Three years later, ironically the year in which the last of the Soviet troops left Budapest, Susan Polgar rewrote history as she broke down the gender barrier to annex the men’s Grandmaster title.

In her illustrious career, spanning over 34 years, Susan, who is an American citizen now, won five gold medals at the chess Olympiad with an undefeated record of 56 matches apart from four World Championship titles. Her triumph at the 1996 world championship gave her a unique triple crown — Rapid, Blitz and Classical World Championships — making her the only world champion in history (male or female) to attain such a feat.
Ranked number one in the world at the tender age of 15 and remaining in the top three for more than 20 years, Zsuzsanna Polgar — as she is known in Hungary — spoke to Deccan Herald mainly about her chess career, memorable moments and the Polgar Chess Centre on the sidelines of the National Geographic ‘My Brilliant Brain’ showcase in Bangalore recently.

What motivated you to take up chess?
Actually it was by accident I became a chess player. I was about three-and-a-half years old when I started liking the chess board as a toy. Just like a magnet attracts iron, the chess board and pieces attracted me. My father saw my interest and taught the game with the help of a book. Step by step the progress came.

Could you tell us about your rise to the world’s top player at the age of 15?
My life changed forever when I won the Budapest Championship for girls under-11 with a perfect 10-0 score. To do this at the tender age of four against other girls who were almost three times my age was something special for me. My talent got recognised by the chess players in Hungary. But my breakthrough on the world stage came when I became the youngest woman Grandmaster in the history of the game at the age of 12. Three years later, I became the women’s World No 1.

How much influence did your father have in building your career?
My father Laszlo Polgar, who is a psychologist, had a huge influence on me. Without him I wouldn’t be known to the chess world.  His studies on childhood origins of genius helped him to know about the talent in me. He worked out a training programme to exploit my strengths and developed a strategy to overcome my weakness. He was simply superb.

Your most memorable moment?
No doubt becoming the first woman to claim the men’s Grandmaster title. Winning against Soviet Union in the chess Olympiad in 1988 is also special, but in a different way.

You quit active chess in 1996 but came back after eight years in 2004 to win the first Olympiad gold for the USA. How difficult was the comeback?
Yes, I was in exile for eight years. But that was because I wanted a family life like others. It took too long because I wanted to be with my children for some time. Being out for such a long time and coming back was a lot difficult. Many thought that was the end. But I made my presence felt with the first gold medal in chess Olympiad for the US.

On your children?
Tommy, is the champion in the United States’ U-10 meet. He is slowly coming up as a player. Let’s see if he can make his champion mum proud. While Leeya has started playing only now.

In your view, who is the better player, Bobby Fischer or Anatoly Karpov?
I think both have their own qualities. They were from different eras. So it’s difficult to choose between them. Bobby was the best in his time and likewise Karpov.

What was the idea behind the Polgar Chess Center in New York?
Owning a chess center was a childhood dream of mine. I love chess and from my 30-plus years of experience, I discovered that chess can help children of all ages do better in school as well as develop many important life skills. Research around the world has supported my belief.

That is why my chess center serves as a training ground for countless children since 1997. It is like a community service. Other one is Spice, a school for chess excellence where research and chess education is going on.

Any plans to retire?
I will play for few more years for sure. Over the last couple of years, because of other commitments especially with my chess centre, I missed a lot of tournaments. The 2006 World Cup triumph was my last match. This year I am yet to play a match. Next year I think I can play and desperately too.

Your take on Viswanathan Anand and Koneru Humpy?
Anand is a brilliant player, really good. I loved his game. He is a good friend of mine. We talk a lot about chess when we are together. Humpy is one of the best in women’s chess. These are good signs for chess in India.