Rebel Queen: The Cold War, Misogyny, and the Making of a Grandmaster

(Hardback)

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Born to a poor Jewish family in Cold War Budapest, Susan Polgar had the odds stacked against her-from having few resources, to growing up in a sexist culture rife with vicious anti-Semitism. Yet her father subscribed to the belief that geniuses are not born, but created, so he set out to ensure her success in an unlikely field: chess.

At age 4, she won her first tournament. By 15, she was the top-rated female player in the world. She was the first woman ever to hold the men's Grandmaster title-chess' highest designation. The ensuing wins and accolades provided incredible highs to coincide with extreme lows as Polgar's celebrity brought backlash, including sabotage and state-sponsored intimidation.

REBEL QUEEN is the memoir of her improbable rise, offering a rare behind-the-scenes chess story and featuring some of the game's most legendary characters. Yet it is a narrative that transcends chess, the story of a genius, treated from birth as a second-class citizen, who thrilled against all odds. It is an incredible underdog story told by the woman who actually lived it.

Reviews

"Chess history has its share of great books, but none quite like this--written by a women's world champion about her own journey. Rebel Queen is an inspiring story of perseverance, where the reader walks alongside the protagonist as she overcomes immense challenges. Susan Polgar's victories aren't just her own--they feel like victories for the reader too. But the most remarkable part Every triumph in this book actually happened. Her battles for equality in a male-dominated chess world reshaped the game forever."--Alexandra Botez, chess YouTuber and influencer
"As the first autobiography by a top female chess champion in history, Rebel Queen is the fascinating and magical story of a tiny Hungarian girl, growing up in the repressive Soviet era, who sets out from the age of three to become the greatest chess master in the world--and she succeeds! Susan Polgar's fascinating and colorful insider view of her interactions and private friendships with some of the chess greats of the century--(from Boris Spassky to Bobby Fischer) is invaluable. This wonderfully recounted memoir will inspire readers to feel empowered to seek their own path to their vision and their dream."--Katherine Neville, NY Times, USA Today, and #1 internationally bestselling author of The Eight and The Fire
"This is a brilliant self-portrait of a young woman of enormous talent and exacting intelligence figuring out her place in the world. Hungary has a rich intellectual tradition, producing many influential thinkers, scientists, and artists. Grandmaster Susan Polgar is an important part of that tradition. In Rebel Queen, she provides a fascinating look into the experimental educational techniques that made her a champion. Her life should serve as inspiration for many generations to come."--Diana Picasso, art historian and co-founder of Mene 24K Gold Jewelry
"Throughout her career, Polgar rose above considerable challenges: from those who believed that women shouldn't compete against men; from political threats to her and her family; from bitter animosity from a woman champion; and from virulent antisemitism at home and abroad. The game sustained her. A champion's engaging memoir."--Kirkus
"An eloquently written and heart-felt memoir from a remarkable woman who as young teenager stared down the Hungarian communist party and the male-dominated world chess establishment to become a world champion. Fans of The Queens Gambit will learn what it was like to be a real-life Beth Harmon."--Ken Rogoff, Grandmaster
"Rebel Queen reveals the inner workings of an exceptional mind with honesty and sensitivity. I've known Susan Polgar for over 40 years. She is one of the greatest and most impactful figures -- champion, mentor, writer, doer -- in the entire history of chess. And, as this fantastic memoir makes clear, she's also a masterful storyteller. Hers is quite literally a game-changing life."--Lev Alburt, Grandmaster and three-time US Chess Champion
"Rebel Queen reveals the making of a chess champion, Susan Polgar, from her early childhood to her outstanding adulthood. It tells the story of her resolute personality, fighting for the right for herself and other women to play in tournaments in which women were denied entry for years, and later training talented young men and women to become excellent chess players. A brilliant life. A brilliant book."--Dr. Frank Brady, Member, U.S. Chess Hall of Fame and New York Times bestselling author of Endgame: Bobby Fischer's Remarkable Rise and Fall - from America's Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness
"Comparisons to The Queen's Gambit and The Rebel Queen are inevitable. But while Beth Harmon is fiction, Grandmaster Susan Polgar is very real, indeed. Polgar's story about perseverance, competing on a world class stage, and shattering the ceiling for women will be inspiring for many generations to come. Thanks to Susan Polgar, the future of chess seems brighter than ever."--Ken Lee, top blogger for chess.com
"In Rebel Queen, Susan Polgar has managed to write more than just a chess story. This is a beautiful and, at times, heroic narrative about perseverance against all odds, feminism in the face of adversity, and the power of making the right moves on the board of life."--Keith O'Brien, New York Times bestselling author of Fly Girls and Charlie Hustle
"Susan Polgar's journey from the depths of Cold War Hungary to the highest reaches of professional chess is as riveting as it is inspiring. Before her improbable rise, it was taken as scientific fact that women were incapable of excellence in the game of chess. Time and again, Susan proved them wrong. This is no mere memoir. Rebel Queen is the origin story of a real-life superhero."--Gal Gadot

Author Bio

Hungarian-born Susan Polgar is one of the most decorated female chess players ever. In 1984, at age 15, she became the youngest ever to earn the world #1 ranking. In 1986, she made history by qualifying for the Men's World Championship but was not allowed to play due to her gender.

In 1991, she broke the gender barrier again by being the first female in history to earn the Men's Grandmaster title by norms and rating. She is the only player in history to earn all 6 of the world's most prestigious chess crowns (world chess triple-crown, individual and team Olympiad gold, and world #1 ranking).

In addition to her storied career, Polgar founded the Susan Polgar Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization to promote chess, with all its educational, social and competitive benefits throughout the U.S., for young people of all ages, especially girls. After her professional playing career, she became the only woman to coach a men's division I collegiate team (Texas Tech 2007-2012 and Webster University 2012-2021). Her teams in the past 10 years have won more world championships, national titles, and Olympiad medals than all other collegiate chess programs in the United States combined, including a record 7 consecutive final four championships, and 9 consecutive years as the #1 ranked team in the nation. She became the first player to ever play 1,131 consecutive games, winning 1,112 wins! She also broke the record for 326 simultaneous games played with 309 wins, and the highest winning percentage (96.93%). In 2019 she was inducted to the Chess Hall of Fame. Susan was the subject of a National Geographic documentary, entitled "My Brilliant Brain."