Queen of Chess Trailer: Netflix Spotlights Judit Polgár’s Historic Battle to Redefine the Game

Netflix has unveiled the official trailer for Queen of Chess, a powerful new documentary chronicling the extraordinary rise of Judit Polgár, the Hungarian prodigy who shattered chess’s male-dominated ceiling and changed the sport forever. The film premieres on February 6 on Netflix, bringing one of the most consequential stories in modern sports to a global audience.

Directed by Academy Award–nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker Rory Kennedy, Queen of Chess traces Polgár’s audacious quest to beat the men—most notably world champion Garry Kasparov—and the long fight to overturn deeply entrenched ideas about gender and genius.

A Real-Life David vs. Goliath Story

Long before The Queen’s Gambit or Searching for Bobby Fischer, a 12-year-old Judit Polgár stepped onto the world stage with a singular aim: become the best chess player of her generation. Not the best woman. The best—period.

That ambition put her on a collision course with the sport’s most powerful figures and its most stubborn prejudices. What followed was a decade-plus saga of high-stakes matches, public skepticism, headline-making upsets, and a rivalry with Kasparov that defined an era.

By 12, Polgár was the world’s No. 1 female player. By 15, she broke Bobby Fischer’s record to become the youngest grandmaster in history. By adulthood, she had done what many insisted was impossible—prove that the game’s barriers were cultural, not biological.

What Queen of Chess Explores

The documentary goes beyond tournament highlights to examine the forces that shaped Polgár’s journey:

• A family-driven experiment to nurture genius

• The psychological toll of competing in hostile environments

• The scrutiny faced by girls who dared to outperform men

• The personal reckoning that comes with redefining success

Through candid interviews with Polgár (now in her 40s), her family, fellow chess professionals, and Kasparov himself, the film charts how talent collides with tradition—and what it takes to win when the rules aren’t written for you.

From Sundance to Netflix

Queen of Chess premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it drew attention for its intimate access and clear-eyed examination of power dynamics in elite sport. Kennedy calls Polgár’s life “a case study in what’s possible when one person refuses to accept limits imposed by others.”

That perspective feels timely. The film arrives amid ongoing conversations about equity, representation, and who gets to be called “great.”

Why Judit Polgár’s Legacy Matters

Polgár didn’t just win matches—she forced chess to evolve. Her career dismantled long-held assumptions and inspired generations of players to question the game’s structures. Today, she’s widely recognized as the greatest female chess player of all time, not because of a separate category, but because of the level she reached.

Queen of Chess frames her story not as an exception, but as evidence of what happens when opportunity meets resolve.

Release Details

• Title: Queen of Chess

• Genre: Documentary / Biographical / Sports

• Director: Rory Kennedy

• Subject: Judit Polgár

• Streaming Platform: Netflix

• Release Date: February 6

• Rating: U/A 13+

Queen of Chess isn’t just a sports documentary—it’s a cultural reckoning. By centering Judit Polgár’s uncompromising pursuit of excellence, the film challenges outdated myths about talent, gender, and ambition.

For chess fans, it’s essential viewing. For everyone else, it’s a reminder that progress often begins with one person willing to take on the entire board.