A new Netflix documentary, 'Queen of Chess,' explores the extraordinary journey of chess grandmaster Judit Polgár, who became the world's top female player at age 12. Directed by Rory Kennedy, the film delves into her battles against skepticism and sexism in the male-dominated sport. ABC News recently interviewed Kennedy and Polgár about her unconventional path to greatness.
Judit Polgár is widely regarded as the greatest female chess player in history. She achieved the distinction of becoming a grandmaster at just 15 years old in 1991, setting a record for the youngest person to do so at the time. Polgár is the only woman to surpass the 2700 Elo rating threshold, earning the 'Super GM' status, and she has defeated legends like Garry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen.
The upcoming Netflix documentary 'Queen of Chess,' set for release in February 2026, chronicles her rise amid fierce competition and societal barriers. In an ABC News interview on January 22, 2026, director Rory Kennedy and Polgár discussed the film's focus on strategy, precision, and the challenges she faced, including sexism from figures like Kasparov.
Beyond the board, Polgár's personal life reflects her resilience. She is married to veterinarian Gusztáv Font, whom she met through her dog, according to reports. Font, an amateur chess player and Hungary's FIDE delegate since 2011, specializes in small and exotic animals and has worked internationally in countries like Holland, Austria, Germany, the U.S., and Ecuador.
Polgár and Font have two children: son Oliver, around 12 or 13 years old, and daughter Hanna, about 9 or 10. Balancing family and chess proved challenging for Polgár. In a Chess.com interview, she recalled, "Very shortly after Oliver was born I was playing in the world championship in San Luís. I wanted to have everything, and chesswise it wasn’t really possible."
After Hanna's birth less than two years later, "everything really kind of fell apart," despite help from nannies and family. Her world ranking dropped from No. 10 to No. 50 as priorities shifted. Polgár noted, "To really succeed in chess, you have to focus a thousand percent. When doing the right things in family matters, you mathematically have less time."
Unlike her own intense upbringing, Polgár does not push her children into chess. "I’m not pushing them, I’m not working on the fact every day, like my parents did with us to focus on chess," she said. Instead, she waits for their interests to emerge naturally: "I want to wait till something really appeals to my kids. Maybe it’s something they will not be successful in, at least not at a very young age."
The documentary highlights how Polgár's story continues to inspire, blending her professional triumphs with the personal sacrifices that shaped her legacy.
