View source for Judit Polgár

{{Short description|Hungarian chess grandmaster (born 1976)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Hungarian name|Polgár Judit}}
{{Infobox chess player
|name = Judit Polgár
|image = Judit Polgár 2013.jpg
|caption = Polgár in 2013 (Warsaw)
|country = Hungary
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|7|23|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Budapest]], Hungary
|death_date =
|death_place =
|father = [[László Polgár]]
|relatives = {{plainlist|
* [[Sofia Polgar]] (sister)
* [[Susan Polgar]] (sister)
}}
|title = [[Grandmaster (chess)|Grandmaster]] (1991)
|rating = (inactive since September 2015)
|peakrating = 2735 (July 2005)
|peakranking = {{ubl|No. 8 (July 2004)|No. 1 woman (January 1989)}}
|FideID = 700070
}}

'''Judit Polgár'''{{efn|{{langx|hu|Polgár Judit}}, {{IPA|hu|ˈpolɡaːr ˈjudit|pron}}}} (born 23 July 1976) is a Hungarian [[Grandmaster (chess)|chess grandmaster]], widely regarded as the [[Strong (chess)|strongest]] female [[chess]] player of all time.<ref name="strongestfemaleever" /> She is the only woman to be ranked in the world top 10 (and one of only three to make the top 100), the only woman to achieve a [[Elo rating system|rating]] of over 2700,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Smerdon|first=David|title=What's behind the gender imbalance in top-level chess?|url=http://theconversation.com/whats-behind-the-gender-imbalance-in-top-level-chess-150637|access-date=15 June 2021|website=The Conversation|date=13 December 2020|language=en|archive-date=29 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029225404/https://theconversation.com/whats-behind-the-gender-imbalance-in-top-level-chess-150637|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Judit Polgar {{!}} Top Chess Players|url=https://www.chess.com/players/judit-polgar|access-date=15 June 2021|website=Chess.com|language=en-US|archive-date=20 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120222735/https://www.chess.com/players/judit-polgar|url-status=live}}</ref> and the only woman to [[FIDE World Chess Championship 2005|compete in the final stage]] of a [[World Chess Championship]]. She was the top rated woman in the world from January 1989 until her retirement from competitive chess in 2014.{{efn|Then, as she could not be removed from the list for the next 12 months, on the March 2015 rating list, she was "officially" overtaken by Chinese player [[Hou Yifan]]; she was the No. 1 again in the August 2015 women's rating list, in her last appearance in the [[FIDE world rankings]].}}

Polgár was a [[chess prodigy]], and at the age of 12 became the youngest player to break into the [[FIDE]] top 100 rating list, ranked at 55 in the January 1989 rating list.<ref>[http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198901e.html FIDE Rating List :: January 1989] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104050052/http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198901e.html |date=4 January 2017 }} OlimpBase</ref> In 1991 she became the youngest player at the time to achieve the title of Grandmaster, at the age of 15 years and 4 months, breaking the 33-year-old record previously held by former world champion [[Bobby Fischer]].

Polgár won or shared first in the chess tournaments of [[Hastings International Chess Congress|Hastings]] 1993, Madrid 1994, León 1996, [[U.S. Open Chess Championship|U.S. Open]] 1998, Hoogeveen 1999, Sigeman & Co 2000, Japfa 2000, and the Najdorf Memorial 2000.<ref>{{cite web|title=Super-Tournament – Participants|last=Avrukh|first=Boris|publisher=Boris Avrukh|date=25 June 2009|author-link=Boris Avrukh|url=http://avrukhboris.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/presentation-of-the-players-and-additional-information-for-the-18th-maccabiah/|access-date=22 April 2010|archive-date=18 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718085950/http://avrukhboris.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/presentation-of-the-players-and-additional-information-for-the-18th-maccabiah/|url-status=live}}</ref> She is the only woman to have won a game against a reigning world number one player, and defeated  eleven current or former world champions in either rapid or classical chess: [[Magnus Carlsen]], [[Anatoly Karpov]], [[Garry Kasparov]], [[Vladimir Kramnik]], [[Boris Spassky]], [[Vasily Smyslov]], [[Veselin Topalov]], [[Viswanathan Anand]], [[Ruslan Ponomariov]], [[Alexander Khalifman]], and [[Rustam Kasimdzhanov]].<ref name="JPolgarSite">{{cite web|title=Judit Polgár|publisher=Judit Polgár|url=http://www.polgarjudit.com/|access-date=10 February 2014|archive-date=25 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325100116/http://www.polgarjudit.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 13 August 2014, she announced her retirement from competitive chess.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/puzzles|title=Queen who exposed the arrogance of kings|newspaper=[[The Times]]|last=Moody|first=Oliver|date=13 August 2014|access-date=5 September 2015|archive-date=3 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003081834/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/puzzles/chess/article4174361.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Friedel |first=Frederic |url=http://en.chessbase.com/post/judit-polgar-to-retire-from-competitive-chess |title=Judit Polgar to retire from competitive chess |date=13 August 2014 |publisher=ChessBase |access-date=16 August 2014 |archive-date=16 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016001024/http://en.chessbase.com/post/judit-polgar-to-retire-from-competitive-chess |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://juditpolgar.com/en/node/230|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318125736/http://juditpolgar.com/en/node/230|url-status=dead|title=Her official statement on her retirement|archive-date=18 March 2015}}</ref> In June 2015, Polgár was elected as the new captain and head coach of the Hungarian national men's team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chessdom.com/judit-polgar-new-captain-of-the-hungarian-national-mens-chess-team/|title=Judit Polgar new captain of the Hungarian National Men's Chess Team|publisher=Chessdom|date=12 June 2015|access-date=5 September 2015|archive-date=1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101120155/http://www.chessdom.com/judit-polgar-new-captain-of-the-hungarian-national-mens-chess-team/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 20 August 2015, she received Hungary's highest decoration, the Grand Cross of the [[Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hungarytoday.hu/news/order-saint-stephen-president-ader-hands-hungarys-highest-state-decoration-94241|title=Order of Saint Stephen: President Àrder Hands over Hungary's Highest State Decoration |publisher=Hungary Today|date=24 August 2015|access-date=5 September 2015|archive-date=24 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224114910/http://hungarytoday.hu/news/order-saint-stephen-president-ader-hands-hungarys-highest-state-decoration-94241|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2021, Polgár was inducted into the [[World Chess Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldchesshof.org/hof-inductee/judit-polgar|title=Judit Polgar|website=[[World Chess Hall of Fame]]|date=11 May 2021|access-date=30 July 2022|archive-date=25 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225050324/https://worldchesshof.org/hof-inductee/judit-polgar|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FIDE 100 Awards make history |url=https://www.fide.com/news/3223 |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=www.fide.com |language=en}}</ref> 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.

==Early life==
[[File:A Polgár lányok fortepan 40708.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Judit, Zsuzsa, Zsófia and László Polgár, 1989]]

Polgár was born on 23 July 1976 in Budapest to a [[History of the Jews in Hungary|Jewish-Hungarian]] family.<ref>''Breaking Through: How the Polgar Sisters Changed the Game of Chess'', (Everyman Chess 2005), Susan Polgar, page 14</ref> Polgár and her two older sisters, Grandmaster [[Susan Polgar|Susan]] and [[International Master]] [[Sofia Polgar|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.<ref name="Shenk"/> "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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=210390&contrassID=2&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y&itemNo=210390 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071122004124/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=210390&contrassID=2&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y&itemNo=210390 |archive-date=22 November 2007 |title=All the right moves |work=[[Haaretz]] |last=Shvidler |first=Eli |date=22 November 2007 }}</ref> 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.

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.<ref>{{cite book |last=Carlisle |first=Rodney P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jLqXM3U_pzEC&pg=PA129 |title=Encyclopedia of play in today's society |publisher=Sage Publications, Inc. |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-4129-6670-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaplay00carl/page/n168 129] |url-access=limited |access-date=29 September 2023 |archive-date=5 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005135711/https://books.google.com/books?id=jLqXM3U_pzEC&pg=PA129 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Mohave Daily Miner|date=9 November 1986|location=Kingman, Arizona|title=Sisters test male domination of chess|last=Koza|first=Patricia (UPI)|page=B2}}</ref> 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.

==Career==
Polgár rarely played in women-specific tournaments or divisions and has never competed for the Women's World Championship: "I always say that women should have the self-confidence that they are as good as male players, but only if they are willing to work and take it seriously as much as male players."<ref>{{cite news
 | title=A Gender Divide In The Ultimate Sport Of The Mind
 | first=Sean
 | last=Phillips
 | publisher=NPR
 | date=15 August 2010
 | url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129214019
 | access-date=21 August 2010
 | archive-date=17 August 2010
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817142847/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129214019
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> While László Polgár has been credited with being an excellent chess coach,<ref name="Pandolfini">{{cite book
 | title=Treasure Chess: Trivia, Quotes, Puzzles, and Lore from the World's Oldest Game
 | last=Pandolfini
 | first=Bruce
 | author-link=Bruce Pandolfini
 | page=84
 | publisher=Random House
 | year=2007
 | isbn=978-0-375-72204-2
}} Pandolfini, chess author and coach, writes: "Judit Polgár is simply the strongest female chess player in history."</ref> the Polgárs had also employed professional chessplayers to train their daughters, including Hungarian champion IM Tibor Florian, GM [[Pal Benko]], and Russian GM [[Alexander Chernin]].<ref name="NYT_Mar181989">{{cite news|title=Top-Rated Female Chess Player Is Just One of Three Stars at Home|date=18 March 1989|author=Harold C. Schonberg|work=The New York Times|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0710F93F540C7B8DDDAA0894D1484D81|access-date=5 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Chess Moves Are Planned. Birthdays Happen.|author=Bruce Weber|date=5 August 1992|work=The New York Times|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10615FD3A5E0C768CDDA10894DA494D81&pagewanted=2|access-date=6 April 2011}}</ref><ref name="HowGood">{{cite book
 | title=How Good is Your Chess
 | last=King
 | first=Daniel
 | page=118
 | year=1993
 | publisher=Dover
 | isbn=0-486-42780-3
}}</ref> Susan Polgár, the eldest of the sisters, 5½ years older than Sophia and 7 years older than Judit, was the first of the sisters to achieve prominence in chess by winning tournaments, and by 1986, she was the world's top-rated female chess player.<ref name="JuditBio"/><ref name="SusanPolgarSite_bio">{{cite web|title=Biography of Susan Polgar|publisher=Susan Polgar|url=http://www.susanpolgar.com/susan-polgar-biography.html|access-date=22 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414141819/http://www.susanpolgar.com/susan-polgar-biography.html|archive-date=14 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=20 Questions with Susan Polgar|publisher=Chessville|url=http://www.chessville.com/Editorials/Interviews/20Questions/PolgarS.htm|access-date=22 March 2011|archive-date=10 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510051242/http://www.chessville.com/Editorials/Interviews/20Questions/PolgarS.htm|url-status=usurped}}</ref> Initially, being the youngest, Judit was separated from her sisters while they were in training. However, this only served to increase Judit's curiosity. After she had learned the rules, they discovered Judit was able to find solutions to the problems they were studying, and she began to be invited into the group.<ref name="chessbase_Jan72011">{{cite web|title=Judit Polgár in Rocca di Papa|date=7 January 2011|publisher=Chessbase|url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6928|access-date=16 January 2011|archive-date=10 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110112542/http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6928|url-status=live}}</ref> One evening, Susan was studying an endgame with their trainer, a strong [[International Master]]. Unable to find the solution, they woke Judit, who was asleep in bed and carried her into the training room. Still half asleep, Judit showed them how to solve the problem, after which they put her back to bed.<ref name="Shenk">{{cite book
 | title=The Immortal Game: Or How 32 carved pieces on a board illuminated our understanding of war, art, science, and the human brain
 | last=Shenk
 | first=David
 | year=2006
 | publisher=Anchor Canada/Random House
 | page=132
 | isbn=978-0-385-66227-7
}}</ref> László Polgár's experiment would produce a family of one international master and two grandmasters and would strengthen the argument for [[Nature versus nurture|nurture over nature]], as well as prove women could be chess grandmasters.<ref>{{cite book
 | title=What Makes a Genius
 | publisher=Scientific American
 | year=2008
 | page=102
 | isbn=978-1-4042-1401-9
}} Note: From article ''The Expert Mind'' by Philip E. Ross Aug 2006 issue. The Ross article uses the wording "proves" nurture over nature.</ref>

===Child prodigy===
Trained in her early years by her sister Susan, Judit Polgár was a [[chess prodigy]] from an early age. At age 5, she defeated a family friend without looking at the board. After the game, the friend joked: "You are good at chess, but I'm a good cook." Judit replied: "Do you cook without looking at the stove?"<ref name="Lyman_Jan8_89">{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Sunday Telegraph
 | location=Nashua, New Hampshire
 | date=8 January 1989
| page=F-2
 | last=Lyman
 | first=Shelby
 | title=Talented chess players are all in the Polgar family
}}</ref> However, according to Susan, Judit was not the sister with the most talent, explaining: "Judit was a slow starter, but very hard-working."<ref>{{cite book
 | title=Mindset: the new psychology of success
 | last=Dweck
 | first=Carol S.
 | year=2006
 | publisher=The Random House Publishing Group
 | page=80
 | isbn=978-0-345-47232-8
}}</ref> Polgár described herself at that age as "obsessive" about chess.<ref>{{cite book|title=Counterplay: An Anthropologist at the Chessboard|url=https://archive.org/details/counterplayanthr00desj|url-access=limited|first= Robert R.|last=Desjarlais|page=[https://archive.org/details/counterplayanthr00desj/page/n149 140]|year=2011|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-26739-8 }}</ref> She first defeated an International Master, [[Dolfi Drimer]], at age 10 and a grandmaster, [[Lev Gutman]], at age 11.<ref>{{cite web
 | title=Judit Polgár vs Dolfi Drimer
 | website=[[Chessgames.com]]
 | url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1110730
 | access-date=15 May 2010
 | archive-date=5 March 2010
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305010425/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1110730
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1110739
 | title=Judit Polgár vs Lev Gutman
 | website=[[Chessgames.com]]
 | access-date=15 May 2010
 | archive-date=4 March 2010
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304235620/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1110739
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

{{Chess diagram small
|tright
|Polgár vs. V. Metodiev, <br />[[Albena]] 1986
|rd|  |bd|  |  |  |kd|
|  |  | qd|pd|  |rd||pd
|pd|  |  |  |  |  |pd|
|  |  |  |pd|pl|  |ql|
|  |  |pd|nl|  |  |  |
|  |  |__|__|  |pl|  |
|pl|pl|pl|  |  |  |pl|
|  |  |kl|rl|  |  |  |rl
|1.Rxh7 Rxh7 2.Qxg6+ Kh8 3.Qe8+ with mate to follow. Polgár was 10 years old.<ref>{{cite book|title=Chess:5334 Problems, Combinations and Games|last=Polgár|first=László |publisher=Tess Press|year=1994|isbn=1-884822-31-2}}p.1018 diagram 5231</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Judit Polgár 1 – Metodiev 0|language=es|publisher=Javier Cordero Fernández|url=http://www.ajedrezdeataque.com/11%20Ajedrez%20Femenino/Partidas/2/J_Polgar-Metodiev.htm|access-date=22 July 2011|archive-date=24 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324000942/http://www.ajedrezdeataque.com/11%20Ajedrez%20Femenino/Partidas/2/J_Polgar-Metodiev.htm|url-status=live}} Complete game.</ref>
}}
{{AN chess|pos=egright}}

Judit started playing in tournaments at 6 years old, and by age 9 her rating with the Hungarian Chess Federation was 2080. She was a member of a chess club in Budapest, where she would get experience from master level players.<ref name="SchonbergNYT"/> In 1984 in Budapest, Sophia and Judit, at the time 9 and 7 years of age, respectively, played two games of blindfold chess against two masters, which they won. At one point the girls complained that one of their opponents was playing too slowly and suggested a clock should be used.<ref name="Hearst"/>

