Bodhana Sivanandan has rewritten chess history by securing her first International Master norm at just 11 years and four months old, eclipsing a benchmark previously held by Judit Polgar, according to reports from Spanish sports daily Marca.
A Historic Milestone in Aix-en-Provence
The young English prodigy delivered her record-breaking performance at the open tournament in Aix-en-Provence, France, finishing the nine-round competition with five points and a performance rating of 2463 against opponents averaging a 2420 Elo. The event featured 247 participants representing 49 countries, alongside top-tier contenders such as three-time world championship runner-up Ian Nepomniachtchi. Sivanandan’s achievement breaks the record set by Judit Polgar in 1988, when the Hungarian grandmaster achieved her first IM norm at 11 years and nine months of age, as documented by Marca.
Navigating a Grueling Path to Success
Sivanandan’s tournament run required remarkable resilience after a turbulent start. She opened the competition with two points from her first five games, securing an early win against French champion Marc’Andria Maurizzi, who holds a 2628 Elo rating. Losses to Israel’s Benny Aizenberg and Spain’s Daniil Yuffa complicated her standing, but she rebounded with two victories and two draws down the stretch. Notably, she defended an inferior position across a grueling six-hour, 99-move draw against American player Samrug Narayanan, as reported by Marca.
Classical Inspirations and Training Support
Unlike many modern juniors who gravitate toward contemporary engines and top grandmasters like Hikaru Nakamura or Magnus Carlsen, Sivanandan draws inspiration from third world champion José Raúl Capablanca. According to Marca, she studies pre-computer classical games to appreciate board creativity, stating a preference for mastering endgame transitions, openings, and middlegames naturally. Her competitive career benefits from the backing of Turkish patron Evren Ucok, founder and president of Trendyol, who provides financial support for her coaching and tournament travel—paving the way for her upcoming appearance at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, scheduled for September 15 to 27.
What Comes Next
With her historic first IM norm secured, Sivanandan continues her preparations for international team competition at the upcoming Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan. Fans and analysts can follow official updates through FIDE tournament portals as the young English talent pursues the remaining norms required for the full International Master title.
