Chess: Bodhana Sivanandan, 11, breaks another world age record at Dole Trophy

Dole Trophy Sees Historic Achievement

WHO: Bodhana Sivanandan, 11-year-old English chess prodigy; WHAT: Achieved international master result, breaking a world age record; WHERE: Dole Trophy, Aix-en-Provence, France; WHEN: Last Saturday.

Achievement Overview

Sivanandan eclipsed the legendary Judit Polgar, the all-time No 1 woman, who first achieved her international master norm at 11 years and nine months in April 1988 at the New York Open.

Sivanandan’s path to this record was notably challenging, managing to beat Polgar’s age record by almost five months, a testament to her burgeoning talent.

Key Highlights

• Age Record Broken: Sivanandan becomes the youngest girl ever to score an international master result.
• Record Margin: Beat Judit Polgar’s long-standing record by almost five months.
• Event: Dole Trophy, Aix-en-Provence, France.

Implications and Context

This achievement cements Sivanandan’s position as a rising star in the chess world, drawing parallels with the illustrious career of Judit Polgar, who has been an inspiration to generations of female chess players.

Source

This report is based on information published by The Guardian — Chess.

Official source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jul/31/chess-bodhana-sivanandan-11-breaks-another-world-age-record-at-dole-trophy