Who Is Judit Polgár? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on July 23, 1976, Judit Polgár is currently 48 years old. Known as one of the greatest female chess players in history, Polgár became a grandmaster at the young age of 15, a record at the time. She was the youngest player ever to achieve the title of grandmaster, a testament to her immense talent and dedication to the game. Throughout her illustrious career, Judit has competed against top male players and has consistently ranked among the top players in the world.
| Occupation | Chess Player |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 23, 1976 |
| Age | 48 Years |
| Birth Place | Budapest, Hungary |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | Hungary |
Popularity
Judit Polgár's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Judit Polgár stands at an impressive height of 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) and weighs approximately 143 lbs (65 kg). While the specific details of her body measurements are not publicly available, Judit maintains a healthy lifestyle, focusing on both her physical and mental well-being.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Judit Polgár is known to keep her personal life highly private. However, it's reported that she is currently in a relationship, although details regarding her boyfriend are kept under wraps. Judit is a proud mother of two daughters, who are often mentioned in interviews as part of her inspiration and motivation in her career.
Polgár and her two older sisters, Grandmaster Susan and International Master Sofia, were part of an educational experiment carried out by their father, László Polgár, in an attempt to prove that children could make exceptional achievements if trained in a specialist subject from a very early age.
"Geniuses are made, not born," was László's thesis. He and his wife Klára educated their three daughters at home, with chess as the specialist subject. László also taught his three daughters the international language Esperanto. They received resistance from Hungarian authorities as home-schooling was not a "socialist" approach.
They also received criticism at the time from some Western commentators for depriving the sisters of a normal childhood.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Judit Polgár's estimated net worth is around $5 million. Her income source mainly derives from her successful chess career, numerous championships, and various endorsements. In addition to her chess earnings, Judit has also been involved in coaching and writing, further contributing to her financial success.
In September 2002, in the Russia versus the Rest of the World Match, Polgár finally defeated Garry Kasparov in a game. The tournament was played under rapid rules with 25 minutes per game and a 10-second bonus increment per move. She won the game with exceptional positional play.
Kasparov with black chose the Berlin Defence instead of his usual Sicilian, and Polgár proceeded with a line which Kasparov had used himself. Polgár was able to attack Kasparov's king (which was still in the centre of the board) with her rooks, and when he was two pawns down, Kasparov resigned.
The game helped the World team win the match 52–48. Upon resigning, Kasparov immediately left by a passageway barred to journalists and photographers. Kasparov had once described Polgár as a "circus puppet" and asserted that women chess players should stick to having children.
Polgár called the game "one of the most remarkable moments of [her] career". The game was historic as it was the first time in chess history that a female player beat the world's No. 1 player in competitive play. An interview with Polgár including video of the match was included in the BBC Witness radio program in 2016.
Career, Business and Investments
Judit Polgár has had a remarkable career that spans several decades. Since taking the chess world by storm as a child prodigy, she has won multiple prestigious tournaments and accolades. Beyond playing, Judit has ventured into coaching and promoting chess, especially among young girls, through various platforms and organizations.
In addition to her chess endeavors, Polgár has invested in several businesses related to education and technology, aiming to foster interest in chess and cognitive skills among youth. Her contributions to the chess community are invaluable, making her a respected figure in both competitive chess and educational circles.
On 13 August 2014, she announced her retirement from competitive chess. In June 2015, Polgár was elected as the new captain and head coach of the Hungarian national men's team. On 20 August 2015, she received Hungary's highest decoration, the Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary.
In 2021, Polgár was inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame. In September 2024, Judit Polgar was awarded the FIDE100 Award as the best female player, recognized as the world's top chess competitor in her time.
The award is given to a player who has contributed to the development of chess both through play and promotion of the game, who has set a good example to other players and, preferably, who has gained recognition beyond the chess world.
Social Network
Judit Polgár is active on various social media platforms, where she shares insights into her life and chess-related content. You can follow her on:
- Twitter: @JuditPolgar
- Instagram: @juditpolgar
- Facebook: Judit Polgar Official
In late 1986, 10-year-old Judit defeated 52-year-old Romanian IM Dolfi Drimer in the Adsteam Lidums International Tournament in Adelaide, Australia. Edmar Mednis said he played his best game of the tournament in beating Judit: "I was careful in that game... Grandmasters don't like to lose to 10-year-old girls, because then we make the front page of all the papers."
Education
Judit Polgár, a firm believer in the power of education, emphasized the importance of a well-rounded background during her early years. Apart from her intensive chess training, she pursued academic studies, and her family prioritized education alongside competitive chess. Judit's dedication to lifelong learning influences her work in chess education and mentorship, helping to shape future players both on and off the board.
Traditionally, chess had been a male-dominated activity, and women were often seen as weaker players, thus advancing the idea of a Women's World Champion. However, from the beginning, László was against the idea that his daughters had to participate in female-only events.
"Women are able to achieve results similar, in fields of intellectual activities, to that of men," he wrote. "Chess is a form of intellectual activity, so this applies to chess.
Accordingly, we reject any kind of discrimination in this respect." This put the Polgárs in conflict with the Hungarian Chess Federation of the day, whose policy was for women to play in women-only tournaments. Polgár's older sister, Susan, first fought the bureaucracy by playing in men's tournaments and refusing to play in women's tournaments.
In 1985, when she was a 15-year-old International Master, Susan said that it was due to this conflict that she had not been awarded the Grandmaster title despite having made the norm eleven times.