In April 1986, 9-year-old Judit played in her first rated tournament in the U.S., finishing first in the unrated section of the New York Open, winning US$1,000.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press
 | page=A2
 | date=7 April 1986
| title=Young masters
 | volume=102
 | number=284
}}</ref> All three Polgár sisters competed. Susan, 16, competed in the grandmaster section and had a victory against GM [[Walter Browne]], and Sophia, 11, finished second in her section, but Judit gathered most of the attention in the tournament. Grandmasters would drop by to watch the serious, quiet child playing.<ref name="SchonbergNYT"/> She won her first seven games before [[draw (chess)|drawing]] the final game. Although the unrated section had many of the weaker players in the Open, it also had players of expert strength who were foreign to the United States and had not been rated yet. Milorad Boskovic related a conversation with Judit's sixth-round opponent, a Yugoslav player he knew to be a strong expert: "He told me he took some chances in the game because he couldn't believe she was going to attack so well."<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=Schenectady Gazette
 | agency=Associated Press
 | date=10 April 1986
| title=Hungarian, 9, Wins Tourney Sisters Share Chess Ability
 | page=3
 | volume=XCII
 | number=165
}}</ref> Not able to speak English, her mother interpreted as she told a reporter her goal was to be a chess professional. When the reporter asked her if she would be world champion one day, Judit answered: "I will try."<ref name="SchonbergNYT">{{cite news
 | newspaper=St. Petersburg Times
 | last=Schonberg
 | first=Harold C.
 | page=19A
 | title=The Polgar sisters: Hungary's triple threat at chess
 | volume=102
 | number=259
 | location=St. Petersburg, Florida
}}</ref>

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."<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Sunday Telegraph
 | date=8 February 1987
| title=Younger sisters are also proficient
 | last=Lyman
 | first=Shelby
 | location=Nashua and Southern New Hampshire
 | volume=1
 | number=45
}}</ref>

In April 1988, Polgár made her first International Master norm in the International B section of the New York Open.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Sunday Telegraph
 | location=Nashua, New Hampshire
 | date=24 April 1988
| page=F-2
 | last=Lyman
 | first=Shelby
 | title=Tournaments attract 1,060 players
}}</ref> In August 1988, she won the under-12 "Boys" section of the [[World Youth Chess Championship|World Youth Chess and Peace Festival]] in [[Timișoara]], Romania.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | last=Berry
 | first=Jonathan
 | location=Toronto
 | date=1 October 1988
| page=C16
 | title=Youth tourneys are growing trend
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | url=http://www.torneionline.com/loto_tornei_d.php?codice=1988ROU03&tipo=1
 | title=C.to Mondiale U12
 | website=torneionline.com
 | publisher=Italian Chess Federation
 | access-date=27 February 2015
 | archive-date=7 October 2014
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007205345/http://www.torneionline.com/loto_tornei_d.php?codice=1988ROU03&tipo=1
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In October 1988, she finished first in a 10-player [[round-robin tournament]] in London, scoring 7–2, for a half point lead over Israeli GM [[Yair Kraidman]].<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Toronto Star
 | title=Challenge meet largest ever
 | page=M21
 | date=4 February 1989
| last=Day
 | first=Lawrence
}} note: Day incorrectly gives Judit's age as 10. Score of Polgár–Hennigen game is provided with brief analysis.</ref> With these three results, she completed the requirements for the International Master title; at the time, she was the youngest player ever to have achieved this distinction.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Sunday Telegraph
 | location=Nashua, New Hampshire
 | date=30 October 1988
| page=F-2
 | last=Lyman
 | first=Shelby
 | title=Hungarian girl may be next world champion
}}</ref> Both [[Bobby Fischer]] and [[Garry Kasparov]] were 14 when they were awarded the title; Polgár was 12.<ref name="Spoke_Nov2_1988">{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Spokesman-Review
 | title=Girl stuns chess world
 | location=Spokane, Wash
 | date=2 November 1988
| agency=Associated Press
 | page=A1
}}</ref> It was during this time that former world champion [[Mikhail Tal]] said Polgár had the potential to win the World Championship.<ref name="LymanOct301988"/>

[[File:Judit und Sofia Polgar 1988 Thessaloniki.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Judit (left) with sister [[Sofia Polgar|Sofia]] at [[Thessaloniki]], 1988]]
Judit was asked about playing against boys instead of in the girls' section of tournaments: "These other girls are not serious about chess... I practice five or six hours a day, but they get distracted by cooking and work around the house."<ref name="Spoke_Nov2_1988"/>

In November 1988, Judit and her sisters, along with [[Ildikó Mádl]], represented Hungary in the Women's section of the [[28th Chess Olympiad]] in [[Thessaloniki]]. The International Chess Federation would not permit the Polgárs to play against men in team competitions.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Toronto Star
 | agency=Reuters
 | page=D18
 | date=26 December 1988
| title=3 sisters moving up in male world of chess
}}</ref> Prior to the tournament, [[Eduard Gufeld]], Soviet GM and team coach for the Soviet women's team, dismissed the Polgárs: "I believe that these girls are going to lose a good part of their quickly acquired image in the 28th Olympiad... Afterward we are going to know if the Hungarian sisters are geniuses or just women!"<ref>{{cite news|author=Robert Byne|title=Chess|date=21 March 1989|work=The New York Times|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0713FF3E590C728EDDAA0894D1484D81|access-date=5 April 2011}}</ref> However, the Hungarian women's team won the championship, which marked the first time it was not won by the Soviet Union. Judit played board 2 and finished the tournament with the highest score of 12½–½ to win the individual gold medal.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Toronto Star
 | last=Day
 | first=Lawrence
 | title=Soviet Union captures World team championship
 | date=17 December 1988
| page=M21
}}</ref> She also won the brilliancy prize for her game against Pavlina Angelova.<ref>{{cite news
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/10/nyregion/chess-004389.html
 | last=Byrne
 | first=Robert
 | title=Chess
 | work=The New York Times
 | date=10 January 1989
| access-date=20 April 2010
}}</ref>

In the January 1989 Elo rating list, at the age of 12, she was rated 2555, which was number 55 in the world, the top woman in the world, 35 rating points ahead of the Women's World Champion [[Maia Chiburdanidze]], and 45 points ahead of her sister Susan. In the six months since the previous list, she had gained a remarkable 190 rating points.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Sun-Herald
 | date=22 January 1989
| last=Koshnitsky
 | first=Garry
 | title=Polgar highest rated woman
 | page=156
 | location=Sydney, Australia
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | url=http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198901e.html
 | title=FIDE Rating List :: January 1989
 | publisher=Olimpbase.org
 | access-date=27 February 2015
 | archive-date=4 January 2017
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104050052/http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198901e.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> The ''[[British Chess Magazine]]'' declared: "Judit Polgár's recent results make the performances of Fischer and Kasparov at a similar age pale by comparison."<ref name="Lyman_Jan8_89"/> 

Judit's quiet and modest demeanour at the board<ref name="Globe_Feb5_92"/> contrasted with the intensity of her playing style.  British GM [[David Norwood]], in recalling Judit beating him when he was an established player and she was just a child, described her as "this cute little auburn-haired monster who crushed you."<ref name="Telegraph_Allot2002">{{cite news
 | title=Queen takes all
 | first=Serena
 | last=Allott
 | date=16 January 2002
 | publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited
 | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/3294892/Queen-takes-all.html
 | access-date=25 April 2010
 | location=London
 | archive-date=31 March 2022
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331171125/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/3294892/Queen-takes-all.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> British journalist [[Dominic Lawson]] wrote about 12-year-old Judit's "killer" eyes and how she would stare at her opponent: "The irises are so grey, so dark they are almost indistinguishable from the pupils. Set against her long red hair, the effect is striking."<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Age
 | last=Lawson
 | first=Dominic (Spectator)
 | title=Mastering the world of chess
 | date=15 November 1988
| page=11
 | location=Melbourne, Australia
 | number=41,642
}}</ref>

In 1990, British GM [[Nigel Short]] called Judit "one of the three or four greatest [[Chess prodigy|chess prodigies]] in history".<ref name="SI_1990"/> However, Kasparov expressed early doubts: "She has fantastic chess talent, but she is, after all, a woman. It all comes down to the imperfections of the feminine psyche. No woman can sustain a prolonged battle."<ref name="SI_1990">{{cite magazine
 | title=Kid With A Killer Game
 | date=12 February 1990
 | last=Lidz
 | first=Franz
 | magazine=Sports Illustrated
 | url=https://www.si.com/vault/1990/02/12/121504/kid-with-a-killer-game
 | access-date=30 May 2019
 | archive-date=30 May 2019
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530163647/https://www.si.com/vault/1990/02/12/121504/kid-with-a-killer-game
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> Later in life, however, after he had lost a rapid game against Polgár himself in 2002, Kasparov revised his opinion: "The Polgárs showed that there are no inherent limitations to their aptitude—an idea that many male players refused to accept until they had unceremoniously been crushed by a twelve-year-old with a ponytail."<ref name="HowLifeImitatesChess">{{cite book
 | title=How Life Imitates Chess: Making the Right Moves, from the Board to the Boardroom
 | last=Kasparov
 | first=Garry
 | year=2007
 | publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA
 | isbn=9781596913875
}}</ref>

In 1989, Polgár tied with [[Boris Gelfand]] for third in the OHRA Open in Amsterdam, earning her first Grandmaster norm.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Toronto Star
 | last=Day
 | first=Lawrence
 | page=M17
 | date=13 January 1990
| title=Gelfand takes first for U.S.S.R.
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=De sterkste schaakspeelster ooit |trans-title=The strongest chess player ever |url=https://maxeuwe.nl/en/de-sterkste-schaakspeelster-ooit-2/ |publisher=Max Euwe Centre |language=nl |access-date=25 January 2022 |date=24 April 2020 |archive-date=25 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125165555/https://maxeuwe.nl/en/de-sterkste-schaakspeelster-ooit-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

By now, numerous books and articles had been written about the Polgár sisters, making them famous even outside of the world of chess. In 1989, American President [[George H. W. Bush]] and his wife Barbara met with the Polgárs during their visit to Hungary.<ref name="Hearst">{{cite book
 | title=Blindford chess: history, psychology, techniques, champions, world records and important games
 | last1=Hearst
 | first1=Eliot
 | last2=Knott
 | first2=John
 | year=2009
 | publisher=McFarland & Company, Ltd.
 | isbn=978-0-7864-3444-2
 | pages=136–137
}}</ref> Although not released until 1996, in 1990 a documentary about children playing chess, ''Chess Kids'', featuring Polgár, was filmed. The documentary did not include an interview with Polgár as her father required payment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chess in the Movies|author=Bill Wall|publisher=chessville.com|url=http://www.chessville.com/billwall/ChessInMovies.htm|access-date=1 July 2011|archive-date=10 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810142938/http://www.chessville.com/billwall/ChessInMovies.htm|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title='Chess Kids' Documentary a Weak Move|last=Saylor|first=Mark|date=5 September 1997|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-sep-05-ca-28962-story.html|access-date=1 July 2011|archive-date=7 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107114250/http://articles.latimes.com/1997/sep/05/entertainment/ca-28962|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1990, Judit won the Boys section of the under-14 in the World Youth Chess Festival in [[Fond du Lac, Wisconsin]].<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | location=Toronto
 | last=Berry
 | first=Jonathan
 | title=Soviet dark horses dominating U.S. play
 | date=25 August 1990
| page=F10
}}</ref> Also in 1990, Judit and her sisters represented Hungary in the Women's Olympiad, winning the gold medal. It was the last women-only tournament in which Judit would participate.<ref name="JuditBio">{{cite web|title=Judit Polgár Biography |publisher=Judit Polgár |url=http://www.polgarjudit.com/biography_en.html |access-date=19 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923164906/http://www.polgarjudit.com/biography_en.html |archive-date=23 September 2010 }}</ref>

In October 1991, Judit finished with 5½–3½, tied for third for fifth position with [[Zoltán Ribli]] and [[John Nunn]], at a tournament in Vienna.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=Toronto Star
 | last=Day
 | first=Lawrence
 | page=J11
 | title=Defending champion loses her 13-year title
 | date=4 January 1992
}} Note: Day writes that with this tournament Polgár "collected her third and final Grandmaster norm". This implies this was sufficient to earn the GM title, but most accounts indicate she won the title with the Hungarian championship in December.</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Vienna_1991
 | title=Vienna 1991
 | publisher=365Chess.com
 | access-date=8 May 2010
 | archive-date=29 September 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929170613/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Vienna_1991
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

===Grandmaster===
In December 1991, Polgár achieved the [[Grandmaster (chess)|grandmaster]] title by winning the [[Hungarian Chess Championship|Hungarian National Championship]], at the time the youngest ever at 15 years, 4 months to have achieved the title. This beat Fischer's record by a month.<ref name="Globe_Feb5_92">{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | location=Toronto
 | title=Hungarian teen-ager achieves rank of chess grandmaster
 | agency=New York Times Service
 | date=5 February 1992
| page=A9
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The News
 | date=5 February 1992
 | page=3A
 | location=Boca Raton, Florida
 | title=Hungarian chess whiz is youngest grandmaster ever
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/judit-polgar-how-i-beat-fischer-s-record/2
 | title=Judit Polgar: How I beat Fischer's record
 | website=[[ChessBase]]
 | date=5 February 2013
 | access-date=7 September 2023
 | archive-date=7 September 2023
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907062259/https://en.chessbase.com/post/judit-polgar-how-i-beat-fischer-s-record/2
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite Chessgames.com game
 | gid= 1110989
 | title= Tibor Tolnai vs Judit Polgar
 | access-date = 7 September 2023
}}</ref> This made her both the first woman to be the youngest-ever grandmaster and the fourth woman to become a grandmaster (after [[Nona Gaprindashvili]], [[Maia Chiburdanidze]] and Polgar's sister Susan).<ref name="Globe_Feb5_92"/> With this, Polgar also beat her sister Susan's record for youngest-ever female grandmaster, obtained earlier in January 1991, by over 7 years. Hungary, one of the strongest chess-playing countries, had all but one of their strongest players participate in that year's championship, as only [[Zoltán Ribli]] was missing. Going into the last round, Polgár needed only a draw to achieve the GM title, but she won her game against GM Tibor Tolnai to finish first, with six points in nine games.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | location=Toronto
 | title=Girl, 15, youngest Grandmaster ever
 | last=Berry
 | first=Jonathan
 | date=8 February 1992
| page=A13
}}</ref>

In 1992, Polgár tied for second, behind [[Anatoly Karpov]] at the Madrid International in Linares. She and Russian GM [[Vladimir Epishin]] finished with 5½–3½.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=CHESS; For Karpov, Defeat Only Serves as a Spur
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=28 June 1992
 | work=The New York Times
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/28/style/chess-for-karpov-defeat-only-serves-as-a-spur.html?pagewanted=1
 | access-date=20 April 2010
 | archive-date=28 March 2014
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328105826/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/28/style/chess-for-karpov-defeat-only-serves-as-a-spur.html?pagewanted=1
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In July 1992, she placed second in the Reshevsky Memorial in Manhattan finishing with four wins, five draws and no losses.<ref>{{cite news
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/09/style/chess-peruvian-wins-reshevsky-memorial.html?pagewanted=1
 | title=Chess; Peruvian Wins Reshevsky Memorial
 | last=Byrne
 | first=Robert
 | work=The New York Times
 | date=9 August 1992
 | access-date=21 April 2010
 | archive-date=28 March 2014
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328095757/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/09/style/chess-peruvian-wins-reshevsky-memorial.html?pagewanted=1
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In September 1992, Polgár participated in a tournament held in Aruba in which a team of senior men's players competed against a team of top women players. The men's team consisted of [[Lev Polugaevsky]], [[Wolfgang Uhlmann]], [[Oscar Panno]], [[Efim Geller]], [[Borislav Ivkov]] and [[Vasily Smyslov]]. The women's team consisted of Judit and Zsuzsa Polgár, [[Pia Cramling]], Chiburdanidze, [[Ketevan Arakhamia]] and [[Alisa Galliamova]]. The men won the tournament 39–33. The overall high scorer was Polugaevsky, 57 years old with Polgár, 16, finishing second with 7½–4½.<ref>{{cite news
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/11/style/chess-senior-grandmasters-defeat-women-39-to-33.html?pagewanted=1
 | title=CHESS; Senior Grandmasters Defeat Women, 39 to 33
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=11 October 1992
 | work=The New York Times
 | access-date=21 April 2010
 | archive-date=28 March 2014
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328111212/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/11/style/chess-senior-grandmasters-defeat-women-39-to-33.html?pagewanted=1
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

