The Many Accomplishments of Judit Polgár
When people talk about the best male chess player of all time, there’s inevitably some debate. Is it Kasparov? Fischer? Carlsen? Morphy? Three lists might have three different rankings. When you think of the best female chess player of all time, however, one name tops all the lists: GM Judit Polgár. With a list of accomplishments and firsts a mile long, Judit Polgár is the unqualified #1.
The recently released “Queen of Chess” documentary about Judit Polgár’s life will bring new attention to her achievements and fascinating life story. Read on for more insight into what makes her the top woman in chess in the world.
“Geniuses Are Made, Not Born”: An Unconventional Childhood
Judit Polgár and her sisters did not have an ordinary school experience. László Polgár believed that intense study of a subject could create a prodigy, and he was willing to test his theories on his own daughters. Susan was the first to pick up the chess pieces sitting out in the family’s home, and chess became the entire family’s way of life soon after.
Homeschooling allowed the Polgárs to focus on chess for many hours per day. This in itself isn’t unusual for chess prodigies, but the intensity and exclusion of other activities have been a source of criticism. The girls had chess tutors eight-nine hours per day with no days off. While the sisters achieved remarkable success at very young ages, this unorthodox approach led some chess players to dismiss them as a novelty.
Another controversial aspect of their chess training was László’s belief that they must play against the highest level of competition. Male players dominated chess, with very few women reaching GM status, let alone ranking among the elite. He insisted that his young daughters play in open competitions against the top male players.
Early Success
Judit participated in her first neighborhood chess tournament when she was just six. After winning that tournament, she felt her destiny was to be a great chess player. This little girl would become known for a chess style called “relentless aggression” by opponents as she pursued her dream. She also found a talent for playing "blindfold chess"
In 1986, Judit won the unrated section of the New York Open at age 9. She won seven games and drew her final game. Her ELO rating around this time was 2080. Grandmasters she played against didn’t know what to make of this serious child. Some would play very carefully to avoid the embarrassment of losing to a small girl, while others would take chances.
By 1988, Judit was chasing norms for an International Master (IM) title. She obtained all three in 1988, becoming the youngest player (male or female) ever to reach IM. The chess establishment began taking her seriously as a contender.
In November 1988, the Polgár sisters and Ildiko Madl won the 28th Chess Olympiad playing for Hungary. In dethroning the Soviet team, Judit finished with a 12 ½-½ record and the individual gold medal. The 12-year-old was testing herself against some of the world's stiffest competition. By 1989, her ELO rating was 2555, and she was climbing the international rankings. She was also the world's top female player, a rank she held for a record-breaking 26 years.
In 1989, Judit began chasing her Grandmaster norms. In December of 1991, she obtained her final GM norm by winning the Hungarian National Championship. She was 15 years, 4 months old when it became official in 1992, the youngest player to receive the title up to that point. She was only the fourth woman to receive the GM title.
Close Enough to (Almost) Touch It
Judit Polgár had two chess goals after reaching GM standing. One, she wanted to be ranked in the top ten in the world. Two, she wanted a shot at the world title. She achieved one and got very close to the other.
Breaking the Top Ten
The first time Judit was ranked in the Top Ten was in January 1996, when she was 20. After a brief return in 2003, she climbed back to #8 in January 2004, holding in the top ten until October 2005. She remained in the Top 100 for the rest of her career. A Top Ten ranking meant invitations to more prestigious tournaments. Notable victories include an “action chess” victory over GM Anatoly Karpov in 1998, the world champion at the time. She also won the U.S. Open in 1998 in a tie with GM Boris Gulko. Her aggressive playing style and bold choices made her a fierce opponent.
Chasing the World Championship
During 2001, Judit was playing against the world’s elite chess players and holding her own. At Linares, she managed to draw reigning world champ Kasparov twice. Her ratings suffered a bit as she competed at the highest level, and the invitations slowed as she dropped out of the Top Ten.
