Netflix has launched 'Queen of Chess,' a documentary chronicling the life of Judit Polgar, the greatest female chess player in history. Directed by Rory Kennedy, the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2026, before streaming globally on February 6. It highlights Polgar's rise from a Hungarian prodigy to breaking barriers in a male-dominated sport.
Judit Polgar's story unfolds in 'Queen of Chess' as a tale of resilience amid communist-era Hungary's constraints. Born in 1976, Polgar was the youngest of three sisters homeschooled by her father, László Polgár, an educational psychologist who believed geniuses are made, not born. From age five, the sisters trained eight to nine hours daily in chess, forgoing traditional schooling and holidays. This intensive regimen propelled Polgar to become the world's top-rated female player at 12 in 1989 and the youngest grandmaster ever at 15 in 1991, surpassing Bobby Fischer's record.
The 94-minute film blends archival footage from events like the 1988 Chess Olympiad in Thessaloniki—where the Polgár sisters helped Hungary defeat the Soviet team—and personal interviews. It features Polgar's parents, László and Klára; sisters Susan and Sofia, both accomplished players; husband Gusztav Font; and rivals including Garry Kasparov. A central thread is Polgar's rivalry with Kasparov, starting with their 1994 Linares tournament clash, marked by a controversial touch-move incident where Kasparov retracted a piece, captured on camera but unchallenged at the time.
After 14 losses, Polgar defeated Kasparov in 2002 at age 26, becoming the first woman to beat a reigning world champion in classical chess and entering the global top 10—a feat unmatched by any other woman. The documentary addresses sexism in chess, quoting Fischer's 1963 remark that women are 'not so smart' at the game, and Polgar's reflection: 'I had to prove myself 10 times more than if I’d been born as a boy.'
Reviews are mixed: RogerEbert.com gave 3/4 stars, praising its celebration of Polgar, while The Guardian awarded 3/5, critiquing its emotional depth on her father's experiment. Director Kennedy hopes it inspires beyond chess: 'This is a story about resilience, determination, and breaking barriers.' Polgar retired in 2014, now living in Budapest with Font and children Oliver and Hanna, serving as a commentator, author, and founder of the Judit Polgar Chess Foundation.
The release follows the 2020 surge from 'The Queen's Gambit,' potentially broadening chess's audience further.
