Judit Polgar Retires as Professional Chess Player

Judit Polgar is retiring as a professional chess player at the end of the Olympiad.

What happened?

The surprise announcement was made in a brief interview with The Times. Polgar was unavailable for comment as she prepared for the final round with her Hungarian team. The team lies in second place and has a chance for gold in the final round.

Why it matters for Judit Polgar

Polgar's retirement ends an "educational experiment" that saw her and her three sisters become exceptional players. She reached a career high of 2735 and world number #8 in 2005. Her highly tactical style matured into a stronger all-round game.

What comes next?

Polgar's focus has switched to writing books on her career and the Judit Polgar Chess Foundation. She was non-committal about a match against Hou Yifan, but it's unlikely now. Hou defeated Polgar in their only game together in Gibraltar 2012. Polgar's concentration at the board has been in decline since her return from raising her family. She contributed a score of 4.5/6 on board 5 before her retirement announcement. The baton has passed to Hou Yifan as the women's number one. Polgar didn't see playing as women competing on an equal basis, but rather that gender shouldn't make a difference. Her legacy will be celebrated as the greatest ever women's player. The final round of the Olympiad will be her last as a professional chess player. Polgar's retirement marks the end of an era in women's chess.