In 2005, with strong showings at her first tournaments back since the birth of her son, Judit regained her rating points to reach her highest mark, 2735. This was soon followed by another historical first: a woman playing in the final stage of the World Chess Championship. Judit did not have a great outing, finishing last of eight. Over the next few years, she had inconsistent results due to time constraints on her preparation.
By 2010, Judit Polgár was ready to make another run at competitive chess. She had a great showing at the 2011 European Individual Chess Championship with a four-way tie for 1st place. Her ELO rating rose over 2700 again. Despite her unique ability to beat World Champions, however, she wasn’t able to turn her attacking play into a victory over the title. In a career of many firsts, she has come closest to claiming that top title as a woman.
Polgár vs. Kasparov
Judit Polgár faced Garry Kasparov for the first time during the Linares tournament 1994. It was the first time she’d been asked to compete with players vying for the World Championship. This game was marred by a touch-move controversy sparked by Kasparov, who changed his mind about the knight's move. Judit looked at the arbiter, but the match continued. Judit’s play suffered for the rest of the match and did not improve during the remainder of the tournament. The violation was clear in the replay, but Kasparov did not own up to it, and the result did not change.
She would play Kasparov multiple times over the next few years without a win. Finally, in September 2002, Judit triumphed over the world champion. In the Russia vs. the Rest of the World match, GM Polgár used one of Kasparov’s own lines to drive him to a resignation. This was a highlight of her career.
Challenges
The Hungarian political environment was an ongoing issue for the Polgárs. The Communist regime discouraged László’s educational experiment. Children were required to attend state-controlled schools. They did not like that the Polgár sisters played against men. Travel outside the Eastern Bloc was very tightly controlled. The Hungarian Minister withheld approvals to punish and manipulate the Polgárs. Officials from the Hungarian Chess Federation threatened and bullied the family.
No one took young women seriously as chess players in the 1980s. Even Fischer and Kasparov made disparaging remarks about women’s intellect and suggested they should focus on cooking and housework. The misogyny embedded in chess made it a challenge for Judit to claim her rightful place at some high-level competitions. As she continued to crush male players and advance her ratings, however, the opinions of many elite players softened.
Like many women, career and family collided when Judit had her children in 2004 and 2006. Taking time off for pregnancy when she was at the peak of her career had an immediate impact. In 2005, FIDE briefly listed her as “Inactive” after taking time off with her son. While she returned to chess full-time in 2005 and reached her peak rating of 2735, it slipped again when she took time off for her daughter. As she focused on caring for her children, her world ranking dropped from #8 to the mid-50s.
Retirement
In 2014, Judit Polgár retired from competitive chess. She continues to play exhibition chess and participate in events. Many people have asked whether she would ever compete for the women’s title. She hasn’t ruled it out, but she isn’t interested in doing it just for the sake of doing it.
The World Chess Hall of Fame inducted GM Polgár in 2021. She has beaten 11 current or former world champions at rapid or classical chess and has eight Olympic medals. With a lifetime devoted to playing amazing chess and promoting it worldwide, she truly deserves recognition as the strongest female player of all time.
Judit Polgár Foundation
The Judit Polgár Foundation was formed in 2012 as Judit’s competitive chess career was drawing to a close. The stated mission of the Foundation is “to draw attention to the connections between chess and education, science, culture, and sport.” The Foundation promotes chess throughout Hungary and internationally to help children of all backgrounds realize their full potential. Judit’s chess curriculum, Chess Palace, is a primary focus of the Foundation. The course is for children ages four through ten, teaching chess using a fantasy palace framework. Alongside partners like Rubik’s, the Foundation develops curricula, trains teachers, and puts on events promoting chess every year.
True Chess Royalty
Judit Polgár spent her career competing at the highest levels of chess. It might seem odd that a documentary of her life is titled “Queen of Chess,” given her lifelong commitment to playing at the top tables. We can accept the gendering of the title, however, when we remember that the queen is the most powerful piece on the board.