Bodhana Sivanandan earned her first IM (International Master) norm at the Dole Open 2026 in France. Born on 7 March 2015, the young player achieved it at just 11 years and 4 months. The same tournament also gave her her second WGM norm. It is a page very few children in the chess world get to write.
5 Points from 9 Rounds at the Dole Open 2026
Bodhana finished the tournament with 5.0 points from 9 rounds. Her 2460 rating performance stayed above the 2450 threshold required for an IM norm. In other words, the norm came not from a single lucky result but from steady play throughout the tournament.
The most talked-about result of the tournament was her win over an opponent rated above 2600 for the first time in her career. The victim was GM Marc Andria Maurizzi. With this win, Bodhana became the youngest girl to beat a 2600+ rated player. And it was not her only bright moment: she also stood up to heavyweights by drawing with 2600-rated GM Maxim Rodshtein and 2490-rated GM Paul Velten.
Why Is Beating a 2600+ Opponent So Important?
A 2600 rating is seen as the gateway to the super-grandmaster level. Beating a player at this level requires being very good at preparation, calculation and keeping cool under pressure. Achieving this at 11 shows that Bodhana is not only talented but also a systematic worker.
Intensive Preparation in Marseille Before the Tournament
Before the Dole Open, a training camp was held at the Marseille Chess Club from 13 to 18 July 2026. The camp, sponsored by Evren, was led by GM Mert and GM Pierre Laurent-Paoli. Alongside Bodhana, young talents such as Anastassia Hnatyshyn, Marc Llari, Luca Protopopescu and Joachim Le Geay took part. The English Chess Federation also supports Bodhana’s training.
What Does an IM Norm Mean?
To earn FIDE’s International Master (IM) title, a player must make three IM norms in tournaments meeting certain requirements and reach a rating of at least 2400. For a norm, one must play at least 9 games in the tournament, face a certain number of opponents with certain titles, and perform at a level of at least 2450. Bodhana completing the first step on this road is a major threshold on the way to the title.
A View from Satranç Okulu: Lessons for Young Players
There are a few lessons to draw from this achievement. First, playing strong opponents often speeds up development. Second, camps and one-on-one work done before a tournament feed directly into the result. Third, systematic work and a habit of regular analysis make a difference even in childhood. ChessBase India also compares Bodhana’s path to the line drawn by Judit Polgár. Of course, that comparison needs time, but today’s results are promising.
News information and photos came from FM Selim Gürcan.
Source: ChessBase India (26 July 2026)