[[File:Boris Spasski 1984 Saloniki.jpg|thumb|upright|In 1993, Polgár defeated former world champion [[Boris Spassky]] (pictured here in 1984) in an exhibition match.]]
Polgár then tied for first in the [[Hastings International Chess Congress|Hastings]] tournament held over New Year's, 1992–93. Russian GM [[Evgeny Bareev]], at the time ranked eighth in the world, led going into tournament's last round, but was defeated by Polgár in their second individual game, allowing her to share first.<ref>{{cite news
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/21/style/chess-a-polgar-triumph-before-her-triumph.html?pagewanted=1
 | title=CHESS; A Polgar Triumph Before Her Triumph
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=21 February 1993
 | work=The New York Times
 | access-date=21 April 2010
 | archive-date=28 March 2014
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328100357/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/21/style/chess-a-polgar-triumph-before-her-triumph.html?pagewanted=1
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> Immediately following the Hastings tournament, Polgár played an exhibition match in February against former World Champion, Boris Spassky. She won the match 5½–4½ and won $110,000, the largest prize money to that point in her career.<ref>{{cite news
 | last=Lundstrom
 | first=Harold
 | title=Kasparov primes for defense by breezing through 100 foes
 | page=W8
 | date=26 February 1993
| newspaper=The Deseret News
 | location=Salt Lake City, Utah
}}</ref> Polgár also participated in the Melody Amber tournament in Monaco which featured a blindfold tournament of 12 grandmasters. Anand and Karpov finished first, Ljubojević third, while Polgár finished in clear fourth with 6½ points from 11 rounds, ahead of other strong GMs such as [[Vasyl Ivanchuk|Ivanchuk]], [[Nigel Short|Short]], [[Viktor Korchnoi|Korchnoi]] and her sister Susan.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | location=Toronto
 | last=Berry
 | first=Jonathan
 | title=More than meets the eyes
 | date=29 May 1993
| page=A13
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=Amber-blind 2nd Monte Carlo 1993
 | publisher=365Chess.com
 | url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Amber-blind_2nd_1993
 | access-date=13 May 2010
 | archive-date=29 September 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929170702/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Amber-blind_2nd_1993
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

In 1993, Polgár became the first woman to ever qualify for an [[Interzonal]] tournament. In March, she finished in a four-way tie for second place in the Budapest Zonal and won the tiebreaking tournament.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | location=Toronto
 | last=Berry
 | first=Jonathan
 | title=Polgar moves up to Interzonal
 | date=15 May 1993
| page=E9
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=Budapest zt-A Budapest 1993
 | publisher=365Chess.com
 | url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Budapest_zt-A_1993
 | access-date=13 May 2010
 | archive-date=29 September 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929170652/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Budapest_zt-A_1993
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=Budapest zt playoff Budapest 1993
 | publisher=365Chess.com
 | url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Budapest_zt_playoff_1993
 | access-date=13 May 2010
 | archive-date=29 September 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929170658/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Budapest_zt_playoff_1993
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> She then confirmed her status as one of the world's leading players, narrowly failing to qualify for the [[Candidates Tournament]]s at the rival [[FIDE]] and [[Professional Chess Association|PCA]] [[Interzonal]] tournaments.<ref>{{cite web
 | url=http://www.mark-weeks.com/chess/9496fiix.htm
 | title=1993 Biel FIDE Interzonal Tournament
 | author=Mark Weeks
 | access-date=24 January 2009
 | archive-date=9 July 2011
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709155338/http://www.mark-weeks.com/chess/9496fiix.htm
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | url=http://www.mark-weeks.com/chess/9496piix.htm
 | title=1993 Groningen PCA Qualifying Tournament
 | author=Mark Weeks
 | access-date=24 January 2009
 | archive-date=13 March 2018
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313033545/http://www.mark-weeks.com/chess/9496piix.htm
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

In the summer of 1993, [[Bobby Fischer]] stayed for a time in the Polgár household. He had been living in seclusion in [[Yugoslavia]] due to an arrest warrant issued by the United States for violating the UN blockade of Yugoslavia with his 1992 match against Spassky. Susan Polgár met Bobby with her family and persuaded him to come out of hiding "in a cramped hotel room in a small Yugoslavian village".<ref name="Polgar_Lubbock"/> During his stay, he played many games of [[Fischer random chess]] and helped the sisters analyse their games. Susan said, while he was friendly on a personal level and recalled mostly pleasant moments as their guest, there were conflicts due to his political views. On the suggestion of a friend of Fischer, a match of blitz chess between Fischer and Polgár was arranged and announced to the press. However, problems ensued between Fischer and László Polgár and Fischer cancelled the match, telling a friend who asked if the match would take place, "No, they're Jewish."<ref name="Polgar_Lubbock">{{cite web
 | last=Polgar
 | first=Susan
 | publisher=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal/Lubbock online
 | date=18 January 2009
 | title=Polgar: Remembering a chess champion, the late Bobby Fischer
 | url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/011809/col_378558316.shtml
 | access-date=2 May 2010
 | archive-date=14 July 2011
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714000631/http://lubbockonline.com/stories/011809/col_378558316.shtml
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | last=Chun
 | first=Rene
 | title=Bobby Fischer's Pathetic Endgame
 | url=https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/2002/12/chun.htm
 | publisher=theAtlantic.com
 | access-date=2 May 2010
 | date=December 2002
 | archive-date=17 April 2010
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417072214/http://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/2002/12/chun.htm
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=Bangor Daily News
 | title=Fischer, teen-ager to match chess skills
 | last=Ingram
 | first=Judith
 | date=7 August 1993
| page=7
 | volume=105
 | number=44
 | location=Bangor, Maine
}}</ref>

In the summer of 1994, Polgár had the greatest success of her career to that point, when she won the Madrid International in Spain. Against a field which included [[Gata Kamsky]], [[Evgeny Bareev]], [[Valery Salov]] and [[Ivan Sokolov (chess player)|Ivan Sokolov]], she finished 7–2 and 1½ points ahead of second place.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=Chess
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=7 June 1994
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/07/arts/chess-316350.html
 | work=The New York Times
 | access-date=21 April 2010
 | archive-date=28 March 2014
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328110027/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/07/arts/chess-316350.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=PGN File Events: 1994
 | url=http://www.chessopolis.com/chessfiles/pgn_events_1994.htm
 | publisher=chessopolis.com
 | access-date=21 April 2010
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415060436/http://www.chessopolis.com/chessfiles/pgn_events_1994.htm
 | archive-date=15 April 2010
| url-status=dead
 }}</ref> Her [[Performance rating (chess)|performance rating]] for the tournament was 2778 against an opposition rated at 2672.<ref>{{cite web
 | url=http://chessmetrics.com/cm/CM2/SingleEvent.asp?Params=199510SSSSS3S102713000000111101298300000010100
 | title=Madrid 1994
 | publisher=ChessMetrics.com
 | access-date=21 April 2010
 | archive-date=27 May 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527055030/http://chessmetrics.com/cm/CM2/SingleEvent.asp?Params=199510SSSSS3S102713000000111101298300000010100
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

In October 1994, she played in a tournament in [[Buenos Aires]] which was a tribute to an ailing Polugaevsky. Eight grandmasters participated, all considered contenders for the world championship: Karpov, Anand, Salov, Ivanchuk, Kamsky, Shirov, Ljubojević and Polgár. The tournament was unusual as Black in each game was required to play a [[Sicilian Defence]], since Polugaevsky was considered the all-time authority on the opening.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Toronto Star
 | last=Day
 | first=Lawrence
 | title=Russian master first again
 | date=4 February 1995
| page=K14
}}</ref> This was to Polgár's advantage as it was her favourite. Against the elite competition she finished tied for third with Ivanchuk.<ref>{{cite web
 | url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1014008
 | title=9_Lev Polugajevky Tourn. Buenos Aires 1994
 | website=[[Chessgames.com]]
 | access-date=21 April 2010
 | archive-date=5 May 2010
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505154246/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1014008
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/13/arts/chess-093106.html
 | work=The New York Times
 | title=Chess
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | access-date=21 April 2010
 | date=13 December 1994
 | archive-date=2 July 2010
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702003002/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/13/arts/chess-093106.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

In September 1995, Polgár finished third with a score of 7–4 in the Donner Memorial in Amsterdam, behind [[Jan Timman]] and [[Julio Granda]], who tied for first, and  ahead of [[Yasser Seirawan]], [[Alexander Huzman]], [[Alexei Shirov]], [[Alexander Khalifman]], [[Alexander Morozevich]] and [[Valery Salov]].<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=Los Angeles Times
 | date=5 September 1995
| title=Chess
 | last=Peters
 | first=Jack
 | page=A18
}}</ref> She secured a clear third place with a 21-move win over Shirov in her last game.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Toronto Star
 | last=Day
 | first=Lawrence
 | title=Milicevic takes top spot
 | page=L14
 | date=23 September 1995
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=Donner mem Amsterdam 1995
 | publisher=365Chess.com
 | url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Donner_mem_1995
 | access-date=8 May 2010
 | archive-date=29 September 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929170619/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Donner_mem_1995
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In the Antillean island of Aruba in November 1995, she played in a friendly match against [[Jeroen Piket]] of the Netherlands, at the time one of the top players in Europe. Despite being closely matched in ratings, Polgár won the match 6–2.<ref>{{cite news
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/12/arts/chess-006769.html
 | title=Chess
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=12 December 1995
 | access-date=22 April 2010
 | work=The New York Times
 | archive-date=28 March 2014
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328102409/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/12/arts/chess-006769.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

[[File:UigChessmen SelectionOfKings.jpg|thumb|right|Lewis chessmen]]
In 1995, the [[Isle of Lewis]] chess club in Scotland attempted to arrange a game between Polgár and Nigel Short in which the famous [[Lewis chessmen]] would be used. The Lewis chessmen is a chess set carved in the 12th century. However, the [[British Museum]] refused to release the set despite assurances that the players would wear gloves. Scottish member of parliament [[Calum MacDonald (politician)|Calum MacDonald]] pointed out that the set would be safe, especially as chess was not a contact sport.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Toronto Star
 | last=Day
 | first=Lawrence
 | title=Oddest story of the year
 | page=L12
 | date=15 July 1995
}}</ref> In the end, the Museum allowed the chess set to be displayed at the Isle of Lewis festival tournament, but they were not used in any games. Polgár won the double round-robin tournament of four GMs, scoring five points in the six games and winning both her games against Short.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Toronto Star
 | last=Day
 | first=Lawrence
 | title=FIDE grinds to a halt
 | page=K14
 | date=14 October 1995
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=Isle of Lewis 1995
 | publisher=365Chess.com
 | url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Isle_of_Lewis_1995
 | access-date=8 May 2010
 | archive-date=17 September 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917180107/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Isle_of_Lewis_1995
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>
{{Clear left}}

====Kasparov touch-move controversy====
{{Chess diagram small
|tright
|Polgár vs. Kasparov, Linares 1994
|  |  |  |  |rd|  |kd|
|  |bl|  |nd|  |pd|pd|
|  |pd|  |ql|  |nd|  |pd
|  |  |  |  |pd|pl|  |
|qd|  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |pl|rd|nl|  |  |pl|pl
|  |  |  |rl|rl|  |  |kl
|The position before the move in question. Allegedly, Kasparov played 36...Nc5{{chesspunc|?}}, which loses [[The exchange (chess)|the exchange]] to 37.Bc6, quickly realised his error, and substituted 36...Nf8.
}}
{{AN chess|pos=egright}}
At [[Linares International Chess Tournament|Linares]] 1994, Polgár lost a controversial game to the [[World Chess Championship|World Champion]] [[Garry Kasparov]]. The tournament marked the first time the 17-year-old Polgár was invited to compete with the world's strongest players. After four games she had two points.<ref name="Globe_Mar19_94">{{cite news | newspaper=The Globe and Mail | location=Toronto | last=Berry | first=Jonathan | title=Victory boosts Karpov's rating | date=19 March 1994 | page=A18 }}</ref> During her game with Kasparov in the fifth round, Kasparov gradually outplayed her and had a clear advantage after 35 moves.<ref name="Geuzendam">{{cite book|title=Linares! Linares!: A Journey into the Heart of Chess|last=[[Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam|ten Geuzendam]]|first=Dirk Jan|year=2001|publisher=[[New In Chess]]|isbn=978-9056910778|pages=72–80}}</ref> On his 36th move, the  World Champion reportedly changed his mind about the move of a knight, and moved the piece to a different square.<ref>{{cite news | last=Peters | first=Jack | date=5 January 1995 | title=Chess Highlights of 1994 | newspaper=[[The Los Angeles Times]] | format=print and online column | page=27 | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-01-mn-15295-story.html | access-date=28 April 2016 | quote=What made 1994 a memorable year for chess? Certainly it had its share of controversial incidents, led by the touch-move dispute in which Garry Kasparov took back a move against Judit Polgar. | archive-date=11 September 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911095551/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-01-01/news/mn-15295_1_chess-tournament-club | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Berry |first=Jonathan Berry |author-link=Jonathan Berry |date=19 March 1994 |title=Victory boosts Karpov's rating |page=A18 |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |location=Toronto |format=print column |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/385234867 |access-date=5 September 2022 |id={{ProQuest|385234867}} |quote=Mr. Kasparov picked up his knight at d7 and placed it on c5. 'Touch move' requires a player to move a touched piece, but the move is not over until the hand leaves the piece. Seeing that 37.Bb7–c6 would be bad for Black, Mr. Kasparov instead put the knight on f8. However, the way Miss Polgár saw it, Mr. Kasparov's hand did leave the piece on c5. Accounts diverge from there. We do know that Spanish TV recorded the game and that there were several spectators, some of whom thought that Mr. Kasparov removed his hand from the knight at c5. |archive-date=26 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426154719/https://www.proquest.com/docview/385234867 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to [[rules of chess#Act of moving the pieces|chess rules]], once a player has released a piece, the move must stand, so if Kasparov did remove his hand, he should have been required to play his original move. Polgár did not challenge Kasparov in the moment, because, she stated, "I was playing the World Champion and didn't want to cause unpleasantness during my first invitation to such an important event. I was also afraid that if my complaint was overruled I would be penalized on the clock when we were in time pressure." She did, however, look questioningly at the [[International Arbiter|arbiter]], Carlos Falcon, who witnessed the incident and took no action.<ref name="Geuzendam" />

The incident was caught on tape by a crew from the Spanish television company PVS, and the videotape showed that Kasparov's fingers had left the knight.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/SwsYWmjUP-k Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200628203348/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwsYWmjUP-k&t=1131s Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwsYWmjUP-k| title = Linares Chess Tournament,part 2. | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="LymanMay94"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Barden|first1=Leonard|date=19 March 1994|title=CHESS|pages=WEEKEND FT XXI|publisher=Financial Times, UK|url=https://archive.org/stream/FinancialTimes1994UKEnglish/Mar%2019%201994%2C%20Financial%20Times%2C%20%2319%2C%20UK%20%28en%29#page/n43/mode/2up|access-date=24 June 2020|quote=Video film stills confirmed that Kasparov's hand had quit the knight for about a quarter of a second.}}</ref> [[International Arbiter|Tournament director]] Carlos Falcon did not forfeit Kasparov when this evidence was made available to him.<ref name="Berry_GM_Mar261994">{{cite news | newspaper=Globe and Mail | location=Toronto | last=Berry | first=Jonathan | title=Kasparov caught on videotape | date=26 March 1994 | page=E7 | quote = During round 5 of the Linares tournament (March 1), World Champion Gary Kasparov started to move his knight from d7 to c5, but reconsidered and played the knight to f8.}}</ref> As U.S. chess journalist Shelby Lyman pointed out, in the majority of sports "instant replays" do not overrule a referee's original decision and chess is no exception.<ref name="LymanMay94">Lyman, Shelby (1 May 1994). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19940501&id=FDofAAAAIBAJ&sjid=L88EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6762,158965&hl=en "Kasparov's Hand Quicker Than Eye"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225105408/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19940501&id=FDofAAAAIBAJ&sjid=L88EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6762,158965&hl=en |date=25 February 2017 }}, ''[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]]''.</ref> At the time the video had not been publicly released, at the request of tournament sponsor Luis Rentero,<ref name="Geuzendam" /> but it is now available [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw4g3iDrsNk on Youtube] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619175624/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw4g3iDrsNk |date=19 June 2022 }}. At one point Polgár reportedly confronted Kasparov in the hotel bar, asking him, "How could you do this to me?"<ref name="GardianBarden_2002"/> Following this incident, Kasparov bluntly told an interviewer "... she just publicly said I was cheating. ... I think a girl of her age should be taught some good manners before making such statements."<ref>Kasparov Interview, [[New In Chess]], March 1994, reprinted in '{{cite book|title=Finding Bobby Fischer: Chess Interviews|last=[[Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam|ten Geuzendam]]|first=Dirk Jan|year=1994|publisher=[[New In Chess]]|isbn=978-9071689864|pages=72–80}}' and '{{cite book|title=Finding Bobby Fischer: Chess Interviews|last=[[Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam|ten Geuzendam]]|first=Dirk Jan|year=2015|publisher=[[New In Chess]]|isbn=978-9056915728|pages=72–80}}'</ref> Subsequently, Kasparov refused to speak to her for three years.<ref name="Geuzendam" /> Kasparov told reporters that his conscience was clear, as he was not aware of his hand leaving the piece.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=Deseret News | date=27 May 1994 | last=Lundstrom | first=Harold | title=Kasparov comes out on top in tourne  | page=C6 | location=Salt Lake City, Utah }}</ref> Although Polgár recovered by the end of the tournament, she went into a slump over the next six rounds, gaining only half a point.<ref name="Globe_Mar19_94"/> The incident also may have had an effect on Kasparov, who ultimately delivered a subpar performance in the tournament.<ref name="LymanMay94" />

