Susan Polgar Biography: Children, Age, Net Worth, Height, Chess Titles, Career, Achievements

Susan Polgar is a renowned Hungarian-American chess grandmaster, coach, and author, celebrated as the first woman to earn the Grandmaster title through traditional requirements.

Her groundbreaking achievements, educational initiatives, and leadership in promoting women’s chess have made her a global icon in the chess community.

Profile

• Full Name: Zsuzsanna Polgár
• Stage Name: Susan Polgar
• Born: April 19, 1969
• Age: 56 years old
• Birthplace: Budapest, Hungary
• Nationality: Hungarian-American
• Occupation: Chess Grandmaster, Coach, Author, Chess Organizer
• Height: 5 feet 5 inches
• Parents: László Polgár and Klára Polgár
• Siblings: Judit Polgár, Sofia Polgár
• Spouse: Jacob Shutzman (divorced), Paul Truong (divorced)
• Children: Tom Shutzman, Leeam Shutzman
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $5 million USD

Early Life and Education

Susan Polgar was born on April 19, 1969, in Budapest, Hungary, to László Polgár, an educational psychologist, and Klára Polgár, a teacher.

The eldest of three sisters, Susan, alongside Judit and Sofia, was raised in a unique homeschooling experiment designed by their father to foster intellectual excellence through chess.

Susan attended local schools in Budapest but was primarily homeschooled, focusing on chess and languages, becoming fluent in Hungarian, English, Russian, German, Spanish, and Esperanto.

Her Jewish heritage and secular upbringing influenced her disciplined approach to learning and competition.

Career

Susan Polgar made history in 1984 by winning the Women’s World Chess Championship at age 15, though a FIDE technicality delayed her official title until 1996.

She held the title until 1999, defeating Xie Jun in 1996 with a 8½–4½ score.

Susan became the first woman to earn the Grandmaster title in 1991 through standard norms, achieved at tournaments in Vienna (1988), Bad Kissingen (1988), and Hastings (1990/91), with a peak FIDE rating of 2577 in January 2005.

She won 10 Chess Olympiad medals (five gold, four silver, one bronze) representing Hungary, including team golds in 1988 and 1990, and individual golds in 1988, 1990, and 1994.

Her victories include defeating Grandmasters like Boris Spassky and Anatoly Karpov in rapid games.

Susan retired from competitive play in 2014 but remains active as a coach, leading Texas Tech University’s chess team to five national titles (2011–2019) and Webster University’s team to five consecutive titles (2013–2017).

She founded the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE) in 2007 and organizes the Susan Polgar Foundation’s National Open for Girls and Boys.

As an author, she has written books like Chess Tactics for Champions and contributes to Chess.com as a commentator.

Her YouTube channel and blog provide instructional content, enhancing her influence in chess education.

Awards and Nominations

• 1982: First woman to qualify for the Men’s World Chess Championship cycle (Zonal Tournament, Hungary).
• 1984: Women’s World Chess Championship, Winner (title awarded in 1996).
• 1988, 1990: Chess Olympiad, Team Gold (Hungary).
• 1988, 1990, 1994: Chess Olympiad, Individual Gold.
• 1992: Women’s World Blitz and Rapid Chess Championships, Winner.
• 2003: U.S. Chess Hall of Fame, Inductee.
• 2004, 2005, 2006: U.S. Chess Federation Grandmaster of the Year.
• 2011–2019: Led Texas Tech and Webster University to multiple national collegiate chess titles.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @susanpolgarchess
• Facebook Handle: Susan Polgar
• Twitter Handle: @SusanPolgar
• YouTube Channel: Susan Polgar

Personal Life

Susan Polgar, 56, is single following two marriages.

She married Jacob Shutzman in 1994, with whom she has two sons, Tom and Leeam Shutzman, and divorced in 2006.

Her second marriage to Paul Truong in 2006 ended in divorce in 2019 after a 2008 controversy involving fraudulent online posts, leading to their removal from the U.S. Chess Federation board.

Susan resides in St. Louis, Missouri, where she continues her coaching and organizational work.

She enjoys mentoring young players, traveling, and promoting gender equality in chess through her foundation.

Her close bond with sisters Judit and Sofia, both accomplished chess players, remains a cornerstone of her life.

Net Worth

Susan Polgar has an estimated net worth of $5 million USD.

Her income stems from tournament winnings, including significant prizes from her 1996 World Championship ($40,000) and Olympiad successes, as well as coaching at Texas Tech and Webster University.

Additional revenue comes from book sales, speaking engagements, Chess.com commentary, and SPICE programs.