Bodhana Sivanandan Breaks 38-Year-Old Chess Age Record at 11 2026

Bodhana Sivanandan, an 11-year-old chess prodigy from England, has shattered a 38-year-old world age record by defeating a grandmaster rated over 2600. In the opening round of the Dole Trophy in Aix-en-Provence, she beat France’s top grandmaster Marc’Andria Maurizzi, who is rated 2628 and is the current French champion. This victory marks the best individual result of her young career and places her among the youngest players ever to conquer a 2600+ rated GM.

How Bodhana Sivanandan Made History

Sivanandan’s triumph over Maurizzi was no fluke. She had previously beaten two grandmasters, but none as eminent as Maurizzi, who was the world under-20 junior champion in 2023. The game saw Maurizzi hold the advantage for the first 27 moves, but then he blundered into a tactic that cost him his queen for insufficient compensation. At 11 years and four months, Sivanandan surpassed the previous record held by Judit Polgar, who defeated GM Lajos Portisch at age 12 years and two months in 1988.

Comparison of Youngest Players to Defeat a 2600+ GM

Continued Success in the Dole Trophy

Though Sivanandan could not maintain her stellar form into round two, losing to Israeli international master Benny Aizenberg, she bounced back in round three with a draw against GM Maxim Rodshtein, the current Israel No. 2. Rodshtein’s peak rating was 2710 a decade ago, and his achievements include winning the Israel Championship and the Rilton Cup. After six rounds, Sivanandan had scored three points against mostly much higher-rated opponents, putting her in contention for her second norm toward the women’s grandmaster (WGM) title. She earned her first WGM norm at age 10, also a world age record, at the same Dole Open in 2025.

Key Takeaways

• Bodhana Sivanandan is the fifth youngest pre-teen to defeat a 2600+ rated grandmaster.
• Her victory broke a 38-year-old record held by chess legend Judit Polgar.
• She is on track to earn her second WGM norm, with three needed for the title.
• Sivanandan has already secured two world age records in women’s grandmaster norms.

What This Means for Chess

This achievement underscores the rising talent in women’s chess and the growing depth of young prodigies. Sivanandan’s performance at the Dole Trophy shows she can compete with top grandmasters, and her aggressive style and tactical sharpness are reminiscent of Polgar’s early career. As she continues to gain experience, she could become one of the youngest women ever to earn the grandmaster title.

FAQ

Stay tuned for more updates on Bodhana Sivanandan and other chess prodigies as they continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible at such a young age.