4 reasons why Judit Polgars Chess Festival is so important

This weekend a part of the Chessity team enjoyed the 7th Chess festival of Judit, Susan and Sofia Polgar. What makes this event so special?

Chess has such a big history and Judit and her team showed all the aspects Chess has to offer.

The educational value, simultaneous exhibition, a game presentation from Garry Kasparov, Hongary vs USA rapid match, interviews, meet-and-greet with Garry Kasparov and Judit Polgar.

And most important of all: a lot of kids enjoying there the game of Chess. It was such a creative and historical aware event, that you will never forget it, if you was there!

Chess fans who were not able to attend the festival personally, could follow the event through the livestream coverage.

We like to share 4 reasons why this event needs to be followed up:

1. Every sport needs role models

The 7 Years old is playing in a simultant. How inspiring could your spectators be?

Indeed Garry Kasparov was the guest of honor on the Polgar Chess Festival! The Russian world champion visited many programs at the event and held a presentation on one of his most memorable games, which he played against Anatoly Karpov at the World Chess Championship in Lyon, in 1990. 

At the press conference of the event, Kasparov recalled his first memories of the Polgar sisters from 1988, when he was playing for the Soviet Union at the Chess Olympiad in Thessaloniki, and yet he gave his support to the very young and talented Hungarian women team that included Susan, Sofia and Judit Polgar.

I will never forget my own experience with Garry Kasparov in 1985, when he played a match in Holland against Jan Timman. He won with 4-2. I was so inspired by his presence and play, after that match my Chess passion was bigger than ever.

2. The festival as an important platform for the chess foundation

Judit Polgar has done a lot for the foundation for the development of children in Hungary. The Foundation promotes the study of chess as a cognitive learning tool in curricular classes and after-school programs for kindergardens, elementary, middle and high schools, both in the public and private school sectors.
The festival included an international educational conference focusing on the Chess in School program that was integrated into the National Curriculum in Hungary this autumn.

3. To learn the public that creativity and art also belongs to Chess

4. Chess connects

Chess has the power to connect generations, countries and as the Polgars proofs even genders.
The festival created a very inspiring theme about this idea.

They held the Generations Chess Clash families. Which took on families in a multi-generational chess competition, sponsored by the European Commission. Each team was composed of a child, a parent and a grandparent.

Don't be afraid, a few minutes later Judit Polgar arrived! 

The closing program and the highlight of the festival was again the Great Simultaneous Exhibition match in which Judit Polgar played simultaneous chess matches on 30 boards against public figures, famous sports stars and artists from Hungary.

Will there be an 8th event?

So, how should the 8th event look like? Bigger than this one? Maybe more capitals involved at the same time? Or just smaller, with focus at the kids?

I hope the Chessity community likes to help with answering this question.