Bodhana Sivanandan Becomes Youngest Female International Master
Chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan has secured the International Master title at the age of 11 years, 7 months, and 16 days. She surpassed the historic record previously held by Hungary's Judit Polgár by completing her final norm and crossing 2400 Elo at the European Club Cup in Montenegro.
What happened
On October 23, 2026, 11-year-old chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan qualified for the International Master (IM) title at the 30th European Women's Chess Club Cup held in Budva, Montenegro. She achieved the milestone at the exact age of 11 years, 7 months, and 16 days, becoming the youngest female player in chess history to complete the requirements for the IM title.
During the seventh and final round of the tournament, playing Black on Board 1, she defeated Swedish Woman International Master Viktoria Johansson in 32 moves to secure her third and final IM norm. Representing the English team She Plays To Win Lionesses A, she scored 5.5 points out of 7 games with a tournament rating performance of 2465, enabling her to cross the mandatory live rating threshold of 2400 Elo.
Important dates
| Achievement Date | 23 October 2026 |
|---|
📌 Static GK links
- Previous Female Record Holder: Judit Polgár (Hungary)
- Venue of Achievement: Budva, Montenegro
- Governing Body for Chess: International Chess Federation (FIDE)
What candidates should do
- Aspirants should note the name of the player, the exact age at which the milestone was reached, and the venue of the tournament for current affairs questions in banking and SSC exams.
PrepZen analysis
Bodhana Sivanandan's record-breaking achievement marks a significant milestone in international chess history, breaking a decades-old benchmark set by chess legend Judit Polgár. For competitive exam aspirants, questions from this news item are likely to focus on the player's name, age, the specific chess title achieved, the venue, and the previous record holder.
Practice questions
Q1. What is the age at which Bodhana Sivanandan attained the International Master title?
Q2. At which tournament did Bodhana Sivanandan secure her final IM norm and cross 2400 Elo?
Surpassed the historic age barrier previously established by Hungary's Judit Polgár.
Completed final norm and crossed 2400 Elo at European Club Cup, Montenegro.
🎯 Key Point: Bodhana Sivanandan sets record as youngest-ever female International Master.
FAQs
Who did Bodhana Sivanandan surpass to become the youngest female International Master?
She surpassed the historic female record previously established by Hungarian Grandmaster Judit Polgár in 1988.
Where was the European Club Cup featuring this record held?
The tournament took place in Budva, Montenegro.
What Elo rating threshold did Bodhana Sivanandan cross during the tournament?
She crossed the mandatory live rating threshold of 2400 Elo needed for the International Master title.
Sources and references
- chess.com (www.chess.com)
- worldchess.com (worldchess.com)
- thehindu.com (www.thehindu.com)
- chessbase.com (en.chessbase.com)
Prepared by PrepZen for exam preparation. Consult the linked sources for original announcements and current details. Corrections policy. Spotted an error? Write to prepzen.app@gmail.com.
Practice Quiz — 27 October 2026
Q1. What is the name of the newly operationalised wholly owned primary dealer subsidiary of Bank of Baroda?
Q2. What is the primary objective behind SBI developing the 'YONO Bharat' platform?
Q3. State Bank of India has inaugurated a new Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence named:
Q4. Regarding the IFC's $150 million social credit line to SBI, consider the following statements: 1. Around 90% of the loan proceeds are dedicated to women-led Self-Help Groups. 2. It represents IFC's first-ever credit line facility to an Indian public-sector bank. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q5. Where was the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) held?
Keep Learning with PrepZen
Get daily current affairs, live mock tests, mistake bank, vocab builder & more — all free on your phone.