===Top 10 player===
Polgár is generally considered the strongest female chess player of all time.<ref name="strongestfemaleever">Sources citing Polgár as by far the strongest female chess player of all time:
* {{cite news
 | newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 | page=6A
 | title=Anand wins chess "Battle of the Sexes"
 | agency=Associated Press
 | date=18 August 2003
}} note: The Associated Press story on Aug.17/18, 2003 on the Polgár–Anand match explicitly refers to Polgár with the words "by far the strongest woman chess player ever"
* {{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/467279/Judit-Polgar |title=Polgar, Judit |publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica Online |access-date=22 January 2015 |archive-date=22 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122191130/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/467279/Judit-Polgar |url-status=live }} note: explicitly uses "by far": "By far the strongest female player of all time".
* {{cite web
 |title=Super-GM tournament in Sofia starts
 |date=12 May 2005
 |publisher=Chessbase.com
 |url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2375
 |access-date=18 April 2010
 |archive-date=9 November 2012
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109034117/http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2375
 |url-status=live
 }}
* {{cite web
 |title=Judit Polgár: 'I can work myself into the top ten again'
 |publisher=[[ChessBase]]
 |url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=4244
 |date=11 November 2007
 |access-date=4 February 2008
 |archive-date=9 November 2012
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109125528/http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=4244
 |url-status=live
 }}
* {{cite news
 |title=Chess; The Secret of Playing Blindfold: Memory May Be the Least of It
 |last=McClain
 |first=Dylan Loeb
 |date=24 December 2006
 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00EED71131F937A15751C1A9609C8B63
 |access-date=13 April 2010
 |work=The New York Times
 |archive-date=10 June 2016
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610073044/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00EED71131F937A15751C1A9609C8B63
 |url-status=live
 }}
* {{cite web
 |url=http://michaelbluejay.com/misc/womengrandmasters.html
 |title=Women Grandmasters in Chess
 |access-date=13 April 2010
 |publisher=MichaelBluejay
 |archive-date=17 September 2017
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917050515/http://michaelbluejay.com/misc/womengrandmasters.html
 |url-status=live
 }}
* {{cite news
 |last=Pein
 |first=Malcolm
 |title=A crown for Kosteniuk
 |publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited
 |date=22 September 2009
 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/chess/malcolmpein/3561123/A-crown-for-Kosteniuk.html
 |access-date=18 April 2010
 |location=London
 |archive-date=15 December 2021
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215224905/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/chess/malcolmpein/3561123/A-crown-for-Kosteniuk.html
 |url-status=live
 }} Malcolm Pein, British IM and Executive Editor of [[CHESS magazine]], when speaking of A. Kosteniuk's victory over Hou Yifan for the Women's World Championship, said "Currently Judit Polgár is in another league from any other female player."
* {{cite news
 |title=Elite Players Of Chess To Compete
 |date=17 May 2005
 |newspaper=The New York Times
 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/17/arts/17chess.html
 |access-date=18 April 2010
 |archive-date=9 August 2014
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809131001/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/17/arts/17chess.html
 |url-status=live
 }}
* {{cite book
 | title=Human cloning
 | last1=Humber
 | first1=James M.
 | last2=Almeder
 | first2=Robert F.
 | page=87
 | publisher=Humana Press inc.
 | isbn=0-89603-565-4
| date=7 August 1998
}}
* {{cite news
 | newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 | date=22 December 1996
| page=17A
 | last=Weber
 | first=Bruce
 | title=Next Move? Chess enthusiasts puzzle over game's gender imbalance
}}
* {{cite book
 | last=Wolff
 | first=Patrick
 | title=Complete Idiot's guide to chess
 | publisher=Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
 | year=2002
 | page=277
 | author-link=Patrick Wolff
 | isbn=0-02-864182-5
}}
* {{cite news
 | newspaper=The Washington Post
 | last=Kavalek
 | first=Lubomir
 | title=Chess
 | date=17 January 2005
| page=C12
 | author-link=Lubomir Kavalek
}} Kavalek, GM in the top 100 players for 26 years, called Polgár, "the all-time best female player"
* {{cite book
 | title=Treasure Chess: Trivia, Quotes, Puzzles, and Lore from the World's Oldest Game
 | last=Pandolfini
 | first=Bruce
 | author-link=Bruce Pandolfini
 | page=84
 | publisher=Random House
 | year=2007
 | isbn=978-0-375-72204-2
}} Pandolfini, chess author and coach, writes "Judit Polgár is simply the strongest female chess player in history."
* The January 1996 FIDE ratings list was a landmark as Polgár's 2675 rating made her the No. 10 ranked player in the world, the only woman ever to enter the world's Top Ten. {{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | location=Toronto
 | last=Berry
 | title=Kramnick, 20 Tops the rating list
 | first=Jonathan
 | page=A12
 | date=6 January 1996
}}
* {{cite web
 |title=All Time Rankings:FIDE Top 10 1970–1997
 |publisher=The University of Edinburgh
 |url=http://chess.eusa.ed.ac.uk/Chess/Trivia/AlltimeList.html
 |access-date=15 May 2010
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126000035/http://chess.eusa.ed.ac.uk/Chess/Trivia/AlltimeList.html
 |archive-date=26 November 2009
 }}</ref> In January 1996, she became the only woman ever to be ranked in the top ten of all chess players.<ref>The January 1996 FIDE ratings list was a landmark as Polgár's 2675 rating made her the No. 10 ranked player in the world, the only woman ever to enter the world's Top Ten. Berry, Jonathan (6 January 1996). "Kramnick, 20 Tops the rating list". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. p. A12.</ref> In August 1996, she participated in a very strong 10-player tournament in Vienna. There was a three-way tie for first between Karpov, Topalov and Boris Gelfand and a three-way tie for fourth between Kramnik, Polgár and Lékó.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Toronto Star
 | last=Day
 | first=Lawrence
 | title=A close finish in Vienna
 | date=12 October 1996
| page=K12
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=Vienna Millenium 1996
 | publisher=365Chess.com
 | url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Vienna_Millenium_1996
 | access-date=8 May 2010
 | archive-date=1 November 2010
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101051459/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Vienna_Millenium_1996
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In December 1996, Polgár played a match in São Paulo against Brazil's champion Gilbert Milos. The four games were played at 30 moves an hour with 30 minutes for the remainder of the game. Polgár won two, drew one and lost one, earning $12,000 in prize money.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=Chess
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=14 January 1997
 | work=The New York Times
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/14/arts/chess-152625.html
 | access-date=23 April 2010
 | archive-date=11 July 2021
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711085842/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/14/arts/chess-152625.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

In February 1997, she played in the Linares "supertournament" which Kasparov won by edging out Kramnik. Polgár finished in clear fifth position in the 12-GM tournament, ahead of Anand, Ivanchuk, Gelfand and Shirov.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Toronto Star
 | last=Day
 | first=Lawrence
 | title=Tournament was just super
 | page=K12
 | date=1 March 1997
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=Linares 14th 1997
 | publisher=365chess.com
 | url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Linares_14th_1997
 | access-date=10 May 2010
 | archive-date=3 May 2011
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503055951/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Linares_14th_1997
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> Her result was considered exceptional considering the strength of the tournament, average 2701, and she was praised for her tactical skills in her game against Ivanchuk.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | location=Toronto
 | last=Berry
 | title=Kasparov humbles younger rivals
 | first=Jonathan
 | page=E10
 | date=1 March 1997
}}</ref> In April 1997, she played in the Dos Hermanas Chess tournament, a single-round robin category XIX event of 10 of the world's best players. She finished in sixth place with an even score of 4½–4½.<ref>{{cite web
 | title=Dos Hermanas 1997
 | website=[[Chessgames.com]]
 | url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1006983
 | access-date=23 April 2010
 | archive-date=5 May 2009
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505054117/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1006983
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=India Abroad
 | date=25 April 1997
 | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-3871633.html
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104002934/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-3871633.html
 | url-status=dead
 | archive-date=4 November 2012
| access-date=23 April 2010
}}</ref> In June 1997, she finished with an even score, 4½–4½, in the Madrid 10-player GM tournament won by Topalov.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | location=Toronto
 | last=Berry
 | title=Topalov's at the top in Madrid
 | first=Jonathan
 | page=E11
 | date=14 June 1997
}}</ref> In July 1997, Polgár competed in the elite Dortmund International Tournament. She finished in fifth in the strong field of ten, ahead of players such as Anatoly Karpov.<ref name="NYT_Byrne_Aug97">{{cite news
 | title=Chess
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=26 August 1997
 | work=The New York Times
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/26/arts/chess-789860.html?pagewanted=1
 | access-date=23 April 2010
 | archive-date=28 March 2014
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328094715/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/26/arts/chess-789860.html?pagewanted=1
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In the tournament, she won playing with the black pieces against Veselin Topalov, at the time ranked fourth in the world. Topalov had the advantage until Polgár executed a deep positional sacrifice.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | location=Toronto
 | last=Berry
 | title=Polgar wins one in battle of sexes
 | first=Jonathan
 | page=E11
 | date=16 August 1997
}}</ref> In October 1997, she tied for second in a double round-robin tournament of four grandmasters in the VAM International Tournament in Hoogeveen, the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=CHESS; Daring Judit Polgár to Attack Is an Invitation to Disaster
 | last=Byrne
 | first=Robert
 | date=9 December 1997
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/09/arts/chess-daring-judit-polgar-to-attack-is-an-invitation-to-disaster.html?pagewanted=1
 | access-date=23 April 2010
 | work=The New York Times
 | archive-date=28 March 2014
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328095614/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/09/arts/chess-daring-judit-polgar-to-attack-is-an-invitation-to-disaster.html?pagewanted=1
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

"There has long been a lively debate about who is the strongest player of all", wrote GM Robert Byrne in his ''New York Times'' column of 26 August 1997. "Prominent candidates are Bobby Fischer, Garry Kasparov, Jose Raul Capablanca, Alexander Alekhine or Emanuel Lasker. But there is no argument about the greatest female player: she is 21-year-old Judit Polgár."<ref name="NYT_Byrne_Aug97"/>

[[File:Anatoly Karpov.jpg|thumb|left|In 1998 Polgár defeated [[Anatoly Karpov]] in a match of "action" chess (30 minutes per game). At the time Karpov was FIDE World Champion.]]
In January 1998, she played in the category XVII event, the Hoogovens in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, in which 14 of the world's top grandmasters participated. She finished in the middle of the pack, tied for sixth–tenth position with Karpov, Topalov and Jeroen Piket and an even score of 6½ points in thirteen games. Polgár handed co-winner Viswanathan Anand his only loss of the tournament.<ref>{{cite web
 | title=Wijk aan Zee Hoogovens 1998
 | website=[[Chessgames.com]]
 | url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1006971
 | access-date=24 April 2010
 | archive-date=5 March 2010
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305003753/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1006971
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | location=Toronto
 | last=Berry
 | title=Kramnik, Anand tie in Hoogooven
 | first=Jonathan
 | page=E11
 | date=7 February 1998
}} Note: The Berry article used the spelling Hoogooven.</ref> In June 1998 in Budapest, Polgár played an eight-game match of "action" chess, which is 30 minutes for the entire game, against Anatoly Karpov. She won the match 5–3 by winning two games with the remaining ending in draws. At the time Karpov was the [[FIDE World Chess Championship 1998|FIDE World Champion]].<ref>{{cite news
 | title=Chess; Faster and More Accurate, Polgar Outplays Karpov
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=7 July 1998
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/07/arts/chess-faster-and-more-accurate-polgar-outplays-karpov.html?pagewanted=1
 | access-date=24 April 2010
 | work=The New York Times
 | archive-date=28 March 2014
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328094802/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/07/arts/chess-faster-and-more-accurate-polgar-outplays-karpov.html?pagewanted=1
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In August 1998, Polgár became the first woman to ever win the U.S. Open, which was held at the Kona Surf Resort in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. She shared the tournament victory with GM Boris Gulko as each scored 8–1. Typical of her aggressive style was her victory against GM Georgi Kacheishvili in which she sacrificed her queen for the attack.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=Chess: Polgar Is First Woman to Win the Open
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=25 August 1998
 | newspaper=The New York Times
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/25/arts/chess-polgar-is-first-woman-to-win-the-open.html
 | access-date=24 April 2010
 | archive-date=30 January 2021
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130224329/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/25/arts/chess-polgar-is-first-woman-to-win-the-open.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In October 1998, Polgár won the VAM four-grandmaster tournament in Hoogeveen, Netherlands by 1½ points over Jan Timman.<ref name="Globe_Nov14_98">{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | location=Toronto
 | last=Berry
 | title=Polgar sparkles again in the attack
 | first=Jonathan
 | page=E8
 | date=14 November 1998
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=VAM Hoogeveen 2nd Hoogeveen 1998
 | publisher=365Chess.com
 | url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/VAM_Hoogeveen_2nd_1998
 | access-date=15 May 2010
 | archive-date=29 September 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929170710/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/VAM_Hoogeveen_2nd_1998
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In November 1998, Polgár played in the Wydra Memorial Rapid chess tournament in Israel. She tied for first with Viswanathan Anand as both scored 11½ out of the 14 games. Anand won the tournament in a tie-break game over Polgár.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Week in Chess  212 – 30 November 1998 |first=Mark |last=Crowther |publisher=This Week In Chess |url=https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic212.html#4 |access-date=24 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205042007/https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic212.html |archive-date=5 February 2012 }}</ref>

In the two years since Polgár became the first woman to ever break into the top 10, her rating had dropped. Although she was in the top 20, this had the effect of her being invited less frequently to the strongest tournaments.<ref name="Globe_Nov14_98"/>

In October 1999, Polgár participated in the four-player GM section of the VAM Chess tournament in Hoogeveen, Netherlands. Jan Timman led early in the tournament, but Polgár staged a comeback scoring 3 points in the last 4 games to share first place. Anatoly Karpov finished in third and Darmen Sadvakasov fourth.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Week In Chess 259 |date=25 October 1999 |first=Mark |last=Crowther |publisher=The Week In Chess |url=https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic259.html |access-date=24 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930231855/https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic259.html |archive-date=30 September 2011 }}</ref>

In January 2000, Polgár had, for her, a disappointing result in a tournament in Pamplona, Spain, which was won by Nigel Short. She finished with only 4 points from 9 games, tied for 6–7 place with Jan Timman, who had also played below his rating.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Week In Chess 270 |date=10 January 2000 |first=Mark |last=Crowther |publisher=The Week In Chess |url=https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic270.html |access-date=24 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930232038/https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic270.html |archive-date=30 September 2011 }}</ref> Polgár had another disappointing result later in the month in the category XVIII tournament in Corus Wijk aan Zee which was won by Kasparov. She did not win a game until the 11th round and finished with 5 points in 13 games, tied with Victor Korchnoi for 11–12 position among the fourteen GMs.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Week In Chess 273 |date=31 January 2000 |first=Mark |last=Crowther |publisher=The Week In Chess |url=https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic273.html |access-date=24 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807070650/https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic273.html |archive-date=7 August 2011 }}</ref> However, in the European Teams Championship in Batumi, Georgia, also in January, she won the gold medal playing Board 2, scoring 6½–2½.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=CHESS; Polgar, Just One of the Boys, Hems In a Russian's Queen
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=16 January 2000
 | work=The New York Times
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/16/nyregion/chess-polgar-just-one-of-the-boys-hems-in-a-russian-s-queen.html
 | access-date=24 April 2010
 | archive-date=28 March 2014
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328103616/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/16/nyregion/chess-polgar-just-one-of-the-boys-hems-in-a-russian-s-queen.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

