#35. Judit Polgar Previews The 2024 Chess Olympiad, Gives Her Views On Women's Titles, And More!

This week’s episode of the New In Chess Podcast features a riveting interview with the First Lady of Chess, Judit Polgar. With the Olympiad in Judit’s home city Budapest around the corner, it’s hard to think of a better guest!

Judit Polgar is the strongest female chess player of all time. At the age of 15 years and four months she broke Bobby Fischer’s record to become the youngest grandmaster in history. For more than two decades she competed successfully with the very best and became the first and only woman ever to enter the world top-10. In her career she defeated eleven(!) current or former World Champions in classical or rapid chess.

Judit retired from professional chess in 2014 but continues to be one of the most beloved ambassadors of the game. Judit also organises the Global Chess Festival, which will be held for the tenth time during this year’s Budapest Olympiad.

Interviewed by Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam, Judit shares Olympiad memories, speaks about the philosophy of her festival and sketches the outlines of a new title system to erase the difference between Open and Women’s competitions.

0:00 – Intro

2:10 - How are Judits days filled in Budapest with the Olympiad coming up?

5:18 - What makes the Global Chess Festival in Budapest so special?

9:20 - What is Judits motivation for organising the festival?

13:25 - How did Judit react to the news of the Olympiad being held in Budapest?

15:15 - Why the Olympiad is a great place to meet old friends

17:04 - The Olympiad's unique atmosphere and the Bermuda party

19:06 - How does Judit remember her first Olympiad as a young girl?

22:02 - Did Judits success improve the family's relationship with Hungarian authorities?

23:47 - AD BREAK

24:20 - Judits as a pioneer for women players

26:18 - "Polgaria"

30:46 - The adjustment of playing the Olympiad with men

33:27 - What does Judit think of women's events?

37:45 - Judit suggests abolishing women's titles

41:41 - How does Judit reflect on her Olympiad achievements?

45:30 - Bled

46:36 - AD BREAK

47:35 - Judits experiences as Hungarian team captain

55:12 - Who are Judits favorites and dark horses?

1:00:20 - Magnus's participation

1:03:32 - The Chinese team

1:05:38 - Do Judits female mentees have the same passion and discipline for the game as the young men?

1:07:30 - Outro