com for his daughter so that she could learn by watching the clips.

Bodhana Sivanandan hails from South India

Bodhana, who is now a Woman FIDE Master, is actually from Tiruchirappalli, located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Her dad, Sivanandan Velayutham, had shifted to London with her family back in 2007, eight years before Bodhana was born. Bodhana started playing chess at the age of five and found that she loved the game accidentally when she stumbled upon a board kept at her house. Bodhana's dad, Sivanandan, in an interview with the Indian Express, speaking on how she loved the game, shared:

"She just stumbled across a chess board at home, and started to play. I knew just basic chess, so I downloaded Chess.com to help her learn by watching the videos there. Back then, I just got her a free version, thinking she might not continue the sport."

Neither did little Bodhana nor her family members know that one day at the mere age of 10, she would become the face of British Chess after she was first introduced to the game. Bodhana had also met the then British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, at the age of 8 at Ten Downing Street. Post her victory at Wells, Bodhana had the entire world of chess discover that a young prodigy was in the making.

Bodhana Sivanandan's dad works in the IT sector

Bodhana's dad, Sivanandan Velayutham, is from the IT field and little did he know that one day her daughter would become the face of British chess. The then British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had even announced a financial package for chess in London. Bodhana enters the chess halls with a small black bindi and a dash of vibhuti, which is applied to her forehead. Bodhana reportedly does not talk a lot and only gives one-sentence replies. She is known to have defeated big giants with her skills in positional chess and game end mastery.

Team BollywoodShaadis wishes congratulations to Bodhana Sivanandan for being the youngest chess player in the UK of Indian origin to have defeated a grandmaster.

Also Read: Meet Sachin Tendulkar's Daughter-In-Law, Saaniya Chandok, Arjun Tendulkar's Fiance, Owner Of Pet Spa

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)