In April and May 2000, Polgár won one of the strongest tournaments ever held in Asia. The Japfa Classic in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, was a category XVI event of 10 players which included Alexander Khalifman–at the time FIDE world champion– and Anatoly Karpov–his predecessor.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | location=Toronto
 | last=Berry
 | title=Chess
 | first=Jonathan
 | page=R29
 | date=13 May 2000
}}</ref> Going into the last round four players, Polgár, Khalifman, Karpov and Gilberto Milos were tied, but Polgár won her game over Brazilian GM Milos while Khalifman and Karpov played against each other in a draw. Polgár finished clear first with 6½–2½, winning the $20,000 first place prize money.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=CHESS; Polgar Tops an Elite Field With a Last-Round Victory
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=11 June 2000
 | work=The New York Times
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/11/nyregion/chess-polgar-tops-an-elite-field-with-a-last-round-victory.html
 | access-date=24 April 2010
 | archive-date=28 March 2014
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328103838/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/11/nyregion/chess-polgar-tops-an-elite-field-with-a-last-round-victory.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=Japfa Classic – Indonesia
 | publisher=Chess.GR
 | url=http://www.chess.gr/tourn/2000/japfa_classic_indonesia/
 | access-date=24 April 2010
| archive-date=14 May 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514195135/http://www.chess.gr/tourn/2000/japfa_classic_indonesia/
 | url-status=dead
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Washington Times
 | date=6 May 2000
| title=Polgar clearly first in strong Asian tourney
}}</ref> At the end of May, she won the Sigeman & Company International Tournament in Malmö, Sweden. She finished the four-player double round-robin tournament scoring 4 points, with Jan Timman at 3½ with Ulf Andersson and Tiger Hillarp-Persson finishing in that order.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=Chess; Polgar's Foe Misses a Move, And That's All She Needs
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=2 July 2000
| work=The New York Times
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/02/nyregion/chess-polgar-s-foe-misses-a-move-and-that-s-all-she-needs.html
 | access-date=24 April 2010
}}</ref> In June 2000, she played in the GM Tournament Mérida, State of Yucatán, finishing in second place a half point behind Alexei Shirov.<ref name="TWIC_Even2000"/> In September 2000, she shared first place in the Najdorf Chess Festival with [[Viktor Bologan]], ahead of Nigel Short and Anatoly Karpov.<ref name="TWIC_Even2000">{{cite web|title=Some events in the year 2000 |publisher=This Week in Chess |url=http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/even2000.html |access-date=24 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318194112/http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/even2000.html |archive-date=18 March 2012 }}</ref> In October and November, she represented Hungary playing board 3 in the 34th Chess Olympiad. While the Hungarian team narrowly missed winning the bronze medal, Polgár finished 10/13 for the second highest points total of any player in the Olympiad<ref>{{cite web|title=34th Chess Olympiad |date=13 November 2000 |first=Mark |last=Crowther |publisher=This Week In Chess |url=https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic314.html#2 |access-date=25 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318194956/https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic314.html |archive-date=18 March 2012 }}</ref> and a rated performance level of 2772.<ref>{{cite web|title=35th Chess Olympiad, 2002 |publisher=The Chess Drum |url=http://www.thechessdrum.net/Olympiad2002/ |access-date=25 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100416085711/http://www.thechessdrum.net/Olympiad2002/ |archive-date=16 April 2010 }}</ref>

In late February and early March 2001, Polgár played in the elite Linares double round-robin invitational of six of the world's strongest players. The tournament was Kasparov's triumph as he scored 7½ points in 10 games. The other five participants, Polgár, Karpov, Shirov, [[Alexander Grischuk|Grischuk]] and [[Peter Leko|Lékó]] all finished with 4½ for second and last position. However, Polgár drew both her games with Kasparov, the first time in her career she had done this under tournament time controls.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | location=Toronto
 | last=Berry
 | title=Chess
 | first=Jonathan
 | page=R19
 | date=3 March 2001
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | location=Toronto
 | last=Berry
 | title=Chess
 | first=Jonathan
 | page=R17
 | date=10 March 2001
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Ledger
 | page=D9
 | location=Lakeland, Florida
 | date=1 April 2001
| title=Kasparov douses his old rival, Karpov, With a Bucket of Tactics
 | last=Byrne
 | first=Robert
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=Linares 18th Linares 2001
 | publisher=365Chess.com
 | url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Linares_18th_2001
 | access-date=6 May 2010
 | archive-date=15 May 2011
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515075905/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Linares_18th_2001
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In March 2001, she reached the semifinals of the ''World Cup'' rapid play tournament in Cannes. She made it to the final four from the 16 grandmasters in the tournament. She lost the semifinal match to Evgeny Bareev, who in turn lost to Kasparov. In a quarterfinal playoff blitz game, she forced [[Joël Lautier]], France's strongest player, to resign in 12 moves when she won his queen which resulted in the audience of several hundred bursting into applause.<ref name="NYT_Burgess"/> In June 2001, Polgár finished fourth in the European Championship in Ohrid, Macedonia, a 13-round [[Swiss-system tournament]] of 143 Grandmasters and 38 IMs.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=CHESS; Another War in Macedonia Yields an Israeli Victor, 23
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=1 July 2001
 | work=The New York Times
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/01/nyregion/chess-another-war-in-macedonia-yields-an-israeli-victor-23.html
 | access-date=25 April 2010
 | archive-date=28 March 2014
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328110015/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/01/nyregion/chess-another-war-in-macedonia-yields-an-israeli-victor-23.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In October 2001, she tied for first with GM Loek van Wely in the Essent Tourney in Hoogeveen, the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=CHESS; Old-Style Barroom Brawl At the Hoogeveen Corral
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=11 November 2001
 | work=The New York Times
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/11/nyregion/chess-old-style-barroom-brawl-at-the-hoogeveen-corral.html
 | access-date=25 April 2010
 | archive-date=18 July 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718055208/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/11/nyregion/chess-old-style-barroom-brawl-at-the-hoogeveen-corral.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

In September 2002, in the ''[[USSR and Russia versus the Rest of the World#Third match, Moscow 2002|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 [[Ruy Lopez#Berlin Defence|Berlin Defence]] instead of his usual [[Sicilian Defence|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.<ref name="Pein_RvW">{{cite web|title=Russia vs. The Rest of the World Moscow 2002 |last=Pein |first=Malcolm |publisher=This Week In Chess |url=http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/event/rusrow02/r2.html |access-date=7 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930232038/https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic270.html |archive-date=30 September 2011 }}</ref> The game helped the World team win the match 52–48.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=CHESS; Finally, the Rest of the World Triumphs Over Russia, 52–48
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=29 September 2002
 | work=The New York Times
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/29/nyregion/chess-finally-the-rest-of-the-world-triumphs-over-russia-52-48.html?pagewanted=1
 | access-date=25 April 2010
 | archive-date=28 March 2014
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328110556/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/29/nyregion/chess-finally-the-rest-of-the-world-triumphs-over-russia-52-48.html?pagewanted=1
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> 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".<ref name="GardianBarden_2002">{{cite news
 | title=Sweet revenge for Kasparov's opponent
 | first=Leonard
 | last=Barden
 | newspaper=The Guardian
 | date=11 September 2002
 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/sep/11/3
 | author-link=Leonard Barden
 | access-date=25 April 2010
 | archive-date=1 December 2021
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201095056/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/sep/11/3
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web| title=Round one shocker: Battle of the Sexes| publisher=chessbase.com| url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2046| access-date=27 April 2010| date=25 November 2004| archive-date=13 January 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113203307/http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2046| url-status=live}}</ref>  An interview with Polgár including video of the match was included in the BBC Witness radio program in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/magazine-35483650|title=The 'Queen of Chess' who defeated Kasparov|work=BBC News|date=10 February 2016|access-date=22 June 2016|archive-date=20 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620162207/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35483650|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October and November 2002, Polgár played on second board (with Péter Lékó on first) for Hungary in the 35th Chess Olympiad. While not having the stunning performance as she had in the 2000 Olympiad, she helped Hungary attain the silver medal for the event. While the Hungarians had the best win–loss record of the tournament as a team and lost only a single game of the 56 they played, they had won most of their matches by 2½–1½ scores, while the Russian team won gold as they piled up the points. However, Hungary gave the gold-winning Russian team its only defeat. Polgár's fourth-round game against Azerbaijan's [[Shakhriyar Mamedyarov]] included a brilliant 12.Nxf7, drawing his king into the center of the board.<ref>{{cite web
 | title=Judit Polgár vs Shakhriyar Mamedyarov Bled 2002 Olympiad
 | website=[[Chessgames.com]]
 | url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1256017
 | access-date=25 April 2010
 | archive-date=5 March 2010
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305005551/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1256017
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=35th Chess Olympiad: Bled 2002
 | first1=Arvind
 | last1=Aaron
 | first2=Mark
 | last2=Crowther
 | first3=Ian
 | last3=Wilkinson
 | first4=Daaim
 | last4=Shabazz
 | first5=Malcolm
 | last5=Pein
 | publisher=olimpbase.org
 | url=http://www.olimpbase.org/2002/2002in.html
 | access-date=25 April 2010
 | archive-date=25 January 2021
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125214317/http://www.olimpbase.org/2002/2002in.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

By early 2003, Polgár had worked her way back into the top 10 rated players in the world.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | location=Toronto
 | title=The top sportswoman?
 | date=11 February 2003
| page=A20
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=Top 100 Players April 2003 – Archive
 | publisher=FIDE
 | url=http://ratings.fide.com/toparc.phtml?cod=45
 | access-date=16 May 2010
 | archive-date=23 May 2020
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523063318/http://ratings.fide.com/toparc.phtml?cod=45
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In 2003, Polgár scored one of her best results: an undefeated clear second place in the Category XIX [[Corus chess tournament]] in [[Wijk aan Zee]], Netherlands, just a half-point behind future world champion [[Viswanathan Anand]] and a full point ahead of then-world champion [[Vladimir Kramnik]]. One of the highlight games of the tournament was Polgár's fourth round crushing victory over Anatoly Karpov. She played a novelty in the opening which she devised over the board. The game lasted 33 moves with Karpov down two pawns and his king exposed. Polgár admitted to "enjoying herself" by the end of the game.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=Polgar crushes Karpov
 | first=Malcolm
 | last=Pein
 | date=17 January 2003
 | publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited
 | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/chess/malcolmpein/3588705/Polgar-crushes-Karpov.html
 | access-date=26 April 2010
 | location=London
 | archive-date=14 November 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114025817/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/chess/malcolmpein/3588705/Polgar-crushes-Karpov.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In April 2003, Polgár finished second in The Hunguest Hotels Super Tournament in Budapest behind Nigel Short. She appeared headed for a first-place victory in the tournament, but lost her game against compatriot Péter Lékó.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=CHESS; Polgar Starts Mightily, Then Collides With Leko
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=11 May 2003
 | work=The New York Times
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/11/nyregion/chess-polgar-starts-mightily-then-collides-with-leko.html?pagewanted=1
 | access-date=26 April 2010
 | archive-date=28 March 2014
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328104652/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/11/nyregion/chess-polgar-starts-mightily-then-collides-with-leko.html?pagewanted=1
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=Chess, Politics Collided In 1930s Russia
 | date=27 July 2003
| first=Larry
 | last=Evans
 | publisher=Sun Sentinel
 | url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-07-27/entertainment/0307250622_1_chess-champion-soviet-chess-federation-chess-problems
 | access-date=26 April 2010
| archive-date=25 July 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725001650/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2003-07-27/entertainment/0307250622_1_chess-champion-soviet-chess-federation-chess-problems
 | url-status=dead
 }} note: Larry Evans refers to Polgár, "Hungary's Judith Polgár, 26, the strongest female in history"</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel
 | location=Fort Lauderdale, Florida
 | date=27 July 2004
| title=Chess, politics collided in 1930s Russia
 | last=Evans
 | first=Larry
 | page=6D
}}</ref> In June 2003, Polgár finished tied for third with Boris Gelfand, in the Enghien-les-Bains International Tournament in France, scoring 5½–3½, behind Evgeny Bareev who won the tournament and GM Michael Adams.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=A Clever Knight Sacrifice, but an Even Cleverer Trap
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=13 July 2003
 | work=The New York Times
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/13/nyregion/13CHES.html?ex=1058673600&en=159a2d9104106f8f&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE
 | access-date=25 April 2010
 | archive-date=28 March 2014
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328110634/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/13/nyregion/13CHES.html?ex=1058673600&en=159a2d9104106f8f&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In August 2003, Polgár played an eight-game rapid chess match in Mainz, Germany against Viswanathan Anand, billed as the "Battle of the Sexes". After six games each player had won three games. Anand won the final two games to win the match.<ref>{{cite web
 | title=Polgar-Anand Rapid Match
 | website=[[Chessgames.com]]
 | url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=39786
 | access-date=26 April 2010
 | archive-date=2 November 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102093940/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=39786
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 |title       = Chess: Anand wins last two games to beat Polgar
 |agency      = Associated Press
 |publisher   = Star Publications (Malaysia) Berhad
 |url         = http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2003/8/18/latest/13578ChessAna&sec=latest
 |access-date  = 26 April 2010
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110622020739/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2003%2F8%2F18%2Flatest%2F13578ChessAna&sec=latest
 |archive-date = 22 June 2011
}}</ref> In October 2003, Polgár won the 4–grandmaster Essent tournament in Hoogeveen, Netherlands. In one of her games against Karpov, he blundered, allowing Polgár to utilize a [[Lasker – Bauer, Amsterdam, 1889|famous double bishop sacrifice]] first employed by Emanuel Lasker against Bauer in 1889.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | location=Toronto
 | last=Berry
 | first=Jonathan
 | title=Chess
 | page=R23
 | date=8 November 2003
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=Essent Crown Hoogeveen 2003
 | publisher=365Chess.com
 | url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Essent_Crown_2003
 | access-date=16 May 2010
 | archive-date=29 September 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929170723/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Essent_Crown_2003
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=Emanuel Lasker vs Johann Hermann Bauer Amsterdam 1889
 | website=[[Chessgames.com]]
 | url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1026352
 | access-date=16 May 2010
 | archive-date=2 December 2005
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051202013008/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1026352
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=Judit Polgár vs Anatoli Karpov 7th Essent 2003
 | website=[[Chessgames.com]]
 | url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1268971
 | access-date=16 May 2010
 | archive-date=5 May 2010
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505142609/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1268971
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

===Balancing chess and family===
In 2004, Polgár took some time off from chess to give birth to her son, Olivér. She was consequently considered inactive and not listed on the January 2005 FIDE rating list. Her sister Susan reactivated her playing status during this period and temporarily became the world's No. 1 ranked female player again.<ref>{{cite web
 | url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2136
 | title=Why Judit Polgár was not on the ratings list
 | date=14 January 2005
 | access-date=27 April 2005
 | archive-date=8 April 2005
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050408093212/http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2136
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

Polgár returned to chess at the prestigious [[Corus Chess Tournament|Corus chess tournament]] on 15 January 2005. The tournament, which was now considered by some as the most important in Europe, was won by fellow Hungarian [[Péter Lékó]] while Polgár scored 7/13 to tie for fourth with Alexander Grischuk, Michael Adams and Kramnik.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=After His Victory at the Corus, Leko Is Firmly in the Top Tier
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=13 February 2005
| work=The New York Times
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/13/crosswords/chess/13chess.html
 | access-date=27 April 2010
}}</ref> She was therefore relisted in the April 2005 FIDE rating list, gaining a few rating points for her better-than-par performance at Corus. In May she also had a better-than-par performance at a strong tournament in [[Sofia]], [[Bulgaria]], finishing third.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=Veselin Topalov triumphs; Anand finishes second
 | date=23 May 2005
| url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/05/23/stories/2005052306191900.htm
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050524120527/http://www.hindu.com/2005/05/23/stories/2005052306191900.htm
 | url-status=dead
 | archive-date=24 May 2005
| newspaper=[[The Hindu]]
 | access-date=27 April 2010
}}</ref> This brought her to her highest ever rating, 2735, in the July 2005 FIDE list and enabled her to retain her spot as the eighth ranked player in the world.<ref>{{cite web
 | title=FIDE October 2005 rating lists
 | date=12 October 2005
 | publisher=Chessbase.com
 | url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2678
 | access-date=27 April 2010
 | archive-date=17 November 2011
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117124609/http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2678
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Globe and Mail
 | location=Toronto
 | last=Berry
 | first=Jonathan
 | title=Chess
 | page=R23
 | date=16 April 2005
}}</ref>

In September 2005, Polgár once again made history as she became the first woman to play in the final stages of a [[World Chess Championship]], at the [[FIDE World Chess Championship 2005]]. She had previously participated in large, 100+ player knockout tournaments for the FIDE world championship, but this was a small 8-player double-round-robin, and she qualified on rating. However, she performed relatively poorly, coming last of the eight competitors.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=Chess; When Lofty Titles Are at Stake, Nerves Can Lead to Blunders
 | first=Robert
 | last=Byrne
 | date=9 October 2005
 | work=The New York Times
 | url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9902EEDA1F30F93AA35753C1A9639C8B63
 | access-date=27 April 2010
 | archive-date=10 November 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110001005/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9902EEDA1F30F93AA35753C1A9639C8B63
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

She did not play at the 2006 Linares tournament because she was pregnant again. On 6 July 2006, she gave birth to a girl, Hanna.

