11-Year-Old Bodhana Sivanandan Shatters Judit Polgar’s Record to Become Youngest Female IM
Indian-origin British chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan, aged 11 years, 7 months, and 16 days, has shattered a 38-year-old record by becoming the youngest female International Master (IM) in history. Achieving her final norm at the European Club Cup in Budva, Montenegro, on October 23, 2026, she surpassed Judit Polgar's previous benchmark set in 1988.
London-born chess sensation Bodhana Sivanandan, a mere 11 years old, has etched her name into the annals of chess history, becoming the youngest female player ever to achieve the International Master (IM) title. Her monumental accomplishment, secured on Friday, October 23, 2026, at the European Club Cup in Budva, Montenegro, shatters a 38-year-old record previously held by the legendary Hungarian Grandmaster Judit Polgar. India Win Silver Medal at FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026 in Open Section.
Bodhana Sivanandan Creates History
A huge congratulations to Sivanandan Bodhana on becoming the World's youngest Female player to achieve the International Master title!
At the age of just 11 years, 7 months and 16 days, Bodhana scored her final IM norm at the European Chess Club Cup for Women. What a feat! https://t.co/V4e1y8BFcA
— ChessBase India (@ChessbaseIndia) October 23, 2026
Bodhana, whose parents hail from Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, demonstrated exceptional skill and poise, securing her third and final IM norm by defeating Sweden's Woman International Master (WIM) Viktoria Johansson in a decisive 32-move victory. This triumph was part of a dominant 4-0 team win for her side, She Plays To Win Lionesses A, and culminated in a remarkable rating performance of 2465.
A Record-Breaking Ascent
At 11 years, 7 months, and 16 days old, Bodhana's achievement significantly surpasses Judit Polgar’s previous benchmark. Polgar had attained her IM title at the age of 12 in 1988, a record that stood for nearly four decades. The English Chess Federation has lauded Sivanandan as a "generational talent," a sentiment echoed across the global chess community.
Sivanandan's journey to this historic title has been marked by a series of remarkable milestones:
- Youngest to earn a Woman Grandmaster (WGM) norm: Achieved at just 10 years old in July 2025.
- Youngest to defeat a Grandmaster: Triumphed over GM Peter Wells in August 2025, also at the age of 10.
- Youngest British Women's Champion: Crowned in August 2026.
- Youngest female to score an IM norm: Earned her first IM norm in July 2026, surpassing Polgar's earlier record for this specific achievement.
- Youngest Woman Grandmaster (WGM): Achieved in September 2026.
Her consistent performance and record-breaking tendencies have positioned her as the seventh-youngest International Master of all time, placing her among a select group of prodigies that includes current World Champion D Gukesh. India Win Bronze Medal at FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026 in Women's Section.
Future Aspirations
Following her latest triumph, a composed Bodhana Sivanandan shared her immediate aspirations in a post-game interview: "I'm happy about that but hopefully I'm able to get grandmaster soon as well!" This statement underlines the prodigious talent's ambition and focus, hinting at further records to fall in the coming years. Starting chess during the 2020 lockdown at the age of five, after discovering a chess set, Bodhana's rapid ascent has captivated observers worldwide.
Bodhana's unprecedented rise continues to inspire, showcasing not just her innate talent but also her dedication and strategic acumen, promising an exciting future for British and international chess.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 24, 2026 10:45 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
