- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frometa Castillo, Z | 2205 | Polgar, J | 2320 | 0-1 | 55 | A03 | 1988 | Thessaloniki ol (Women) | |
| A031988Thessaloniki ol (Women) | |||||||||
| Hermansson, T | 1975 | Polgar, J | 2320 | 1-0 | 41 | A57 | 1988 | Reykjavik op | |
| A571988Reykjavik op | |||||||||
| Miyassator, | Polgar, J | 2560 | 0-1 | 28 | B48 | 1988 | Wch U18 | ||
| B481988Wch U18 | |||||||||
| Nemeth, M | 2115 | Polgar, J | 2320 | 0-1 | 40 | A57 | 1988 | Zalakaros op 7th | |
| A571988Zalakaros op 7th | |||||||||
| Vigfusson, T | 2050 | Polgar, J | 2320 | ½-½ | 32 | D84 | 1988 | Reykjavik op | |
| D841988Reykjavik op | |||||||||
| Tisdall, J | 2305 | Polgar, J | 2510 | 0-1 | 33 | B81 | 1988 | Reykjavik op | |
| B811988Reykjavik op | |||||||||
| Solmundarson, M | 2270 | Polgar, J | 2320 | ½-½ | 75 | B14 | 1988 | Reykjavik op | |
| B141988Reykjavik op | |||||||||
| Sigfusson, S | 2140 | Polgar, J | 2320 | 0-1 | 66 | A37 | 1988 | Reykjavik op | |
| A371988Reykjavik op | |||||||||
| Schoen, W | 2450 | Polgar, J | 2320 | 1-0 | 37 | A59 | 1988 | Reykjavik op | |
| A591988Reykjavik op | |||||||||
| Porubin, | Polgar, J | 2560 | 0-1 | 31 | B25 | 1988 | Wch U18 | ||
| B251988Wch U18 | |||||||||
| Rowley, R | 2400 | Polgar, J | 2320 | 0-1 | 34 | B47 | 1988 | Hastings op 8889 | |
| B471988Hastings op 8889 | |||||||||
| Kovacs, L | 2285 | Polgar, J | 2320 | 0-1 | 25 | A57 | 1988 | Zalakaros op 7th | |
| A571988Zalakaros op 7th | |||||||||
| Plaskett, H | 2465 | Polgar, J | 2320 | 1-0 | 26 | B23 | 1988 | Hastings op 8889 | |
| B231988Hastings op 8889 | |||||||||
| McDonald, N | 2375 | Polgar, J | 2320 | ½-½ | 16 | B47 | 1988 | Hastings op 8889 | |
| B471988Hastings op 8889 | |||||||||
| Lima, D | Polgar, J | 2320 | ½-½ | 12 | A35 | 1988 | Hastings op 8889 | ||
| A351988Hastings op 8889 | |||||||||
| Xie Jun, | Polgar, J | 2320 | 0-1 | 53 | B47 | 1988 | Thessaloniki ol (Women) | ||
| B471988Thessaloniki ol (Women) | |||||||||
| Polihroniade, E | 2310 | Polgar, J | 2320 | 0-1 | 27 | B47 | 1988 | Thessaloniki ol (Women) | |
| B471988Thessaloniki ol (Women) | |||||||||
| Lebel Arias, J | 2120 | Polgar, J | 2320 | 0-1 | 35 | A06 | 1988 | Thessaloniki ol (Women) | |
| A061988Thessaloniki ol (Women) | |||||||||
| Erenska Barlo, H | 2275 | Polgar, J | 2320 | 0-1 | 61 | B47 | 1988 | Thessaloniki ol (Women) | |
| B471988Thessaloniki ol (Women) | |||||||||
| Borisova, B | 2210 | Polgar, J | 2320 | 0-1 | 46 | A04 | 1988 | Thessaloniki ol (Women) | |
| A041988Thessaloniki ol (Women) | |||||||||
| Feher, G | 2325 | Polgar, J | 2320 | ½-½ | 45 | B82 | 1988 | Zalakaros op 7th | |
| B821988Zalakaros op 7th | |||||||||
| Kraidman, Y | 2405 | Polgar, J | 2365 | ½-½ | 27 | A58 | 1988 | Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |
| A581988Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |||||||||
| Polgar, S | 2345 | Polgar, J | 2365 | ½-½ | 11 | B08 | 1988 | Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |
| B081988Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2365 | Jackson, S | 2245 | 1-0 | 41 | C26 | 1988 | Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |
| C261988Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2365 | Lalic, S | 2355 | 1-0 | 38 | B40 | 1988 | Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |
| B401988Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |||||||||
| Bellin, J | 2300 | Polgar, J | 2365 | ½-½ | 61 | A48 | 1988 | Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |
| A481988Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2365 | Dunnington, A | 2280 | 1-0 | 29 | B15 | 1988 | Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |
| B151988Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |||||||||
| Westerinen, H | 2395 | Polgar, J | 2365 | ½-½ | 35 | B44 | 1988 | Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |
| B441988Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2365 | Hennigan, M | 2295 | 1-0 | 33 | B09 | 1988 | Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |
| B091988Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2365 | Arkell, K | 2430 | 1-0 | 40 | B14 | 1988 | Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |
| B141988Duncan Lawrie Women-Men | |||||||||
| Huss, A | 2375 | Polgar, J | 2355 | ½-½ | 53 | A59 | 1987 | Biel schev | |
| A591987Biel schev | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2355 | Kerkhof, P | 2250 | 1-0 | 31 | A43 | 1987 | OHRA op | |
| A431987OHRA op | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2240 | Fedorowicz, J | 2520 | ½-½ | 34 | B33 | 1987 | OHRA op | |
| B331987OHRA op | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2355 | Gutman, L | 2475 | 1-0 | 37 | B85 | 1987 | OHRA op | |
| B851987OHRA op | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2355 | Sharif, M | 2440 | 1-0 | 43 | C30 | 1987 | OHRA op | |
| C301987OHRA op | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2355 | Zueger, B | 2405 | 0-1 | 49 | C14 | 1987 | Biel schev | |
| C141987Biel schev | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2355 | Nemet, I | 2390 | ½-½ | 15 | B70 | 1987 | Biel schev | |
| B701987Biel schev | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2355 | Landenbergue, C | 2300 | ½-½ | 11 | B05 | 1987 | Biel schev | |
| B051987Biel schev | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2355 | Huss, A | 2375 | 0-1 | 52 | C15 | 1987 | Biel schev | |
| C151987Biel schev | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2355 | Costa, J | 2320 | 1-0 | 47 | C36 | 1987 | Biel schev | |
| C361987Biel schev | |||||||||