Polgár participated in the FIDE world blitz championship on 5–7 September 2006 in Rishon Le Zion, Israel. Blitz chess is played with each player having only 5 minutes for all moves. The round-robin tournament of 16 of some of the strongest players in the world, concluded with Alexander Grischuk finally edging out Peter Svidler in a tie-break to win the tournament. Polgár finished tied for fifth/sixth place, winning $5,625 for the three-day tournament.<ref>{{cite web
 | title=Grischuk wins FIDE World Blitz Championship
 | date=12 September 2006
 | publisher=Chessbase.com
 | url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3334
 | access-date=28 April 2010
 | archive-date=9 November 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109094801/http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3334
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | title=The Sunday chess column
 | first=Malcolm
 | last=Pein
 | date=1 October 2006
 | publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited
 | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/chess/malcolmpein/3655673/The-Sunday-chess-column.html
 | access-date=28 April 2010
 | location=London
 | archive-date=14 November 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114030913/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/chess/malcolmpein/3655673/The-Sunday-chess-column.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> Polgár tied with Boris Gelfand with 9½ points and won her individual game against Viswanathan Anand, at the time the world's No. 2 player.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=Bangor Daily News
 | date=14 October 2006
| title=Chess
 | last=Lyman
 | first=Shelby
 | page=H6
 | location=Bangor, Maine
}}</ref> In October 2006, Polgár scored another excellent result: tied for first place in the Essent Chess Tournament, Hoogeveen, the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3459
| title=Essent 2006: Mamedyarov, Judit Polgár are the winners
| date=29 October 2006
| access-date=28 October 2006
| archive-date=3 November 2006
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061103234725/http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3459
| url-status=live
}}</ref> She scored 4½ out of 6 in a double round-robin tournament that included two wins against the world's top-rated player, [[Veselin Topalov]]. In December 2006, Polgár played a six-game match of blindfold rapid chess against former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov. Topalov won the match 3½–2½ with two wins to Polgár's one.<ref>{{cite web
 | title=Bilbao blindfold: Topalov beats Polgar 3½:2½
 | date=11 December 2006
 | publisher=Chessbase.com
 | url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3533
 | access-date=28 April 2010
 | archive-date=2 July 2010
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702044423/http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3533
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> Nearly 1,000 spectators attended the event.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=Bulgaria's Topalov to play chess blindfold against Italy's Brunetti
 | date=8 May 2007
| newspaper=The Sofia Echo
 | url=http://sofiaecho.com/2007/05/08/650247_bulgarias-topalov-to-play-chess-blindfold-against-italys-brunetti
 | access-date=29 April 2010
| archive-date=30 September 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930190115/http://sofiaecho.com/2007/05/08/650247_bulgarias-topalov-to-play-chess-blindfold-against-italys-brunetti
 | url-status=dead
 }}</ref>

In May–June 2007 she played in the [[Candidates Tournament]] for the [[FIDE World Chess Championship 2007]]. She was eliminated in the first round, losing 3½–2½ to [[Evgeny Bareev]]. Some chess pundits said she was "poorly prepared" for the tournament; she had played less chess in the last three years as she gave birth to her two children. However, she was still credited with the most beautiful attack of the tournament in her fifth game victory.<ref name=NYS>{{cite news
 | title=Mommy Track Chess
 | first1=Boris
 | last1=Gulko
 | first2=Gabriel
 | last2=Schoenfeld
 | date=6 July 2007
 | newspaper=The New York Sun
 | url=https://www.nysun.com/article/arts-mommy-track
 | access-date=16 April 2023
 | archive-date=16 April 2023
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416105102/https://www.nysun.com/article/arts-mommy-track
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In July 2007, Polgár played in the Biel Chess Festival which was won by 16-year-old [[Magnus Carlsen]]. Polgár finished the 9 round tournament at 5–4 in a four-way tie for third to sixth place.<ref>{{cite web
 | title=Magnus Carlsen wins Biel 2007
 | publisher=chessdom.com
 | url=http://reports.chessdom.com/biel-chess-2007/round-9
 | access-date=30 April 2010
| archive-date=7 May 2010
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507064844/http://reports.chessdom.com/biel-chess-2007/round-9
 | url-status=dead
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | title=Howell wins fellowship
 | first=Malcolm
 | last=Pein
 | date=31 July 2007
 | publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited
 | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/chess/malcolmpein/3666863/Howell-wins-fellowship.html
 | access-date=30 April 2010
 | location=London
 | archive-date=14 November 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114032445/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/chess/malcolmpein/3666863/Howell-wins-fellowship.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> A highlight game for her was actually a draw. Polgár was playing an endgame of knight against knight and two connected passed pawns of Alexander Grischuk, but she was able to eliminate both pawns.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=Onischuk and Radjabov Take Over Lead at Biel as Carlsen Stumbles Again
 | date=1 August 2007
 | last=McClain
 | first=Dylan Leob
 | work=The New York Times
 | url=http://gambit.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/onischuk-and-radjabov-take-over-lead-at-biel-as-carlsen-falls-again/?pagemode=print
 | access-date=30 April 2010
 | archive-date=1 October 2009
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001204907/http://gambit.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/onischuk-and-radjabov-take-over-lead-at-biel-as-carlsen-falls-again/?pagemode=print
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=Alexander Grischuk vs Judit Polgár Biel Chess Festival 2007
 | website=[[Chessgames.com]]
 | url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1468281
 | access-date=30 April 2010
 | archive-date=31 October 2009
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091031060926/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1468281
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In October 2007, Polgár played in the Blindfold World Cup in Bilbao, Spain. Polgár finished in fourth place of the six players with three wins, four losses, and three draws. The tournament was won by Bu Xiangzhi of China, whose only loss was to Polgár.<ref>{{cite news
 | url=http://gambit.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/mamedyarov-wins-essent-bu-wins-in-bilbao/
 | date=21 October 2007
 | title=Mamedyarov Wins Essent, Bu Wins in Bilbao
 | first=Dylan Loeb
 | last=McClain
 | access-date=30 April 2010
 | work=The New York Times
 | archive-date=24 June 2010
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624091613/http://gambit.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/mamedyarov-wins-essent-bu-wins-in-bilbao/
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=World Blindfold Chess Cup
 | publisher=chessdom.com
 | url=http://reports.chessdom.com/world-blindfold-chess-cup
 | access-date=30 April 2010
| archive-date=31 December 2010
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231040855/http://reports.chessdom.com/world-blindfold-chess-cup
 | url-status=dead
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | title=Bilbao Blindfold Chess World Cup Tournament
 | website=[[Chessgames.com]]
 | url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=63273
 | access-date=30 April 2010
 | archive-date=8 July 2010
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100708055432/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=63273
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In November 2007, she took part in ''Chess Champions League – Playing for a Better World'' in Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain a tournament to raise funds for equipment for a Hospital in [[Mbuji-Mayi]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|DR Congo]]. Polgár finished tied for third in the strong six-player tournament and handed tournament winner Veselin Topalov his only loss.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=Speelman on chess
 | first=Jonathan
 | last=Speelman
 | newspaper=The Observer
 | date=18 November 2007
| url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/nov/18/chess.features
 | access-date=28 April 2010
| location=London
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | url=https://midaschess.blogspot.com/2007/11/karpov-on-way-out.html
 | title=Karpov on the way out?
 | first=Dario
 | last=Mione
 | date=15 November 2007
 | access-date=28 April 2010
 | archive-date=8 July 2011
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708053127/http://midaschess.blogspot.com/2007/11/karpov-on-way-out.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

In January 2008 she competed in the strong Corus Wijk aan Zee tournament, scoring a respectable 6/13 and tied 9–11 in the 14 player tournament.<ref>{{cite web
 | title=Wijk R13: Aronian, Carlsen win Wijk aan Zee 2008
 | date=28 January 2008
 | publisher=chessbase.com
 | url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=4417
 | access-date=30 April 2010
 | archive-date=9 November 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109022724/http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=4417
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In November 2008, Polgár had a terrible result in The World Chess Blitz Championship in Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan, finished last of the 16 players with only 2½ points.<ref>{{cite web
 | title=Dominguez-Perez wins World Blitz Championship in Almaty
 | date=8 November 2009
 | publisher=chessbase.com
 | url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=5005
 | access-date=30 April 2010
 | archive-date=9 November 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109105450/http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=5005
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In November 2008, Polgár played the number 2 board for the Hungarian open ("men's") team in the [[38th Chess Olympiad]] in [[Dresden]], finishing 3½/8.

In November 2009, Polgár participated in the FIDE World Cup at Khanty Mansiysk in Siberia. Polgár made it to the third round of the knockout tournament until she was eliminated by tournament winner Boris Gelfand. She handed Gelfand his only loss of the tournament.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=Marathon man
 | first=Malcolm
 | last=Pein
 | date=21 December 2009
 | publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited
 | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/chess/6856946/Marathon-man.html
 | access-date=30 April 2010
 | location=London
 | archive-date=24 December 2009
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224082223/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/chess/6856946/Marathon-man.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

===Return to competition===
In 2010, Polgár began her return to competitive chess and would play more than she had in recent years. In March 2010, Polgár played a four-game match against GM Gregory Kaidanov at Hilton Head, South Carolina. It was required that each game begin with the Sicilian Defense. The match was drawn with each player winning two games.<ref>{{cite news
 | title=Chess Notes
 | first1=Harold
 | last1=Dondis
 | first2=Patrick
 | last2=Wolff
 | date=20 March 2010
 | newspaper=The Boston Globe
 | url=http://www.boston.com/ae/games/articles/2010/03/20/chess_notes/
 | access-date=30 April 2010
 | archive-date=25 October 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025185724/http://www.boston.com/ae/games/articles/2010/03/20/chess_notes/
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | title=Coming to a head
 | first=Malcolm
 | last=Pein
 | date=11 March 2010
 | publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited
 | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/chess/7423627/Coming-to-a-head.html
 | access-date=30 April 2010
 | location=London
 | archive-date=14 November 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114032511/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/chess/7423627/Coming-to-a-head.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> In April 2010, Polgár played an eight-game rapid chess match against Czech GM [[David Navara]] which was part of the ČEZ Chess Trophy 2010 festival of the Prague Chess Society. Despite slightly higher ranking, 2708 to Polgár's 2682, Navara lost the match 6–2.<ref>{{cite web
 | title=Polgar routes Navara 6–2 in ČEZ Chess Trophy
 | date=28 April 2010
 | publisher=chessbase.com
 | url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6285
 | access-date=30 April 2010
 | archive-date=1 May 2010
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501012822/http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6285
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> Polgár participated in the rapid chess tournament of the Presidential Chess Cup in [[Baku]], Azerbaijan from 29 April to 1 May 2010. She finished with one win, two losses and four draws, tied for fifth position in the eight-player round robin. The tournament finished with a three-way tie for first with the winner, Kramnik, being decided by Elo over Mamedyarov and Kamsky.<ref>{{cite web
 |title        = Vladimir Kramnik is the winner
 |publisher    = Azerbaijan Chess Federation
 |url          = http://www.chess.az/newsitemEn.html?id=5467
 |access-date   = 2 May 2010
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100823025155/http://www.chess.az/newsitemEn.html?id=5467
 |archive-date = 23 August 2010
|url-status     = dead
}}</ref> In June 2010, it was reported Polgár was assisting GM [[Zoltán Almási]] in training for the Olympiad.<ref>{{cite web
 | title=Pictorial report from Zalakaros
 | date=23 June 2010
 | publisher=Chessbase.com
 | url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6451
 | access-date=24 June 2010
 | archive-date=27 June 2010
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627013542/http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6451
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

In September and October 2010, Polgár played 3rd board for the Hungarian Men's team in the [[39th Chess Olympiad]] in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. The team finished in fourth place, losing the Bronze medal to Israel on tie-break. Playing more in 2010 than in recent years, Polgár finished fourth overall among Board three players with a 6/10 score.<ref>{{cite web|title=Board-prizes after Round 11. Open section. |publisher=ugra-chess.com |url=http://www.ugra-chess.com/boardprizes.php |access-date=3 October 2010 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101003071953/http://www.ugra-chess.com/boardprizes.php |archive-date=3 October 2010 }}</ref> The highlight for the Hungarian Men's team was a fifth-round victory over Russia I.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=This Week In Chess |title=Ukraine win the Olympiad for the 2nd time |last=Crowther |first=Mark |date=3 October 2010 |url=http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/chessnews/events/39th-chess-olympiad-khanty-mansiysk-2010/ukraine-win-the-olympiad-for-the-2nd-time |access-date=3 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011051738/http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/chessnews/events/39th-chess-olympiad-khanty-mansiysk-2010/ukraine-win-the-olympiad-for-the-2nd-time |archive-date=11 October 2012 }}</ref> In November 2010, Polgár won the four-player rapid tournament which was held to celebrate the [[National Autonomous University of Mexico|National University of Mexico's]] 100th anniversary. Polgár won a close opening match against Vassily Ivanchuk. She then crushed Veselin Topalov, a former world champion and ranked No. 1 in the world in 2009, 3½–½ to win the tournament.<ref>{{cite news|title=Manager Blames Marriage for His Star's Slump|last=McClain|first=Dylan Loeb|date=27 November 2010|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/28/crosswords/chess/28chess.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220103/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/28/crosswords/chess/28chess.html |archive-date=3 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=28 November 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Judith Polgar defeats Veselin Topalov to claim the UNAM Torneo Cuadrangular|publisher=Chessdom|url=http://reports.chessdom.com/news-2010/unam-polgar-topalov-match|access-date=28 November 2010|archive-date=25 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125082518/http://reports.chessdom.com/news-2010/unam-polgar-topalov-match|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Judith Polgar defeats Vassily Ivanchuk in day 1 of Torneo Cuadrangular|publisher=Chessdom|url=http://reports.chessdom.com/news-2010/unam-polgar-ivanchuk-match|access-date=28 November 2010|archive-date=23 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123030305/http://reports.chessdom.com/news-2010/unam-polgar-ivanchuk-match|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{Chess diagram small
|tright
|Polgár vs. Edouard, <br />European Ch., Aix-les-Bains 2011
|  |  |  |rd|  |  |  |kd
|  |  |  |  |  |rl|  |
|  |  |  |pd|  |  |pd|pd
|  |  |  |bl|pd|  |pl|
|  |  |pl|  |  |  |  |pl
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |bd|  |pl|kl|
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|Position after 35...h6. In an apparent draw, Polgár finds the winning move: 36.h5{{chesspunc|!}} threatening to place a pawn on g6. The game continued: 36...Rg8 37.Rd7 Rg7 38.Bf7 {{chessAN|1–0}}<ref>{{cite news|title=Chess – with Leonard Barden|newspaper=London Evening Standard|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-home/article-23861926-chess---with-leonard-barden.do|date=1 August 2011|author=Leonard Barden|access-date=1 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811234540/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-home/article-23861926-chess---with-leonard-barden.do|archive-date=11 August 2011}} Position analysis.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Judit Polgár vs. Romain Edouard 12th European Individual Championship 2011 · Sicilian Defense: Lasker–Pelikan. Sveshnikov Variation (B33) · 1–0 |website=[[Chessgames.com]] |url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1610759 |access-date=1 August 2011 |archive-date=8 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908000553/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1610759 |url-status=live }} Complete game.</ref>
}}
{{AN chess|pos=egright}}

