The 2025 British Chess Championship in Liverpool delivered multiple historic moments. Ten-year-old WFM Bodhana Sivanandan stunned the chess world by becoming the youngest woman ever to defeat a grandmaster in classical play, while English legend GM Michael Adams secured his ninth national title in a dramatic playoff.
Bodhana Breaks Records
Bodhana, just 10 years, 5 months, and 3 days old, achieved her third and final norm for the Woman International Master (WIM) title with a 5/9 score, smashing the previous record held by GM Zhansaya Abdumalik by over a year. Her crowning moment came in the final round, where she defeated GM Peter Wells in a tense, rollercoaster game.
The victory also made her the youngest girl ever to beat a grandmaster in a classical FIDE-rated game. Commentator GM Danny Gormally compared her style to legends Magnus Carlsen and Jose Raul Capablanca, praising her positional play and composure.
Bodhana has made her ambition clear: she aims to become a world champion and one of the greatest players in history.
Adams Claims Another Title
At 53, Michael Adams proved he is still a force to be reckoned with, winning a rapid playoff against GM Stuart Conquest and IM Peter Roberson after all three finished with 7 points in the main event. This latest triumph puts Adams just one title shy of Jonathan Penrose’s all-time record of 10 British Championships.
Despite modestly downplaying his performance, Adams took home the £5,000 first prize and praised the mix of experienced veterans and rising young talents in British chess.
Supratit Banerjee’s Breakthrough
Another young star emerged as 11-year-old FM Supratit Banerjee scored his first IM norm with victories over GMs Mark Hebden and Simon Williams, finishing on 6/9. His performance earned him 49 rating points and cemented his place among the most promising players born after 2014.
A Bright Future for British Chess
The tournament took place at Liverpool’s iconic St. George’s Hall, attracting over 1,000 players. The event comes on the heels of the UK government’s renewed £1.5 million investment in chess development, aimed at nurturing young talents like Bodhana, Banerjee, and GM Shreyas Royal.
With fresh funding, growing public interest, and a new generation of prodigies emerging alongside seasoned champions, British chess is poised for a bright future. The 2026 British Chess Championship will be held in Coventry.
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