Susan Polgar is a Hungarian and American chess player, and one of the strongest female chess players in history.
Born in Budapest, Polgar was homeschooled by her father, who trained her and her two sisters in chess from a young age. As a child, she had many notable achievements, including winning Budapest's under-11 boys championship at age four.
Polgar gained renown in 1981 when she became the top-ranked woman player in the world at 15 years old. In the mid-1980s to 1990s, she set multiple world records, such as being the first woman to earn the Grandmaster title through conventional tournament play. She has won the Women's World Chess Championship four times.
In addition to her competitive career, Polgar has been instrumental in promoting chess to women and girls. She has written books about chess, chaired the FIDE Women's Commission, and co-founded the Susan Polgar Foundation to promote chess for young people.
Polgar's personal life includes her marriage to computer consultant Jacob Shutzman and her later marriage to her former coach, Paul Truong , with whom she has two sons.
Since 2005, she has lived in the United States where she has continued to promote chess through various initiatives and roles. She is also active as a coach and current webster at Webster University, leading the team to national championships.
Polgar's achievements and advocacy have contributed significantly to breaking down gender barriers in chess. She retired from competitive chess in 2006 but persists in celebrating and promoting the game.