AD
WORDS BY PIERRE DE VILLIERS
but increasingly it’s being seenas
such. It’s also entering education
systems around theworld– in
schools, it's really booming.”
Polgár has played no small part
inpopularising chess in education.
Her Chess Palace program,
which uses the board game as
a cognitive learning tool for
children, is nowpart of thenational
curriculum inHungary. And through
the Judit Polgár Foundation, she
organises chess festivals where
kids are introduced to thegame
andparents can learnmoreabout
her approach to education.
“I believe chess improves the
ability of children’sminds – to
structure things, planaheadand
take responsibility when theymake
amove,” Polgár says. “When they
makeabadmove they lose, a
goodmoveand they win. It also
makes themmore creative.”
Polgár’s own children–Oliver,
10andHanna, who is eight –are
big fans of her chess festivals and
one can’t helpbut wonder how
long it will bebefore they follow
in their mother’s footsteps and
start toppling kings. But if they do
becomebrilliant players, it won’t be
because of apushymother.
“They like chess but they are
not attracted to it asmuchas
I was,” she says. “They grew up
havingamother goingaway
because of chess, so I don’t know
if they see it aspositiveor negative.
But now that I have retired, it’s just
important that I spendquality time
with them. They need theirMum.”
