Where Is Chess Legend Judit Polgar Now? Netflix Documentary Sheds Light
Netflix audiences are captivated by the new documentary Queen of Chess, which delves into the life of Judit Polgar, the renowned female chess grandmaster. This factual film offers a real-life counterpart to the popular 2020 drama The Queen's Gambit, providing an intimate look at the world's best female chess player and her current whereabouts.
Personal Life and Family
Judit Polgar is married to veterinarian Gusztáv Font, a relationship that began serendipitously when she took her family dog for treatment. Gusztáv was immediately smitten, and the couple started dating before marrying in 2000. In 2003, Judit achieved her peak world ranking at number eight, but this professional high was marred by personal tragedy when she suffered a miscarriage in 2002 at 13 weeks.
Reflecting on this period in a 2012 interview with The Independent, Judit said, "So it was a terrible time personally but a great time professionally. It was then that I decided to stop playing... I thought, perhaps if I stop playing then I will be able to get pregnant again." Her hopes were realized with the birth of son Oliver in 2004 and daughter Hanna in 2006. After their arrivals, she took a hiatus from chess before making a return to the game.
Retirement and Current Endeavors
Judit Polgar announced her retirement from professional chess in 2014, having competed since the age of 12, and no longer participates in standard tournaments. However, she remains deeply involved in the chess world as a commentator and author of chess books. Additionally, she hosts the Global Chess Festival and founded The Judit Polgar Chess Foundation, a charity dedicated to promoting education, science, culture, and sport through chess.
Early Life and Father's Experiment
Her rise in chess was orchestrated by her father, educational psychologist László Polgár, who included Judit and her sisters Sofia and Susan in an experiment to cultivate geniuses. Instead of traditional schooling, the girls were taught chess for seven days a week, eight to nine hours daily. In the documentary, Judit expressed mixed emotions about this upbringing, stating, "Of course, on one hand, it's not nice being part of an experiment. I never felt myself being a genius. I know that the things I could reach, that was definitely 90 percent of my work and dedication, and this came from my parents."
She added, "My father, of course, was the one who showed me the beauty of chess. But, also what I could do, that I could be great. People have to believe in you and you have to believe in yourself. I think the most important thing is that from today, you have to be better than yesterday, and tomorrow you try to get better. And always fight until the very end."
Rivalry with Garry Kasparov
The documentary highlights the intense rivalry between Judit and then-world number one Garry Kasparov, with numerous matches over the years. Many doubted she could ever defeat him, but in 2002, she finally triumphed, cementing her status as one of the world's top players. Judit described this victory as a "great satisfaction," while her family celebrated the moment. Her sister Sofia called it "a moment we had waited our whole lives to do," and older sister Susan expressed pride, noting their father's jubilant reaction.
László remarked, "It was a fabulous achievement for her and that's why I felt our experiment worked. But you can only say that Judit was one of the best players in the world. To be the number one among the world's players, she would have had to work three or four hours a day more. I'm just glad to see Judit happy." Following this win, Judit broke into the top 10 players of all time, remaining the only woman to achieve this feat.
Queen of Chess is currently streaming on Netflix, offering viewers an in-depth exploration of Judit Polgar's remarkable journey and enduring legacy in the chess community.
