A new Netflix documentary, Queen of Chess, explores the career of Judit Polgár, the greatest female chess player who dominated for over 25 years. It focuses on her challenges in a male-dominated sport and her notable rivalry with Garry Kasparov. The film underscores her family's unique approach to nurturing chess talent.
Judit Polgár held the top ranking among women chess players from 1989, starting at age 13, until her retirement in 2014. She achieved the title of grandmaster at 15 years and four months in 1991, surpassing Bobby Fischer's record at the time. Polgár competed in open tournaments against men, confronting a sport historically marked by misogyny, as evidenced by Fischer's archived comment: “Women are terrible at chess... Guess they are not so smart.”
Her success stemmed from an experiment by her father, László Polgár, who believed geniuses are made through intensive practice starting around age five. In 1970s communist Hungary, he home-schooled his daughters—Judit, Susan, and Sofia—focusing solely on chess. Susan reached world No.1 in 1984, while Sofia became an International Master. The family home featured a wall with 30 chessboards, and the girls trained up to eight or nine hours daily without weekends. Judit won her first local tournament at age six.
A breakthrough came at the 1988 Chess Olympiad in Greece, where the sisters represented Hungary and secured gold, ending Soviet dominance; Judit remained undefeated. As she faced male opponents, she encountered resistance, including players refusing handshakes after defeats.
The documentary centers on her encounters with Garry Kasparov, then world champion. In their 1994 Linares match, Kasparov touched back a piece illegally but was not challenged at the time due to Polgár's intimidation; footage later confirmed the infraction. After 14 losses, Polgár defeated him in 2002 with a subtle strategy. She reflected: “That moment gave me the feeling that in one game in an event I can beat anybody.” Kasparov acknowledged her elite status. The 2002 win propelled her into the open top 10 rankings in 2003, a milestone for a woman.
Directed by Rory Kennedy, the 94-minute film briefly addresses the family's dynamics but emphasizes Polgár's role in challenging gender norms in chess.
