Chess: Bodhana Sivanandan, 11, breaks world age record from 38 years ago

Dole Trophy Sees Historic Upset

WHO: Bodhana Sivanandan, 11-year-old chess prodigy; WHAT: Broke a 38-year-old world age record by defeating a Grandmaster (GM) rated over 2600; WHERE: Aix-en-Provence at the Dole Trophy; WHEN: Last Saturday.

Sivanandan achieved her landmark victory by defeating France’s 2628-rated GM Marc’Andria Maurizzi, a former world under-20 junior champion (2023) and current French champion, in the opening round. Notably, this win surpasses the long-standing record previously held by chess legend Judit Polgar, marking Sivanandan as the youngest girl ever to achieve such a feat against a GM of Maurizzi’s caliber.

Key Highlights

• Record Broken: 38-year-old record for the youngest girl to defeat a GM rated over 2600.
• Opponent: Marc’Andria Maurizzi, 2628-rated GM, 2023 world under-20 junior champion, and current French champion.
• Event: Dole Trophy, Aix-en-Provence.

Match Overview

Maurizzi initially held the advantage through the first 27 moves but succumbed to a tactical blunder, losing his queen for insufficient compensation, securing Sivanandan’s historic win.

Source

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

Official source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jul/24/chess-bodhana-sivanandan-11-breaks-world-age-record-from-38-years-ago