Netflix has unveiled "Queen of Chess," a powerful 94-minute documentary chronicling the extraordinary career of Hungarian chess legend Judit Polgár, widely regarded as the greatest female chess player in history.
The film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2026, became available to the streaming platform's 300 million subscribers worldwide on February 6.
Directed by Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy the documentary presents a compelling portrait of a woman who shattered gender barriers in one of the world's most intellectually demanding sports.
A Record-Breaking Prodigy
Polgár's achievements speak for themselves. At just 15 years and 4 months old in 1991, she became the youngest grandmaster in chess history, breaking Bobby Fischer's 33-year-old record. But her accomplishments extend far beyond that single milestone.
Judit remains the only woman ever to surpass the 2700 ELO rating in classical chess, reaching a peak of 2735 in 2005. For context, only six women have ever passed 2600 ELO. She became the first-and still only-woman to break into the world's top 10 overall chess rankings, competing not in women's tournaments but against the world's best players regardless of gender.
By age 12 in 1989, she was already the world's top-rated female player. Throughout her career, she defeated 11 current or former world champions in rapid or classical chess, cementing her status as a formidable force at the highest levels of the game.
The Kasparov Rivalry: A 13-Year Saga
The documentary's central narrative thread focuses on Polgár's dramatic rivalry with Garry Kasparov, considered by many to be the greatest chess player of all time. Their first encounter came in 1994 at the Linares supertournament in Spain, when Polgár was 17 and Kasparov was 30.
The film revisits the infamous touch-move controversy from that tournament's fourth round, where Kasparov was caught on camera retracting a move-a violation of chess rules that sparked heated debate in the chess community. The documentary traces their competitive relationship over 13 years, culminating in Polgár's ultimate victory over Kasparov in 2001.
In contemporary interviews featured in the film, Kasparov still displays traces of the sexism that characterized the era, remarking that "one of the typical weaknesses of many female players is that they are panicking if there's a threat"-a comment that underscores the attitudes Polgár fought against throughout her career.
An Unconventional Education
"Queen of Chess" delves into the unique family background that shaped Polgár's success. Her father, László Polgár, was a Hungarian educational psychologist who firmly believed that "geniuses are made, not born." To prove this theory, he homeschooled his three daughters-Susan, Sofia, and Judit-with chess as their primary academic focus from early childhood.
The experiment succeeded beyond expectations. All three sisters reached the top echelon of women's chess, with Judit emerging as the most accomplished. The documentary features intimate interviews with Judit's parents László and Klara, her sisters Susan and Sofia, and her husband Gusztav Font, providing a comprehensive family perspective on this remarkable story.
A Timely Message
Director Rory Kennedy emphasized the documentary's broader significance beyond chess. "We are living in a moment when so many people are still fighting for equal footing-Judit's life shows what can happen when one person has the resolve to break through barriers," Kennedy stated. "The world feels pretty dark right now. I think there's something important about telling a true story that's hopeful, inspiring, and ultimately uplifting."
For Kennedy, discovering Polgár's story was itself a revelation. "I was stunned to find out that Judit Polgár was the greatest female chess player of all time, hands down," she recalled. "I was kind of just amazed that I didn't know her name."
Since retiring from competitive play in 2014, Polgár has dedicated herself to chess education through the Judit Polgár Method, an educational program designed for children from preschool through elementary school that promotes skill-building and cognitive development. She also works as a public speaker, addressing topics including strategic decision-making and improving women's opportunities in the workplace.
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