For decades, chess was seen as a “man’s game.” Only three women in history have ever reached the Top 100 — and none today.
But one legend proved everyone wrong: Judit Polgar.
Her story changed chess forever — and showed that talent has no gender.
In this episode, we explore the past, present, and future of women’s chess. From the “Grand Swiss” in Samarkand with Alexandra Kosteniuk, to the Global Chess Festival in Budapest, we uncover stories of inequality, inspiration, and resilience — and ask the ultimate question:
Will a woman ever become the absolute World Chess Champion?
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Media Attribution
This video includes images licensed under various Creative Commons licenses. All content has been used in accordance with the terms of those licenses.
Attribution has been provided as follows:
Photos
Judit_Polgár_stev_bonhage/FIDE
Nigel David Short, by GibChess, extracted from Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAFOEZZEeLM, CC BY 3.0
Vera Menchik 1933, sourced from chesshistory.com
Nona Gaprindashvili 1968, by Jack de Nijs for Anefo
Maia Chiburdanidze 1984, sourced from europechess.com
“Menchik Mate” from Menchik-Thomas chess game, London 1932 Sat, Jan 30, 1988 – 62 · The Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine) – sourced from newspapers.com
(https://blog.newspapers.com/vera-menchik-womens-chess-champion/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Players and Officials During an Excursion on the Steamship, Hamburg 1930, collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame
(https://worldchesshof.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Players-and-Officials-During-an-Excursion-on-the-Steamship-Deutschland-Hamburg-Germany-CROPPED-1024×650.jpg)
Vera Menchik 1927, Tanner 2016, p. 11 (republished from Chess Review June 1969, which republished after the earliest known publication in The Baltimore Sun in September 1927, original photo from after the first Women’s World Championship in July 1927)
(https://worldchesshof.org/inductee/vera-menchik/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Max Euwe 1979, by Hans van Dijk for Anefo
(https://ga.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Euwe)
Samuel Reshevsky 1964, by Jack de Nijs for Anefo
(https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A0%D0%B5%D1%88%D0%B5%D0%B2%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9,_%D0%A1%D0%B0%D0%BC%D1%83%D1%8D%D0%BB%D1%8C#/media/%D0%A4%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BB:Samuel_Reshevsky_1964.jpg
)
Illustration from Die Schachspieler und ihre Welt by Arpad Bauer (Berlin, 1911)
(https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/women.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
https://en.chessbase.com/post/judit-polgar-appears-in-playboy-magazine/8806 – for this we need to contact chessbase.com
Judit Polgar vs Veselin Topalov, by FIDE (Casto Abundo), Word Chess ChampionshipPress, sourced from chessbase.com
Judit Polgar, by Gennadiy Titkov CC BY-SA 3.0
Judit, Zsuzsa, Zsófia és édesapjuk, Polgár László, by Fortepan adományozó URBÁN TAMÁS CC BY-SA 3.0
Susan Polgar by Vollebregt, Sjakkelien / Anefo
Une séance de parties simultanées de Garry Kasparov, by S.M.S.I., Inc. – Owen Williams, The Kasparov Agence CC BY-SA 3.0
Garry Kasparov by S.M.S.I., Inc. – Owen Williams, The Kasparov Agence CC BY-SA 3.0
Garry Kasparov by S.M.S.I., Inc. – Owen Williams, The Kasparov Agence CC BY-SA 3.0
Portrait de Garry Kasparov by S.M.S.I., Inc. – Owen Williams, The Kasparov Agence CC BY-SA 3.0
Garry Kasparov by S.M.S.I., Inc. – Owen Williams, The Kasparov Agence CC BY-SA 3.0
Judit Polgar plays simultaneous chess games in an informal public exhibition in Central Park, New York City, New York by R. Cottrell CC BY-SA 3.0
Zsuzsa Polgar at Hoogovens Chess Tournament, 1990 by Fotoburo De Boer
Hoogovens Chess Tournament 1990, Polgar family, by Fotoburo De Boer
Hoogovens Chess Tournament 1990. Judit Polgár, by Fotoburo De Boer
Hoogovens Chess Tournament 1990, the Netherlands. Sitting: Judit Polgar. Standing watching: Sofia Polgar, by Fotoburo De Boer
Garry Kasparov (Peter van den Berg / Anefo CC0 1.0
Garry Kasparov (Rob Bogaerts / Anefo) CC0 1.0
Garry Kasparov (Rob Bogaerts / Anefo) CC0 1.0
Garry Kasparov (Rob Croes / Anefo) CC0 1.0
Susan Polgar at OHRA Chess Festival (Rob Bogaerts / Anefo CC0 1.0
Garry Kasparov (Rob Bogaerts / Anefo) CC0 1.0
The Polgár Sisters (Tamás Urbán)CC BY-SA 3.0
Judit Polgár at Hoogovens Chess 1990 (Roy Gabay) CC BY-SA 3.0
Judit Polgár at Hoogovens Chess 1990 (Roy Gabay) CC BY-SA 3.0
The Polgár Sisters at Hoogovens Chess 1990 (Roy Gabay) CC BY-SA 3.0
Zsuzsa Polgár at Hoogovens Chess 1990 (Roy Gabay)CC BY-SA 3.0