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Chess Queen Judit Polgár's Story Hits Sundance
1 Feb
Summary
- Judit Polgár, the greatest female chess player, stars in a new documentary.
- She was the youngest Grandmaster ever, breaking Bobby Fischer's record.
- Her film premieres on Netflix on February 6, 2026.
The Sundance Film Festival hosted the premiere of 'Queen of Chess,' a new documentary directed by Rory Kennedy, focusing on the life of Hungarian chess prodigy Judit Polgár. Polgár is celebrated as the greatest female chess player, having held the top women's ranking for 26 years and achieving the youngest Grandmaster title, surpassing Bobby Fischer's record. She was also the only woman to break into the top 10 players globally.
The documentary delves into Polgár's journey from Hungary during the Communist regime, highlighting the significant challenges she overcame. Her father's "experiment" in parenting, aimed at nurturing chess genius in Judit and her sisters, is a key element explored. Polgár shared her experiences of facing skepticism and disbelief from male opponents upon her early victories.
Director Rory Kennedy was inspired to make the film after realizing Polgár's name was not widely known, despite her unparalleled achievements. The film's narrative also draws parallels to the popular Netflix series 'The Queen's Gambit.' Due to this connection and the film's compelling story, Netflix quickly came on board, and the documentary is set to stream globally on February 6, 2026, immediately after its Sundance debut.
