Bodhana, who is supported by the English Chess Federation, sealed the historic achievement on Friday at the European Club Cup in Budva, Montenegro, where she was representing the English women's team She Plays To Win Lionesses.

IM Malcolm Pein, the ECF’s Director of International Chess, said: “I can only describe Bodhana as a generational talent. There is no limit to what she can achieve. It’s remarkable that she is more than matching Judit Polgar's achievements at a similar age and breaking her records, even if we live in different times. It's worth noting that Bodhana is the seventh-youngest player, boy or girl, to become an International Master."

True. Here's a list of records:

Judit Polgar was 12 years and 2 months old when she earned her IM title, in October 1988. That broke the previous record by Bobby Fischer, who was awarded the IM title automatically by FIDE on January 8, 1958, immediately after winning his very first U.S. Chess Championship. His exact age at the conclusion of that tournament was 14 years, 9 months, and 30 days.

An interview after the fifth round of the European Chess Club Cup.

In the interview she says: "If your team wins you get the chance to play even better players. There are so many strong players on board one and both sections. So it's a great experience." Going into the final round she knew she was on the brink of something special. Having already secured two of the three norms required for the IM title, she needed one last result.

ChessBase India video of Bodhana playing her round three game against IM Olga Badelka

Bodhana facing GM Nino Batsiashvili, Georgia, 2459. The game ended in a 85-move draw.

Facing Sweden's Woman International Master Viktoria Johansson, Bodhana completed the task to secure her final norm and qualify for the title. It is another astonishing achievement for the girl, who has been breaking records at a seemingly relentless pace.

History of her rise

Bodhana's extraordinary rise began during the Covid lockdown when, aged five, she discovered a chess set among belongings her father was preparing to throw away. Just a few years later, she was representing England internationally.

In 2024, aged nine, she made her debut at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, becoming the youngest person ever selected to represent England internationally in any sport.

Last year, she became the youngest girl ever to defeat a grandmaster in a classical tournament game – she beat England's GM Peter Wells at the British Chess Championships in Liverpool in 2025 at the age of just 10 years and five months.

This July, she achieved another landmark by defeating French Grandmaster Marc'Andria Maurizzi, rated 2628, at the Dole Open in France, becoming the youngest girl ever to beat a player rated above 2600.

And in August, she was crowned British Women's Chess Champion for the first time after winning a playoff against Woman Grandmaster Trisha Kanyamarala at the British Chess Championships in Coventry.

Bodhana is already Britain's highest-rated female chess player, despite being several years younger than most of her leading rivals.

Now, with the International Master requirements completed before her 12th birthday, the next target is clear: the full grandmaster title, the highest honour in chess.

Also read

• Bodhana breaks the record
• Bodhana in the Bundesliga
• Endgame Magic #340: Three recent pearls with Bodhana Sivanandan
• ChessBase India report