On 2 April 2011, Polgár finished in a four-way tie for first in the European Individual Chess Championship in Aix-les-Bains, France.<ref>{{cite web|title=European Individual Chess Championship – Aix-les-Bains RESULTS|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr45941.aspx?art=1&rd=11&lan=1&flag=30&m=-1&wi=1000|publisher=Chess-Results.com|access-date=2 April 2011|archive-date=5 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405044818/http://chess-results.com/tnr45941.aspx?art=1&rd=11&lan=1&flag=30&m=-1&wi=1000|url-status=live}}</ref> The tournament, featuring 393 players of which 167 were Grandmasters, was won by Russian [[Vladimir Potkin]] on tie-break; GM [[Radosław Wojtaszek]] won the silver, while Polgár placed third, winning the bronze.<ref>{{cite web|title=Potkin wins EICC on tiebreak|date=3 April 2011|publisher=Susan Polgar|url=https://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2011/04/potkin-wins-eicc-on-tiebreaks.html|access-date=3 April 2011|archive-date=14 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314141837/http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2011/04/potkin-wins-eicc-on-tiebreaks.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Polgár was praised for her creative attacks and endgame technique.<ref>{{cite news|author=Leonard Barden|date=8 April 2011|title=Judit Polgár wows European Championship with mother of all displays|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/apr/08/chess-judit-polgar|publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited|access-date=9 April 2011}}</ref> Polgár became the first woman ever to finish in the top three of the male championship.<ref>{{cite web|title=Russian wins Europe's chess championship|publisher=Voice of Russia|date=3 April 2011|url=http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/04/03/48391796.html|access-date=3 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405214852/http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/04/03/48391796.html|archive-date=5 April 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Continuing Polgár's return to competitive chess, in July 2011 she participated in the 39th Greek Team National Championship, scoring 3½ out of 4 games. Also in July 2011, Polgár played Board 3 for Hungary in the World Team Championships. Hungary finished in fifth place of the ten teams and individually Polgár finished sixteenth of the fifty players.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=This Week In Chess |author=Mark Crowther |title=Armenia take 8th World Chess Teams |date=26 July 2011 |url=http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/chessnews/events/8th-world-team-championship-2011/armenia-take-8th-world-chess-teams-title |access-date=3 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012225325/http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/chessnews/events/8th-world-team-championship-2011/armenia-take-8th-world-chess-teams-title |archive-date=12 October 2012 }}</ref>

In September 2011, Polgár competed in the [[Chess World Cup 2011|Chess World Cup]], a 128-player tournament with a large prize fund and qualification to the top three for the World Championship cycle. Polgár made it to the final 8 players before she was eliminated by [[Peter Svidler]]. A highlight for Polgár was her elimination of the tournament's No. 1 seed and world's fifth highest rated player, [[Sergey Karjakin]].<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|author=Dylan Loeb McClain|date=3 September 2011|title=U.S. College Student Makes a Stand at the World Cup|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/crosswords/chess/chess-shankland-upsets-leko-at-world-cup.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220103/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/crosswords/chess/chess-shankland-upsets-leko-at-world-cup.html |archive-date=3 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=10 September 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Chess.com|title=Polgar Eliminates #1 Seed At World Cup|date=4 September 2011|url=http://www.chess.com/news/polgar-eliminates-1-seed-at-world-cup-9161|access-date=10 September 2011|archive-date=5 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105232622/http://www.chess.com/news/polgar-eliminates-1-seed-at-world-cup-9161|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PETER SVIDLER: I WANTED A BLOODY FIGHT|date=10 September 2011|publisher=FIDE World Chess Cup|url=http://chess.ugrasport.com/?p=3090|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707114128/http://chess.ugrasport.com/?p=3090|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 July 2012|access-date=10 September 2011}}</ref> In October 2011, Polgár took part in the Unive 2011 competition. She finished last in the elite four-player Crown group, losing games to [[Vladimir Kramnik]] and [[Anish Giri]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Unive 2011|url=http://livechess.chessdom.com/site/|access-date=23 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023055229/http://livechess.chessdom.com/site/|archive-date=23 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In September 2011, Polgár finally returned to "Super GM" status with a FIDE rating of 2701 and by November she had raised it to 2710 and ranked 35 in the world.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=FIDE|title=Top 100 Players November 2011|url=http://ratings.fide.com/toparc.phtml?cod=201|access-date=1 November 2011|archive-date=3 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103093712/http://ratings.fide.com/toparc.phtml?cod=201|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FIDE ratings list – resurgence is the name of the game |publisher=Chessbase.com |url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsprint.asp?newsid=7497 |access-date=1 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024233256/http://www.chessbase.com/newsprint.asp?newsid=7497 |archive-date=24 October 2012 }}</ref>

To begin 2012, in January Polgár competed in the Tradewise Gibraltar tournament, finishing with 7 points in 10 games. For the first time in 22 years since she lost to [[Nona Gaprindashvili]] in the [[1990 Chess Olympiad]], Polgár lost a classical game to a female player<ref>{{cite web|url=http://index.hu/sport/sakk/2012/02/01/22_ev_utan_kapott_ki_notol_polgar_judit/|title=22 év után kapott ki nőtől Polgár Judit|date=February 2012|publisher=index.hu|language=hu|access-date=28 July 2015|archive-date=3 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903233921/http://index.hu/sport/sakk/2012/02/01/22_ev_utan_kapott_ki_notol_polgar_judit/|url-status=live}}</ref> as Women's World champion [[Hou Yifan]] won their individual game and tied for first before losing the playoff to Nigel Short.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival 2012 |publisher=Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival 2012 |author=John Saunders |url=http://www.gibraltarchesscongress.com/bulletin_r10.htm |access-date=3 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309164808/http://www.gibraltarchesscongress.com/bulletin_r10.htm |archive-date=9 March 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Chess results.com|title=Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival 2012 – Masters|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr63931.aspx?art=1&rd=10&lan=1|access-date=3 February 2012|archive-date=5 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205001819/http://chess-results.com/tnr63931.aspx?art=1&rd=10&lan=1|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2013, Polgár received the FIDE [[Caïssa]] Award, as Polgár was considered the best female player of 2012. This award, designed and executed by artisans of the [[Lobortas Classic Jewelry House]], was presented on 2 October 2013 during the 84th FIDE Congress in Tallinn.

On 5 October 2013,<ref>Klein, Mike (23 September 2013).[http://www.chess.com/blog/MikeKlein/death-match-18---the-long-and-short-of-judit Death Match 18 – Going Toe to Stiletto] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109064003/http://www.chess.com/blog/MikeKlein/death-match-18---the-long-and-short-of-judit |date=9 November 2013 }} Chess.com. Retrieved 5 November 2013.</ref> Polgár played [[Nigel Short]] in the eighteenth edition of Chess.com's Death Match. The final score was 17½-10½ in Polgár's favour. They played 28 games in total, separated into three stages of increasingly faster time controls, the first being 5+1, the second 3+1 and finally 1+1. Polgár later remarked on her Facebook page that "it was great fun to play against Nigel..."<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=684891038188944&id=294908720520513 Judit Polgar Official] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903233921/https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=684891038188944&id=294908720520513 |date=3 September 2015 }} Retrieved 5 November 2013.</ref> Nigel in turn tweeted in jest, "Such bad chess. I should go and hang myself..."<ref>[https://twitter.com/nigelshortchess/status/386559850412400640 @nigelshortchess] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108163351/https://twitter.com/nigelshortchess/status/386559850412400640 |date=8 November 2013 }} Retrieved 5 November 2013.</ref>

In 2014, in the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship, she came 26th in the Blitz championship and 56th in the Rapid championship.

On 13 August 2014, she announced in the London newspaper ''[[The Times]]'' her retirement from chess at the highest level.<ref>[[Frederic Friedel]]: [http://en.chessbase.com/post/judit-polgar-to-retire-from-competitive-chess ''Judit Polgar to retire from competitive chess''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016001024/http://en.chessbase.com/post/judit-polgar-to-retire-from-competitive-chess |date=16 October 2015 }}. ChessBase.com, 13 August 2014.</ref>

==Playing style==
While having a strong understanding of positional play, Polgár excels in tactics and is known for an aggressive playing style, striving to maximize the initiative and actively pursuing complications.<ref name="Chessbase_4804">{{cite web|url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsprint.asp?newsid=4804 |title=Anand describes Polgar's playing style |access-date=27 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080825004743/http://www.chessbase.com/newsprint.asp?newsid=4804 |archive-date=25 August 2008 }}</ref> The former world champion [[Garry Kasparov]] wrote that, based upon her games, "if to 'play like a girl' meant anything in chess, it would mean relentless aggression."<ref>{{cite book
 | title=How life imitates chess: making the right moves, from the board to the boardroom
 | last=Kasparov
 | first=Garry
 | year=2007
 | publisher=Bloomsbury
 | page=137
 | isbn=978-1-59691-387-5
}}</ref> In her youth, she was especially popular with chess fans due to her willingness to employ wild gambits and attacks.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=The Toronto Star
 | last=Day
 | first=Lawrence
 | title=Sisters winning pair
 | date=6 March 1993
| page=J8
}}</ref> As a teenager, Polgár has been credited with contributing to the popularity of the opening variation King's [[Bishop's Gambit]].<ref>{{cite book
 | title=The Mammoth Book of Chess
 | last=Burgess
 | first=Graham
 | publisher=Constable & Robinson
 | year=2009
 | page=124
 | isbn=978-1-84529-931-6
}}</ref> Polgár prefers aggressive openings, playing 1.e4 as White and the [[Sicilian Defence|Sicilian]] or [[King's Indian|King's Indian Defence]] with black, but she has also said her opening choices will also depend upon her trainer.<ref name="HowGood"/><ref name="Chessbase_4804"/><ref>{{cite news
 | last=Mainka
 | first=Jan
 | title=Less Aggressive, but still taking the initiative
 | date=15 June 2010
 | newspaper=The Budapest Times
 | url=http://www.budapesttimes.hu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14702&Itemid=219
 | access-date=21 June 2010
 | archive-date=20 July 2011
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720031215/http://www.budapesttimes.hu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14702&Itemid=219
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref> [[Jennifer Shahade]], writer and two-time U.S. women's chess champion, suggested that the influence of Polgár as a role model may be one of the reasons women play more aggressive chess than men.<ref>{{cite web
 | title=Women's chess: Jennifer Shahade's opinion
 | date=24 June 2005
| first=Misha
 | last=Savinov
 | publisher=e3e5.com
 | url=http://www.e3e5.com/newsitem.php?id=173
 | access-date=16 November 2010
| archive-date=10 July 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710163649/http://www.e3e5.com/newsitem.php?id=173
 | url-status=dead
 }}</ref> Describing an individual encounter with Polgár, former U.S. Champion [[Joel Benjamin]] said, "It was all-out war for five hours. I was totally exhausted. She is a tiger at the chessboard. She absolutely has a killer instinct. You make one mistake and she goes right for the throat."<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal
 | date=7 March 1993
| last=Lyman
 | first=Shelby
 | page=C7
 | title=Women, men are equal across the chessboard
 | location=Spartanburg, South Carolina
}}</ref>

Polgár is especially adept at faster time controls. When she was still young, ''[[Der Spiegel]]'' wrote of her, "her tactical thunderstorms during blitz games have confounded many opponents, who are rated higher."<ref name="LymanOct301988">{{cite news|author=Shelby Lyman|title=Hungarian girl may be next world champion|publisher=The Sunday Telegraph|page=F-2|location=Nashua, New Hampshire|date=30 October 1988}}</ref>

Polgár has spoken of appreciating the [[Chess psychology|psychological aspect of chess]]. She has stated preferring to learn an opponent's style so she can play intentionally against that player rather than playing "objective" chess.<ref>{{cite web
 | url=http://www.playe4.com/judit-polgar-article.html
 | title=Polgar interview speaking of psychology in chess
 | access-date=27 July 2009
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528003615/http://www.playe4.com/judit-polgar-article.html
 | archive-date=28 May 2009
| url-status=dead
 }}</ref> In her 2002 victory (at 25 minutes time control) over Kasparov, she deliberately chose a line Kasparov had used against [[Vladimir Kramnik]], employing the strategy of forcing the opponent to "play against himself". Kasparov's response was inadequate and he soon found himself in an inferior position.<ref name="Pein_RvW"/>{{Failed verification|date=July 2020}} In an interview regarding playing against [[Computer chess|computers]] she said, "Chess is 30 to 40% psychology. You don't have this when you play a computer. I can't confuse it."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/paul-vallely-the-perpetual-struggle-of-man-against-machine-614581.html |title=Polgar quote in Independent on computers in chess |access-date=27 July 2009 |work=The Independent |location=London |date=21 October 2002 }}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==Chess professional==
[[File:Judit polgar 03.08.2008.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Polgár at the 2008 Mainz Chess Classic]]
"You have to be very selfish sometimes", said Polgár in speaking of the life of a professional chess player. "If you are in a tournament, you have to think of yourself—you can't think of your wife or children—only about yourself."<ref name="NYT_Burgess"/> When asked in 2002 if she still desired to win the world championship she said, "Chess is my profession and of course I hope to improve. But I'm not going to give up everything to become world champion; I have my life."<ref name="Telegraph_Allot2002"/>

Polgár said she did not have a permanent coach, although she had help from GM [[Lev Psakhis]] or GM [[Mihail Marin]].<ref name="chessbase_Jan72011"/><ref name="Chessdom_2009">{{cite web
 | title=Judit Polgár – I just can't live without chess
 | publisher=Chessdom
 | url=http://interviews.chessdom.com/judit-polgar-khanty-mansiysk
 | access-date=1 May 2010
| archive-date=27 February 2010
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227034648/http://interviews.chessdom.com/judit-polgar-khanty-mansiysk
 | url-status=dead
 }}</ref> She said she rarely used a [[Glossary of chess#Second|second]] and when she traveled to tournaments, it was usually her husband who accompanied her.<ref name="Chess_Aug2011">{{cite news|newspaper=Chess|volume=76|number=5|date=August 2011|author=Lars Grahn|page=22|title=Judit Polgar The best-ever woman player talks candidly to Lars Grahn|location=United Kingdom}}</ref><ref name="Chessbase_12082011">{{cite web|title=CHESS Magazine: Judit Polgar on life as a Super-GM mom|date=12 August 2011|publisher=Chessbase.com|url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=7452|access-date=14 August 2011|archive-date=15 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815074137/http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=7452|url-status=live}}</ref> Polgár said she changed how she prepared for tournaments. "I make more use of my experience now and try to work more efficiently so that my efforts aren't wasted", she said in 2008.<ref>{{cite web
 | last=Tagore
 | first=Vijay
 | date=24 February 2008
 | title=Kramnik is the toughest
 | publisher=Diligent Media Corporation Ltd.
 | url=http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_kramnik-is-the-toughest_1152565
 | access-date=30 April 2010
 | archive-date=9 July 2009
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709003243/http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_kramnik-is-the-toughest_1152565
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref>

Concentrating on her two children left Polgár with little time to train and play competitively and her ranking dropped from eighth in 2005 to the mid 50s in 2009. She played in the [[2009 Maccabiah Games]] in Israel and was named the Outstanding Female Athlete of the Games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://reports.chessdom.com/news-2009/maccabiah-games-2009-r4|title=Evgeniy Najer and Ian Nepomniachtchi lead Maccabiah International Chess Festival 2009 &#124; Chessdom Chess|access-date=27 July 2017|archive-date=29 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729021852/http://reports.chessdom.com/news-2009/maccabiah-games-2009-r4|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-jewish-chronicle/20090731/283257388882061|title=Best of the best|via=PressReader|access-date=27 July 2017|archive-date=29 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129131403/https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-jewish-chronicle/20090731/283257388882061|url-status=live}}</ref> Polgár remained the only woman in the top 100 until [[Hou Yifan]] reached rank 86 in August 2014, just before Polgár played her last rated game in September 2014 and dropped off the top 100 list due to inactivity a year later. Polgár is still the only woman to have ever made the top 50.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ratings.fide.com/profile/700070|title=Polgar, Judit|website=[[FIDE]]|access-date=7 September 2023|archive-date=6 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306081708/https://ratings.fide.com/profile/700070|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ratings.fide.com/profile/8602980|title=Hou, Yifan|website=[[FIDE]]|access-date=7 September 2023|archive-date=18 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318033737/https://ratings.fide.com/profile/8602980|url-status=live}}</ref> Comparing motherhood to playing chess, Polgár has said that a chess tournament now "feels like a vacation".<ref name="chessbase_Jan72011"/> When asked why she came back to chess after taking time off to care for her children, she said, "I cannot live without chess! It is an integral part of my life. I enjoy the game!"<ref name="Chessdom_2009"/>

Despite being the highest-rated woman for twenty-five years, Polgár never competed for the women's world championship. In a 2011 interview she was asked about this possibility. Polgár said that in the past she has never been interested in competing for it, but in recent years "the mentality of a couple of the women players has changed". Polgár said that for her to consider competing it would have to be a challenge and "if I get an extremely nice offer just to play for the title".<ref name="Chess_Aug2011"/><ref name="Chessbase_12082011"/>

Polgár authored a series of children's books on chess, ''Chess Playground''. Her sister Sofia provided illustrations.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Judit Polgár |title=Chess Playground |url=http://www.polgarjudit.com/book_en.html |access-date=17 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711181011/http://www.polgarjudit.com/book_en.html |archive-date=11 July 2011 }}</ref>

