Eleven-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan is one of the world’s brightest talents in her age group. A recent jump in her international rating saw her secure the Fide Master title – an important milestone – and in April she became England’s top-rated female player (of any age). She is beginning to collect scalps from grandmaster opposition, including the former women’s world champion Mariya Muzychuk, whom she defeated in a classical game at the European Club Cup in October 2025.
Last week, she got off to a flying start at the Dole Open in Aix-en-Provence. Facing a strong French grandmaster in the first round, Sivanandan was under pressure, but turned the tables thanks to a sharp tactical eye. In the position below, her previous move 27 Bc1-b2 carries the threat of 28 Nc3-d5, whereupon 28…Qxe1 29 Nxf6+ wins. Marc’Andria Maurizzi could avoid that and maintain an edge with a move like 27…Bf6-g7, but the move he chose had a catastrophic drawback.
Bodhana Sivanandan-Marc’Andria Maurizzi
Dole Open, July 2026
27… Qb6? 28 b4! The knight on c5 is trapped, and 28…Qc6+ 29 Kg1 Nxa4 30 Nxa4 Bxb2 31 Nxb2 does not help. Maurizzi’s queen sacrifice is the best practical try. Qxb4 29 Nd5! Qxb2 30 Rxb2 Bxb2 31 Nb6 Rc7 32 Qb4 Bg7 33 Qxg4 Nd7 34 Nc4 Nf6 35 Qe2 Nd5 35…b5! was a better try. If Black could liquidate all the queenside pawns, the draw would be within reach. 36 Nd6 Rd7 37 Ne4 Nc3? A careless error, where 37…Ne7 still offers some slim chances. 38 Nxc3 Bxc3 39 Qc4! After 39…Bf6 40 Qc8+ Rd8 41 Qxb7 the passed c-pawn easily decides the game, so Black resigns
Maurizzi’s problem was that his queen was pulled into the discovered attack with Nc3-d5. The game below, from the recent Naroditsky Memorial, makes for a neat comparison. After most plausible moves, the position would be balanced. Instead, the elite veteran Ivanchuk voluntarily courted danger by grabbing the pawn on b2. He must have seen the danger from the discovered attack (29 Nd2-e4) but miscalculated the consequences, allowing his younger opponent a beautiful finish.
Steven Zierk-Vasyl Ivanchuk
Naroditsky Memorial Rapid, July 2026
28…Qxb2? 29 Ne4! Qb6 30 Rb2! Qxb2 31 Ne6+! The decisive tactical shot. My guess is that Ivanchuk analysed only 31 Qxf6+ Kg8, whereupon 32 Qxd8 dxe4 or 32 Ng5 Rd7 both favour Black. fxe6 32 Qxf6+ Kg8 33 Ng5 The knight sacrifice on e6 has fatally weakened the kingside, and mate cannot be stopped. Rd7 34 Qxe6+ Kg7 35 Qxd7+ Kf6 Or 35…Kh6 36 h4 Bg7 37 Qf7 with Qf7-g8-h7# to follow. 36 Qf7+ Black resigns as Qf7-f4 mate follows next move.
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