11-year-old chess player breaks 38-year record

11-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan from the UK became the youngest chess player to be awarded the title of international master, reports The Guardian. Thus, she surpassed the achievement of the Hungarian chess player Judith Polgar, who received a similar title at the age of 12 in 1988.

To be awarded the title of international master, it is required to score 2,400 points in the rating of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). In the open category, Sivanandan entered the top 7 youngest holders of this title.

The absolute record holds the Russian Roman Shogdzhiev: he became an international master in 2025 at the age of 10 years, 3 months and 21 days.

Earlier, in late September, after the World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Sivanandan won the title of female grandmaster, becoming the youngest holder of this title. Before her, the record belonged to Ekaterina Lagno (formerly for Ukraine, since 2014 - for Russia): she received the title in 2002 at the age of 12 years and 4 months.