- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kramnik, V | 2803 | Polgar, J | 2696 | 1-0 | 57 | A35 | 2013 | Geneva Masters GpA 2013 | |
| A352013Geneva Masters GpA 2013 | |||||||||
| Pelletier, Y | 2574 | Polgar, J | 2696 | 1-0 | 54 | A30 | 2013 | Geneva Masters GpA 2013 | |
| A302013Geneva Masters GpA 2013 | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2696 | Pelletier, Y | 2574 | 0-1 | 33 | A05 | 2013 | Geneva Masters GpA 2013 | |
| A052013Geneva Masters GpA 2013 | |||||||||
| Polgar, S | 2450 | Polgar, J | 2696 | 1-0 | 46 | B90 | 2013 | Match des Championnes Rapid | |
| B902013Match des Championnes Rapid | |||||||||
| Polgar, S | 2450 | Polgar, J | 2696 | 0-1 | 34 | B21 | 2013 | Match des Championnes Blitz | |
| B212013Match des Championnes Blitz | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2696 | Polgar, S | 2450 | 1-0 | 36 | B40 | 2013 | Match des Championnes Rapid | |
| B402013Match des Championnes Rapid | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2705 | Aronian, L | 2815 | ½-½ | 34 | C89 | 2012 | 4th London Chess Classic | |
| C8920124th London Chess Classic | |||||||||
| McShane, L | 2713 | Polgar, J | 2705 | 0-1 | 33 | A37 | 2012 | 4th London Chess Classic | |
| A3720124th London Chess Classic | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2705 | Anand, V | 2775 | ½-½ | 32 | B90 | 2012 | 4th London Chess Classic | |
| B9020124th London Chess Classic | |||||||||
| Carlsen, M | 2848 | Polgar, J | 2705 | 1-0 | 53 | A33 | 2012 | 4th London Chess Classic | |
| A3320124th London Chess Classic | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2705 | Nakamura, H | 2760 | 0-1 | 47 | C78 | 2012 | 4th London Chess Classic | |
| C7820124th London Chess Classic | |||||||||
| Adams, M | 2710 | Polgar, J | 2705 | 1-0 | 36 | B40 | 2012 | 4th London Chess Classic | |
| B4020124th London Chess Classic | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2705 | Maroroa Jones, G | 2644 | ½-½ | 73 | B78 | 2012 | 4th London Chess Classic | |
| B7820124th London Chess Classic | |||||||||
| Kramnik, V | 2795 | Polgar, J | 2705 | 1-0 | 40 | A34 | 2012 | 4th London Chess Classic | |
| A3420124th London Chess Classic | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2705 | Carlsen, M | 2848 | 0-1 | 44 | B09 | 2012 | Cuadrangular UNAM 2012 | |
| B092012Cuadrangular UNAM 2012 | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2705 | Carlsen, M | 2848 | 0-1 | 36 | C50 | 2012 | Cuadrangular UNAM 2012 | |
| C502012Cuadrangular UNAM 2012 | |||||||||
| Carlsen, M | 2848 | Polgar, J | 2705 | 1-0 | 44 | B31 | 2012 | Cuadrangular UNAM 2012 | |
| B312012Cuadrangular UNAM 2012 | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2705 | Leon Hoyos, M | 2599 | ½-½ | 42 | B36 | 2012 | Cuadrangular UNAM 2012 | |
| B362012Cuadrangular UNAM 2012 | |||||||||
| Leon Hoyos, M | 2599 | Polgar, J | 2705 | 0-1 | 43 | E81 | 2012 | Cuadrangular UNAM 2012 | |
| E812012Cuadrangular UNAM 2012 | |||||||||
| Carlsen, M | 2848 | Polgar, J | 2705 | 0-1 | 50 | E90 | 2012 | Cuadrangular UNAM 2012 | |
| E902012Cuadrangular UNAM 2012 | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2698 | Akopian, V | 2687 | ½-½ | 94 | C67 | 2012 | 40th Olympiad Open | |
| C67201240th Olympiad Open | |||||||||
| Rasmussen, A | 2496 | Polgar, J | 2698 | 0-1 | 39 | E46 | 2012 | 40th Olympiad Open | |
| E46201240th Olympiad Open | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2698 | Vocaturo, D | 2542 | 1-0 | 76 | C78 | 2012 | 40th Olympiad Open | |
| C78201240th Olympiad Open | |||||||||
| Fridman, D | 2653 | Polgar, J | 2698 | ½-½ | 21 | E15 | 2012 | 40th Olympiad Open | |
| E15201240th Olympiad Open | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2698 | Swiercz, D | 2594 | 1-0 | 32 | B90 | 2012 | 40th Olympiad Open | |
| B90201240th Olympiad Open | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2698 | Karjakin, S | 2785 | ½-½ | 39 | C67 | 2012 | 40th Olympiad Open | |
| C67201240th Olympiad Open | |||||||||
| Michalik, P | 2508 | Polgar, J | 2698 | ½-½ | 42 | E21 | 2012 | 40th Olympiad Open | |
| E21201240th Olympiad Open | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2698 | Kurmann, O | 2469 | 1-0 | 35 | B42 | 2012 | 40th Olympiad Open | |
| B42201240th Olympiad Open | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2698 | Nedev, T | 2494 | ½-½ | 48 | B33 | 2012 | 40th Olympiad Open | |
| B33201240th Olympiad Open | |||||||||
| Maznitsin, A | 2283 | Polgar, J | 2698 | 0-1 | 30 | A15 | 2012 | 40th Olympiad Open | |
| A15201240th Olympiad Open | |||||||||
| Fedorov, A | 2579 | Polgar, J | 2710 | 1-0 | 36 | B20 | 2011 | European Blitz 2011 | |
| B202011European Blitz 2011 | |||||||||
| Meshkovs, N | 2292 | Polgar, J | 2710 | 0-1 | 44 | E90 | 2011 | European Blitz 2011 | |
| E902011European Blitz 2011 | |||||||||
| Almonti, A | 2019 | Polgar, J | 2710 | 0-1 | 33 | A15 | 2011 | European Blitz 2011 | |
| A152011European Blitz 2011 | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2710 | Olszewski, M | 2539 | 1-0 | 52 | B50 | 2011 | European Blitz 2011 | |
| B502011European Blitz 2011 | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2701 | Kramnik, V | 2791 | ½-½ | 22 | C67 | 2011 | 15th Unive Crown | |
| C67201115th Unive Crown | |||||||||
| Giri, A | 2722 | Polgar, J | 2701 | 1-0 | 47 | A15 | 2011 | 15th Unive Crown | |
| A15201115th Unive Crown | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2701 | Vachier Lagrave, M | 2715 | ½-½ | 44 | B90 | 2011 | 15th Unive Crown | |
| B90201115th Unive Crown | |||||||||
| Polgar, J | 2701 | Giri, A | 2722 | ½-½ | 27 | C45 | 2011 | 15th Unive Crown | |
| C45201115th Unive Crown | |||||||||
| Kramnik, V | 2791 | Polgar, J | 2701 | 1-0 | 31 | E14 | 2011 | 15th Unive Crown | |
| E14201115th Unive Crown | |||||||||
| Vachier Lagrave, M | 2715 | Polgar, J | 2701 | ½-½ | 64 | E17 | 2011 | 15th Unive Crown | |
| E17201115th Unive Crown | |||||||||