11-Year-Old Chess Prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan Breaks Record, Surpassing Legend Judit Polgar

At just 11 years old, Bodhana Sivanandan, a schoolgirl from Harrow, has made chess history again. Competing at the Dole Trophy in Aix-en-Provence, France, she secured her first international master (IM) result, becoming the youngest girl ever to achieve the feat. She surpassed a long-held record by Judit Polgar, widely considered the greatest female player of all time. Polgar earned her first IM norm in April 1988 at the age of 11 years and nine months. Sivanandan achieved hers nearly five months earlier, and reportedly took a more challenging path to do so. This accomplishment adds to her series of record-breaking performances, placing her among the most promising young talents in chess. Her rapid rise continues to attract global attention, signaling a bright future for the sport.