Bodhana Sivanandan, an 11-year-old chess player from England, achieved a historic milestone at the Dole Trophy tournament in Aix-en-Provence, France. By securing her first International Master (IM) result, Sivanandan broke the world age record previously held by Judit Polgar, widely considered the greatest female chess player in history.

Polgar set the original record in April 1988 at the age of 11 years and nine months. Sivanandan, who is currently 11 years old, managed to beat this benchmark by approximately five months. Her path to the record was described as challenging; after an initial victory against the reigning French champion, Marc’Andria Maurizzi, Sivanandan faced a difficult stretch, falling to a score of 2/5 before ultimately recovering to secure the result.

This achievement marks a significant moment in youth chess, as Sivanandan continues to compete against high-level international opposition. The tournament in France served as the stage for this record-breaking performance, highlighting her rapid development in the sport. While the record is a major milestone, Sivanandan’s career remains in its early stages as she continues to participate in international competitions.