Chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan, an 11-year-old from Harrow, England, has shattered a world age record that stood for 38 years. On Saturday, she defeated France's top grandmaster Marc'Andria Maurizzi, rating 2628, becoming the youngest girl ever to beat a 2600+ rated grandmaster.
Bodhana Sivanandan's Historic Victory
In the opening round of the Dole Trophy in Aix-en-Provence, Sivanandan faced Maurizzi, the reigning French champion and 2023 world under-20 junior champion. The Frenchman held an advantage for the first 27 moves, but then blundered into a tactic that lost his queen for inadequate compensation. Sivanandan's win set a new world age record at 11 years and four months, surpassing the previous record held by the legendary Judit Polgar, who was 12 years and two months when she defeated GM Lajos Portisch in 1988.
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Comparison of Pre-Teen Geniuses
Sivanandan now ranks among the youngest players ever to defeat a 2600+ grandmaster. The following table highlights the top five:
| Player | Age | Opponent | Rating | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 9 years | GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov | 2671 | 2014 |
| Faustino Oro | 10 years | GM Andrey Esipenko | 2657 | 2024 |
| Roman Shogdzhiev | 11 years 1 month | GM Alexey Shirov | 2659 | 2023 |
| Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu | 11 years 1 month | GM Yuri Kuzubov | 2616 | 2016 |
| Bodhana Sivanandan | 11 years 4 months | GM Marc'Andria Maurizzi | 2628 | 2025 |
Road to Grandmaster Title
Sivanandan's performance in the Dole Open has not been limited to one win. She also drew with GM Maxim Rodshtein, Israel's No. 2, and held her own against other highly rated opponents. After six rounds, she had three points and remains in contention for her second Women's Grandmaster (WGM) norm. She earned her first WGM norm at just 10 years old—another world age record—at the same tournament in 2025.
Although she lost in round two to Israeli international master Benny Aizenberg, her resilience and skill against seasoned grandmasters have drawn global attention. Three norms are required for the WGM title, and Sivanandan is well on her way.
Key Takeaways from Bodhana Sivanandan's Achievement
- She broke a 38-year-old world age record previously held by Judit Polgar.
- She is only the fifth pre-teen ever to defeat a 2600+ FIDE-rated grandmaster.
- Her victory came against the reigning French champion, GM Marc'Andria Maurizzi.
- She already holds a world age record for earning a WGM norm at age 10.
FAQ
Who is Bodhana Sivanandan?
Bodhana Sivanandan is an 11-year-old English chess prodigy from Harrow, London. She is the youngest girl ever to defeat a grandmaster rated over 2600.
What record did she break?
She broke the world age record for a girl defeating a grandmaster rated above 2600, previously held by Judit Polgar for 38 years.
How many grandmasters has Bodhana Sivanandan beaten?
She has defeated two grandmasters prior to this match, but her win over GM Marc'Andria Maurizzi is her most significant and highest-rated victory.
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