Born: 23 July 1976, Hungary
Died: NA
Country most active: International
Also known as: NA
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
In 2001, Judit Polgár, a renowned chess player, defeated Garry Kasparov during the Russia versus the Rest of the World Match. This victory marked the first time in chess history that a female player had beaten the world’s number one player in competitive play.
In 1991, Polgár became a Grandmaster at 15 years and 4 months, making her the youngest ever, breaking Bobby Fischer’s record. She also ranked No. 55 in the January 1989 FIDE top 100 players rating list at the age of 12.
In September 2002, during the Russia vs. Rest of the World Match, Polgár scored a significant win against Garry Kasparov in a rapid chess game. Her smart moves and tactics led to Kasparov’s resignation, securing a victory for the World team with a score of 52-48. This moment was historic, marking the first time a female player defeated the world’s No. 1 player in competitive play. Kasparov, who had made sexist comments about female chess players, left the scene quickly after resigning.