Susan Polgar

As a child growing up in Hungary, Susan Polgar began playing chess at the age of four. As she recalled, “my father introduced me to the essence of the game and I thought it was very fascinating, with the combinations and possibilities.… It didn’t matter what age, size or color you were. Unlike physical sports, where an adult will have a big advantage over a child in terms of knowledge of physical ability and build, in chess all of that disappears.” By the age of 15, Polgar was the best female chess player in the world. While still a teenager, she made history by qualifying for the Men’s World Chess Championship but was not allowed to play due to her gender. Despite this setback, she would go on to break through the glass ceiling by becoming the first woman in history to become a chess grandmaster. In addition to being a five-time Chess Olympiad champion, Polgar was the first person to earn the chess triple crown, becoming the reigning champion in blitz, rapid, and classical forms of the game in 1996.

After retiring from competitive chess, Polgar became the first female coach to lead a men’s Division I team to a national title. She also created the Susan Polgar Foundation, which awards scholarships and holds tournaments for girls. According to Polgar, “It sounds crazy in the 21st century, but we’re still not quite there with equality when it comes to equal opportunities or equal encouragement with girls in chess.” She hopes the foundation will open new doors for those interested in the sport. To honor her accomplishments, in 2019 Polgar become the youngest woman inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame.

Instagram: @SusanPolgarChess

Twitter: @SusanPolgar