- Name:
- Judit Polgar
- Federation:
Hungary- Sex:
- Female
- Born:
- 1976
- FIDE ID:
- 700070 FIDE Profile
- Title:
- Grand Master
- ELO Classic:
- 2675
- ELO Rapid:
- 2646
- ELO Blitz:
- 2736
- Years:
- 1986 - 2014
- Total Games:
- 1827
- Wins:
- 692 (37.88 %)
- Draws:
- 665 (36.4 %)
- Losses:
- 470 (25.73 %)
- Score:
- 56.08 %
Judit Polgar
Judit Polgar (1976): the trailblazing super-GM who took on the open elite
Judit Polgar (born July 23, 1976, Budapest) is a Hungarian grandmaster widely regarded as the strongest female chess player in history.
She built her career mainly in open (mixed) tournaments, becoming the only woman to reach the world Top 10, peaking at No. 8, and the only woman to cross 2700 Elo, with a peak rating of 2735.
In February, Netflix releases the documentary Queen of Chess (premiering Feb 6, 2026), spotlighting her rise and her battles against the chess establishment.
Key tournaments & milestones
- Hastings 1992-93 - Shared 1st, one of her early breakthrough wins in strong open company.
- Madrid International 1994 - 1st place, a landmark tournament victory vs a top GM field.
- Russia vs Rest of the World 2002 - Famous win vs Garry Kasparov (rapid), one of the most iconic results of her career.
- World Chess Championship (San Luis) 2005 - Final-stage participant, the only woman to play in a WC final-stage event of that era.
- Essent / Hoogeveen 2006 - Tournament success featuring two wins vs Veselin Topalov, then world No. 1.
Polgar became a GM in 1991 (age 15 years, 4 months) - at the time the youngest ever - setting the tone for a career defined by fearless, tactical chess against the very best.
Last tournaments played
| Tournament | Date | Elo Avg. | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41st Olympiad Open 2014 | 08/02/2014 | 2071 | 
Norway |
| FIDE World Blitz 2014 | 06/19/2014 | 2589 | 
United Arab Emirates |
| FIDE World Rapid 2014 | 06/16/2014 | 2594 |
United Arab Emirates |
Most Played Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games |
|---|---|---|
| B90 | Sicilian, Najdorf | 35 games |
| B33 | Sicilian defence | 34 games |
| C42 | Petrov's defence | 31 games |
| C67 | Ruy Lopez, Berlin defence, open variation | 27 games |
Most Played Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games |
|---|---|---|
| E97 | King's Indian, orthodox, Aronin-Taimanov variation (Yugoslav attack / Mar del Plata variation) | 31 games |
| B90 | Sicilian, Najdorf | 27 games |
| B22 | Sicilian, Alapin's variation (2.c3) | 25 games |
| E15 | Queen's Indian, 4.g3 | 23 games |
Games played by Judit Polgar
| White | Elo | Black | Elo | Result | Moves | ECO | Year | Tournament | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Adams, M | 2505 | 1-0 | 43 | C16 | 1989 | EU-chT (Men) | |
| C161989EU-chT (Men) | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Donchev, D | 2520 | ½-½ | 42 | B01 | 1989 | EU-chT (Men) | |
| B011989EU-chT (Men) | |||||||||
| Nijboer, F | 2475 | Polgar, J | 2555 | 0-1 | 33 | B47 | 1989 | OHRA-B | |
| B471989OHRA-B | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Schussler, H | 2540 | 1-0 | 39 | C92 | 1989 | Vejstrup | |
| C921989Vejstrup | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Petursson, M | 2530 | 0-1 | 43 | B53 | 1989 | EUCup | |
| B531989EUCup | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Gomez Esteban, J | 2460 | 0-1 | 28 | B52 | 1989 | Salamanca | |
| B521989Salamanca | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Garcia, G | 2430 | 0-1 | 68 | B47 | 1989 | Salamanca | |
| B471989Salamanca | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | De La Villa Garcia, J | 2430 | ½-½ | 34 | C12 | 1989 | Salamanca | |
| C121989Salamanca | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Dzindzichashvili, R | 2540 | ½-½ | 44 | B01 | 1989 | New York op | |
