Sports 26 October 2026
Bodhana Sivanandan Becomes Youngest Female International Master
Why in the News?
11-year-old Indian-origin English chess prodigy **Bodhana Sivanandan** scripted history by becoming the **youngest female International Master (IM)** in chess history, breaking a 38-year-old record previously held by legendary Hungarian player Judit Polgár.
Key Features / Major Points:
- Historic Record Broken: Surpassed Hungarian Grandmaster **Judit Polgár's** longstanding 38-year record to achieve the open IM title at just 11 years of age.
- Tournament Milestones: Sealed her final norm at the **European Women’s Chess Club Cup 2026**, scoring an impressive 5.5/7 on Board 1 representing 'She Plays to Win Lionesses'.
- Decisive Performance: Defeated Belarusian IM Olga Badelka, held Georgian GM Nino Batsiashvili to a draw, and defeated Sweden's WIM Viktoria Johansson in 32 moves, pushing her FIDE rating past the threshold to 2399.4+.
- Top 10 Youngest All-Time IMs: Secured a spot among the **10 youngest open International Masters of all time**, joining elite names such as R Praggnanandhaa (India), D Gukesh (India), Faustino Oro (Argentina), and Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan).
Static GK Facts:
- FIDE (International Chess Federation):
- Established: **July 20, 1924** (Paris, France).
- Headquarters: **Lausanne, Switzerland**.
- International Master (IM): The second-highest official title awarded by FIDE after the Grandmaster (GM) title.
- Judit Polgár: Widely regarded as the strongest female chess player of all time; became a Grandmaster at 15 years and 4 months in 1991.
One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):
Q: Which 11-year-old Indian-origin player broke Judit Polgár's 38-year-old record to become the youngest female International Master (IM)?
A: Bodhana Sivanandan
Q: In which tournament did Bodhana Sivanandan achieve her historic final IM norm?
A: European Women’s Chess Club Cup 2026
Q: Where is the headquarters of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) located?
A: Lausanne, Switzerland
Q: Which country does legendary chess Grandmaster Judit Polgár represent?
A: Hungary
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