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Bodhana Sivanandan, a 10-year-old chess prodigy from London, made headlines this summer after becoming the youngest chess player to defeat a grandmaster. This week, Sivanandan reached another milestone in his young career.
The talented youngster, known as the “girl prodigy”, beat former world champion and grandmaster Mariya Muzychuk in the first round of the European Chess Club Cup, held in Greece on Sunday.
Bodhana Sivanandan, 9, competes in the second round of the Terafinale of the Delancey UK Chess Challenge in Woodstock, Britain, October 12, 2024. (Reuters/Suzanne Plunkett)
Pundits called the resounding victory a “near perfect match,” the Times reported.
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Grandmaster David Howell took to social media to congratulate Sivanandan on his “incredible victory”.
“It’s not every day that a 10-year-old beats a [grandmaster] (and former world champion) with such style,” his post on X reads.
Sivanandan seemed very happy with her victory, but told The Times she was looking for more victories.
Bodhana Sivanandan, a 10-year-old chess prodigy, competes in the British Chess Championships at St. George’s Hall on August 7, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Christophe Furlong/Getty Images)
10-year-old chess prodigy makes history after defeating 60-year-old grandmaster
“I am happy that I won, but I hope I will do even better in the next matches… This will inspire me to continue to do better and try harder to win more matches,” she said.
Sivanandan made history this summer by beating grandmaster Peter Wells, 60, in the final round of the 2025 British Chess Championships in August. According to the International Chess Federation, Sivanandan set the record previously held by American Carissa Yip, who set the record in 2019 at 10 years, 11 months and 20 days.
Bodhana Sivanandan, center, a 10-year-old chess prodigy, competes in the British Chess Championships at St. George’s Hall on August 7, 2025, in Liverpool, England. (Christophe Furlong/Getty Images)
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Sivanandan was 10 years, five months and three days old when she defeated Wells.
She’s been making a name for herself since she began performing during the COVID-19 pandemic when she was just 5 years old.