In March 2013 she was awarded the Commander's Cross with Star of [[Hungarian Order of Merit|The Hungarian Order of Merit]], one of Hungary's highest awards, "for her worldwide acknowledged life achievement as an athlete, for promoting the game of chess and for her efforts to promote the educational benefits of chess".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://juditpolgar.com/en/node/177|title=Judit receives the Order of Merit|website=Judit Polgár|access-date=8 March 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403185450/http://juditpolgar.com/en/node/177|archive-date=3 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://budapesttimes.hu/2014/08/31/the-brief-history-of-the-week-30/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904093933/http://budapesttimes.hu/2014/08/31/the-brief-history-of-the-week-30/|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 September 2014|title=The Brief History of the Week {{!}} The Budapest Times|website=budapesttimes.hu|access-date=8 March 2016}}</ref> In August 2015, she received [[Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen|The Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen]], the highest state [[order (distinction)|Order]] of Hungary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hungarytoday.hu/news/order-saint-stephen-president-ader-hands-hungarys-highest-state-decoration-94241|title=Order Of Saint Stephen: President Áder Hands Over Hungary's Highest State Decoration – Hungary Today|website=Hungary Today|date=24 August 2015|language=en-US|access-date=8 March 2016|archive-date=24 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224114910/http://hungarytoday.hu/news/order-saint-stephen-president-ader-hands-hungarys-highest-state-decoration-94241|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In August 2000, Polgár married Hungarian veterinary surgeon Gusztáv Font.<ref name="NYT_Burgess">{{cite news
 | title=To Men, Losing to Judit Polgár Is No Disgrace : Tigress of the Chessboard Purrs Quietly and Pounces
 | first=David
 | last=Burgess
 | date=31 March 2001
 | work=The New York Times
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/31/news/31iht-polgar_ed3_.html
 | access-date=25 April 2010
 | archive-date=28 March 2012
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328020850/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/31/news/31iht-polgar_ed3_.html
 | url-status=live
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |title        = Judit Polgár – Gregory Kaidanov Match – Players
 |last         = Polgar
 |first        = Judit
 |publisher    = MonRoi Inc
 |url          = http://monroi.com/judit-polgar-gregory-kaidanov-sicilian-theme-match-players.html
 |access-date   = 24 April 2010
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20101126222146/http://monroi.com/judit-polgar-gregory-kaidanov-sicilian-theme-match-players.html
 |archive-date = 26 November 2010
|url-status     = dead
}}</ref> They have two children, a boy named Olivér (born 2004) and a girl named Hanna (born 2006).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://juditpolgar.com/en/biography |title=Biography on her website |publisher=Juditpolgar.com |date=23 July 1976 |access-date=17 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404072824/http://juditpolgar.com/en/biography |archive-date=4 April 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.chesspower.co.nz/blog/325743 | title=Judith Polgar | access-date=16 April 2023 | archive-date=16 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416110423/https://www.chesspower.co.nz/blog/325743 | url-status=live }}</ref> While Judit remained in Hungary, her sisters and parents eventually emigrated: Sofia to Israel, Susan to the United States, and her parents to Israel and the United States.<ref name="Telegraph_Allot2002"/>

Several members of Polgár's family were murdered in [[the Holocaust]]; her grandmother was a survivor of [[Auschwitz concentration camp]].<ref>Forbes, Cathy ''The Polgar Sisters: Training or Genius?''</ref>

==Notable games==
* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1009882 J. Polgár vs. V. Anand, Dos Hermanas 1999 Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation. Delayed Keres Attack Perenyi Gambit (B90) · 1–0] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822050555/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1009882 |date=22 August 2010 }} Former trainer for the Polgárs, IM Tibor Károlyi, called this the most beautiful game ever played by a woman.<ref>{{cite news|language=es|date=4 July 1999|first=Leontxo|last= García| author-link=Leontxo García|title=La húngara Judit Polgár crea arte y vence a Anand en el torneo de Dos Hermanas|publisher=el pais|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/deportes/ANAND/_VISWANATHAN_/AJEDREZ/INDIA/POLGAR/_JUDIT_/AJEDREZ/HUNGRIA/KARPOV/_ANATOLI_/AJEDREZ/SEVILLA/elpepidep/19990407elpepidep_9/Tes|access-date=6 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Seagaard Chess Reviews: Judit Polgár: The Princess of Chess|publisher=Seagaard|url=http://seagaard.dk/review/eng/bo_collection/ba_judit_polgar_the_princess_of_chess.asp?KATID=BO&ProductID=355&ID=BO-Collection&PUBID=BA&AUTID=180|access-date=20 July 2011|archive-date=30 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930061229/http://seagaard.dk/review/eng/bo_collection/ba_judit_polgar_the_princess_of_chess.asp?KATID=BO&ProductID=355&ID=BO-Collection&PUBID=BA&AUTID=180|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1261813 Judit Polgár vs. Ferenc Berkes, Hunguest Hotels Super Chess Tournament 2003 · French Defense: Classical. Burn Variation Main Line (C11) · 1–0] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305010239/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1261813 |date=5 March 2010 }} Polgár's opponent falls for a clever {{chessgloss|trap}}, expecting her to play 14.Bxa8 and he would reply with 14...g4{{chesspunc|!}}, but she springs 14.g4{{chesspunc|!!}}<ref>{{cite web|author=Nikolay Minev|title=The "Vera Menchik Club|publisher=The Chess Library|url=http://www.thechesslibrary.com/articles/Menchik.pdf|access-date=20 July 2011|archive-date=17 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917005647/http://www.thechesslibrary.com/articles/Menchik.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1111195 Alexey Shirov vs. Judit Polgar, Buenos Aires ARG 1994 · Sicilian Defense: Paulsen. Normal Variation (B45) · 0–1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824031727/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1111195 |date=24 August 2011 }} Polgár uses a {{chessgloss|theoretical novelty|novelty}} to break up Shirov's pawn front. She used only 48 minutes to win this game.
* Judit Polgár vs. Nigel Short, 1994 New York PCA/Intel-GP Rapid knockout tournament. 1–0. In the Steinitz variation of the French Defense, Short seemingly has a crushing attack in the opening, sending Polgár's king on a walk. However, Short's attack runs out of steam, and Polgár recovers quickly, leaving Short's pieces constricted and his own king exposed.
* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1254283 Polgár vs. Garry Kasparov, Russia vs. The Rest of the World match, Moscow 2002 Spanish Game: Berlin Defense. l'Hermet Variation (C67) · 1–0] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019232247/https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1254283 |date=19 October 2021 }} Polgár makes history when, for the first time ever, a woman defeats the world's No. 1 chess player in a game.

==The Judit Polgar Chess Foundation==
The Judit Polgar Chess Foundation<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejpcf.com/index.php/en/|title=mission|website=JP CHESS FOUNDATION|access-date=11 February 2020|archive-date=27 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927093048/https://www.thejpcf.com/index.php/en/|url-status=live}}</ref> developed two educational programs. One is Chess Palace for primary school children (grades 1–4) and the other one is Chess Playground for pre-school children. The aim is to improve various skills (problem solving, strategical thinking, etc.) with the help of chess.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hungary-chess-idUSBRE99N0MH20131024|title=Hungary's "Chess Palace" helps kids to learn and play|first=Sandor|last=Peto|newspaper=Reuters|date=24 October 2013|via=www.reuters.com|access-date=2 November 2020|archive-date=18 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518180805/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hungary-chess-idUSBRE99N0MH20131024|url-status=live}}</ref> The systematic rules of chess are used to process the knowledge of general subjects as well (math, language, etc.). The program is very successful in Hungary and it is part of the Hungarian National Curriculum. At the 2015 Frankfurt Book Fair the Chess Palace book series received the special prize of the Best European Learning Materials Awards (BELMA).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chessacademy.uk/global-chess-festival-with-the-polgars/|title=Global Chess Festival with the Polgars &#124; &#124; Chess Rising Stars Academy|first=Chess Rising Stars|last=Academy|date=17 October 2016|access-date=11 February 2020|archive-date=2 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802182906/https://www.chessacademy.uk/global-chess-festival-with-the-polgars/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Books==
* ''Judit Polgar: How I Beat Fischer's Record'' (in English, German, French, Hungarian)
* ''Judit Polgar: From GM to Top Ten'' (in English, German, French, Hungarian)
* ''Judit Polgar: A Game of Queens'' (in English, German, French, Hungarian)

Educational chess exercise books for pre-school children and methodological resources for teachers (in Hungarian):
* ''Kalandozások a sakktáblán'' (''Adventures on the Chessboard'')
* ''Sakklépések'' (''Chess Moves'')
* ''Sakk és matt'' (''Check and Mate'')

Educational chess books, and exercise books for elementary school children and methodological resources for teachers (in Hungarian):
* ''Sakkpalota'' (''Chess Palace''), series 1–4.

==Awards==
* Hungarian Chess Player of the Year (in 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1998–2003, 2005–2012, and 2014)
* 8-time [[Chess Oscar]] winner – for annual performance: in 1988, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, and 2002  Female Chess Player of the Century: 2001
* FIDE Caissa Award (the newly established "Chess Oscar"): 2012 <ref>{{Cite web|url = https://chessdailynews.com/judit-and-the-2012-fide-caissa-award/|title = Judit and the 2012 FIDE Caissa Award|date = October 2013|access-date = 27 April 2021|archive-date = 27 April 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210427084712/https://chessdailynews.com/judit-and-the-2012-fide-caissa-award/|url-status = live}}</ref>
* The [[Hungarian Order of Merit|Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary]] (Budapest, 2003) <ref>{{cite web |url=http://sakk.terasz.hu/index.php?m=news&p=article&cikk_id=3497&rovat_id=28 |title=Sakkozók kitüntetése |publisher=sakk.terasz.hu |language=hu |accessdate=4 December 2014 |archive-date=9 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109110045/http://sakk.terasz.hu/index.php?m=news&p=article&cikk_id=3497&rovat_id=28 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* The [[Hungarian Order of Merit|Commander's Cross with Star of the Hungarian Order of Merit]] (Budapest, 2013)
* Prima Primissima (Budapest, 2014)
* a Member of the Association of Immortal Hungarian Athletes (Budapest, 2014)
* The [[Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen|Hungarian Order of St. Stephen]] (Budapest, 2015) <ref>{{cite web| url=https://index.hu/belfold/2015/08/19/polgar_judit_es_eotvos_peter_kapja_a_legmagasabb_allami_kituntetest/ |title=Polgár Judit és Eötvös Péter kapja a legmagasabb állami kitüntetést |date=19 August 2015 |publisher=[[Index.hu]] (MTI) |accessdate=19 August 2015}}</ref>
* Best European Learning Materials Award – for the Chess Palace Program (Frankfurt, 2015)
* Honorary Citizen of Budapest (Budapest, 2016) <ref>{{Cite web|url = https://dailynewshungary.com/honorary-citizens-of-budapest/|title = Honorary citizens of Budapest|date = 19 June 2016|access-date = 27 April 2021|archive-date = 27 April 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210427090635/https://dailynewshungary.com/honorary-citizens-of-budapest/|url-status = live}}</ref>
* James Joyce Award from the UCD Literary & Historical Society (Dublin 2017) <ref>{{Cite web|title='Queen of chess' Judit Polgár honoured by UCD student society|date=October 2013|url=https://chessdailynews.com/judit-and-the-2012-fide-caissa-award/|access-date=27 April 2021|archive-date=27 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427084712/https://chessdailynews.com/judit-and-the-2012-fide-caissa-award/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ECU European Golden Pawn, "European Chess Legend" (Monte Carlo, 2019) <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.europechess.org/european-golden-pawn-award-ceremony/|title=European Golden Pawn Award Ceremony|date=27 November 2019|access-date=27 April 2021|archive-date=27 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427090636/https://www.europechess.org/european-golden-pawn-award-ceremony/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Honorary Doctor of the University of Physical Education (Budapest, 2020) <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.europechess.org/judit-polgar-received-honorary-doctorate-from-the-budapest-university-of-physical-education/|title=Judit Polgar received Honorary Doctorate from the Budapest University of Physical Education|date=2 June 2020|access-date=27 April 2021|archive-date=27 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427090235/https://www.europechess.org/judit-polgar-received-honorary-doctorate-from-the-budapest-university-of-physical-education/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Inducted into the [[World Chess Hall of Fame]] (Saint Louis, 2021)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-11 |title=Judit Polgar |url=https://worldchesshof.org/hof-inductee/judit-polgar |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=World Chess Hall of Fame |language=en}}</ref>
* FIDE ICON Award (Chennai, 2022) <ref>{{Cite news|url =https://dteurope.com/news/judit-polgar-an-international-chess-federation-icon/|title =Judit Polgár, an International Chess Federation ICON|newspaper =Diplomacy & Trade|date =August 2022|access-date =10 August 2022|archive-date =10 August 2022|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20220810080253/https://dteurope.com/news/judit-polgar-an-international-chess-federation-icon/|url-status =live}}</ref>
* FIDE100 Award, Best Player – Woman (Budapest, 2024),<ref>{{Cite web |title=FIDE 100 Awards make history |url=https://www.fide.com/news/3223 |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=www.fide.com |language=en}}</ref> Best Female Chess Player of All Time<ref>{{Cite web |last=Green (NathanielGreen) |first=Nathaniel |date=2021-02-22 |title=The Top 5 Best Women Chess Players Of All Time |url=https://www.chess.com/article/view/best-female-chess-players-of-all-time |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=Chess.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Jewish chess players]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==Literature==
* {{citation
|year=1992
|last=Forbes|first=Cathy|author-link=Cathy Warwick
|title=The Polgar Sisters: Training or Genius?
|publisher =Henry Holt & Co.
|isbn=0-8050-2426-3}}
* {{citation
|year=2002
|last=Hurst|first=Sarah
|title=Curse of Kirsan: Adventures in the Chess Underworld
|publisher=Russell Enterprises|isbn=1-888690-15-1}}
* {{citation
|first=Tibor|last=Karolyi|author-link=Tibor Károlyi (chess player)
|title=Judit Polgár, the Princess of Chess
|year=2004
|publisher=Batsford
|isbn=0-7134-8890-5}}
* {{citation
|year=2005
|first1=Susan|last1=Polgar|author-link=Susan Polgar
|first2=Paul|last2=Truong|author-link2=Paul Truong
|title=Breaking Through : How the Polgar Sisters Changed the Game of Chess
|publisher=Everyman Chess
|isbn=1-85744-381-0}}
* {{citation
|first=Jennifer|last=Shahade|author-link=Jennifer Shahade
|title=Chess Bitch: Women In The Ultimate Intellectual Sport
|year=2005
|publisher=Siles Press
|isbn=1-890085-09-X}}
* {{cite book
|title=Matt a férfiaknak (Checkmate to Men) English translation due 2009
|year=2008
|last1=Polgár|first1=Judit
|last2=Kepes|first2=András|author-link2=András Kepes}}
* {{citation
|first=Judit|last=Polgar
|title=Chess Playground
|publisher=Caissa Hungary
|year=2010
|isbn=978-963-06-9620-3}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|commons=category:Judit Polgár|d=Q183250|s=no|v=no|voy=no|q=no|n=no|species=no|mw=no|m=no|wikt=no|b=no}}
* {{Official website|https://www.juditpolgar.com/}}
* {{FIDE}}
* {{Chessgames.com player}}
* {{365Chess.com player}}
* {{OlimpBase player}}
* {{Chess.com player|judit-polgar|member=JuditPolgar}}
* [http://www.crestbook.com/node/1668/ 2012 KC-Conference with Judit Polgar for CrestBook] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727225234/http://www.crestbook.com/node/1668/ |date=27 July 2013 }}

{{S-start}}
{{s-ach|ach}}
{{s-bef|before= [[Bobby Fischer]]}}
{{s-ttl|title= [[List of youngest grandmasters|Youngest chess grandmaster ever]]|years= 1991–1994}}
{{s-aft|after= [[Peter Leko]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Hungarian chess grandmasters}}
{{Portal bar|Chess|Hungary|}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Polgar, Judit}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Chess Grandmasters]]
[[Category:Female chess grandmasters]]
[[Category:Chess Olympiad competitors]]
[[Category:Maccabiah Games chess players]]
[[Category:Commander's Crosses with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (civil)]]
[[Category:20th-century Hungarian chess players]]
[[Category:Hungarian female chess players]]
[[Category:Hungarian Jews]]
[[Category:Jewish chess players]]
[[Category:Maccabiah Games competitors for Hungary]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 2009 Maccabiah Games]]
[[Category:Chess players from Budapest]]
[[Category:World Youth Chess Champions]]
[[Category:21st-century Hungarian chess players]]