Rising Star: Eleven-Year-Old Bodhana Sivanandan Surpasses 2300 Rating, Secures FM Title and Draws Comparisons to Judit Polgar
Eleven-Year-Old Chess Prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan Surpasses 2300 Rating, Secures FM Title
London, UK – Eleven-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan has made headlines once again, surpassing the 2300 rating barrier for the first time and securing the FIDE Master (FM) title. The British chess prodigy now finds herself in elite company, boasting a rating comparable to that of the legendary Judit Polgar at the same age.
Bodhana, who celebrated her 11th birthday on March 7, has been a rising star in the chess world, consistently breaking records and achieving remarkable milestones. Last year, she became the youngest player to score a Woman Grandmaster (WGM) norm and made history as the youngest woman to defeat a grandmaster in classical chess.
Her recent performances in two tournaments in Austria and France have catapulted her live rating to an impressive 2363, placing her among the top three players globally under the age of 11. Despite being one of the lowest-ranked competitors in both events, Bodhana managed to score above 50 percent, showcasing her exceptional talent.
At the Graz Open, she achieved a score of 5/9, gaining 102 rating points with a performance rating of 2381, including victories over both an FM and an International Master (IM). Following this, she continued her success at the Cannes Chess Festival, where she again scored 5/9 against a field of titled players, narrowly missing her first IM norm but adding another 98 rating points to her tally.
In a recent interview with Chess.com’s FM Mike Klein, Bodhana expressed her excitement about reaching the FM title. “Making the FM title is a great feeling,” she said. “But I crossed 2200 briefly about two years ago, so getting the rating now is great as well.”
Bodhana was unaware of her achievement until two rounds later when congratulated by fellow competitors. “I don’t know how it happened,” she remarked, attributing her success to a bit of luck with pairings and favorable early rounds.
Despite her rapid ascent, Bodhana remains grounded. “I haven’t really worked on one thing specifically. I’ve just tried to improve my chess in general,” she explained.
Chess.com’s Tai Pruce-Zimmerman recently compared Bodhana to Judit Polgar, noting that her live rating is now higher than Polgar’s at the same age. “Next up may be her chase of the 2400 rating mark,” he added.
IM Malcolm Pein, Director of International Chess and External Relations of the English Chess Federation, praised Bodhana’s achievements, stating, “Some of her achievements are on par or even ahead of Judit. She has the potential to be a world champion.”
When informed of her remarkable rating compared to Polgar, Bodhana responded with maturity, saying, “Knowing that I’m higher rated than Judit Polgar was at this age is good to know. But I don’t want to stop here—I just want to keep going up with my rating and keep hitting more milestones.”
Bodhana’s extraordinary journey has garnered significant attention, including a recent appearance at Chess.com’s Speed Chess Championship Finals in London, where she played blitz games against renowned IM Levy Rozman, also known as GothamChess. She triumphed over Rozman three times in a row and even faced world number-one GM Magnus Carlsen, an experience she described as both nerve-wracking and enjoyable.
As she continues to break barriers and achieve new heights, Bodhana Sivanandan remains focused on her passion for chess. “I just want to keep going and keep achieving more,” she affirmed, embodying the spirit of a true champion.