| B011989New York op | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Ivanov, I | 2515 | 0-1 | 23 | B88 | 1989 | New York op | |
| B881989New York op | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Ochoa de Echaguen, F | 2435 | 1-0 | 63 | B30 | 1989 | New York op | |
| B301989New York op | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Campora, D | 2500 | ½-½ | 14 | C33 | 1989 | New York op | |
| C331989New York op | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | De La Villa Garcia, J | 2430 | 1-0 | 35 | C15 | 1989 | New York op | |
| C151989New York op | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Reeh, O | 2440 | 0-1 | 41 | B89 | 1989 | German Cup | |
| B891989German Cup | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Schandorff, L | 2455 | 1-0 | 62 | B87 | 1989 | Aabenraa rapid | |
| B871989Aabenraa rapid | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Mortensen, E | 2475 | 1-0 | 40 | C67 | 1989 | Vejstrup | |
| C671989Vejstrup | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Hansen, L | 2525 | 0-1 | 33 | D42 | 1989 | Aabenraa rapid | |
| D421989Aabenraa rapid | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Hansen, C | 2525 | 0-1 | 30 | B04 | 1989 | Aabenraa rapid | |
| B041989Aabenraa rapid | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Rivas Pastor, M | 2505 | 1-0 | 33 | C01 | 1989 | Salamanca | |
| C011989Salamanca | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Azmaiparashvili, Z | 2575 | 1-0 | 37 | B09 | 1989 | OHRA-B | |
| B091989OHRA-B | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Finegold, B | 2375 | 1-0 | 49 | B14 | 1989 | OHRA-B | |
| B141989OHRA-B | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Hulak, K | 2550 | 1-0 | 40 | B85 | 1989 | OHRA-B | |
| B851989OHRA-B | |||||||||
| Mohr, S | 2485 | Polgar, J | 2555 | 0-1 | 41 | A57 | 1989 | OHRA-B | |
| A571989OHRA-B | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Ree, H | 2460 | 1-0 | 24 | B85 | 1989 | OHRA-B | |
| B851989OHRA-B | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Hansen, L | 2525 | 1-0 | 33 | C16 | 1989 | Vejstrup | |
| C161989Vejstrup | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Hoi, C | 2510 | ½-½ | 37 | B06 | 1989 | Vejstrup | |
| B061989Vejstrup | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Polgar, Z | 2520 | ½-½ | 17 | B76 | 1989 | Vejstrup | |
| B761989Vejstrup | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Lima, D | 2385 | 0-1 | 51 | C26 | 1989 | Salamanca | |
| C261989Salamanca | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2555 | Polgar, Z | 2510 | ½-½ | 10 | C42 | 1989 | Salamanca | |
| C421989Salamanca | |||||||||
| Reeh, O | 2440 | Polgar, J | 2555 | ½-½ | 39 | B46 | 1989 | German Cup | |
| B461989German Cup | |||||||||
| Greenfeld, A | 2535 | Polgar, J | 2555 | 0-1 | 40 | A57 | 1989 | EU-chT (Men) | |
| A571989EU-chT (Men) | |||||||||
| Schandorff, L | 2455 | Polgar, J | 2555 | 1-0 | 41 | E60 | 1989 | Vejstrup | |
| E601989Vejstrup | |||||||||
| Rogers, I | 2470 | Polgar, J | 2555 | ½-½ | 61 | B40 | 1989 | Vejstrup | |
| B401989Vejstrup | |||||||||
| Polgar, S | 2335 | Polgar, J | 2555 | ½-½ | 16 | C01 | 1989 | Vejstrup | |
| C011989Vejstrup | |||||||||
| Hansen, C | 2550 | Polgar, J | 2555 | ½-½ | 50 | A37 | 1989 | Vejstrup | |
| A371989Vejstrup | |||||||||
| Psakhis, L | 2565 | Polgar, J | 2555 | 1-0 | 37 | B44 | 1989 | OHRA-B | |
| B441989OHRA-B | |||||||||
| Hansen, C | 2525 | Polgar, J | 2555 | 1-0 | 29 | D03 | 1989 | Aabenraa rapid | |
| D031989Aabenraa rapid | |||||||||
| Hansen, L | 2525 | Polgar, J | 2555 | ½-½ | 29 | A37 | 1989 | Aabenraa rapid | |
| A371989Aabenraa rapid | |||||||||
| Schandorff, L | 2455 | Polgar, J | 2555 | ½-½ | 25 | D03 | 1989 | Aabenraa rapid | |
| D031989Aabenraa rapid | |||||||||
| Petursson, M | 2530 | Polgar, J | 2555 | ½-½ | 63 | A37 | 1989 | EUCup | |
| A371989EUCup | |||||||||