This is one of Sophia’s drawings
No, no, I did not move to Toronto even though I think it is a nice city. It’s actually my sister Sophia who just moved to Toronto with her husband Dr. and GM Yona Kosashvili and her 2 boys. So for now, the 3 of us do not live in 3 different continents anymore, only 2 🙂
I asked my sister to write a little bit about herself and update her fans (especially all those who remember her from the days of Kasparov Chess) about what she has been up to in the last few years. Here is what she wrote:
Dear Chess Fans!
My sister Susan asked me to write a few words about myself…I’d rather paint a self-portrait in acrylic but, here is a short biography. Some of my carrer highlights in chess: Rome 1989, where I won with 8,5 of 9 with a performance over 2900. Winning the chess olympiad Gold twice for the Hungarian team in 1988 and 1990. I also have several individual gold medals from the olympiads. In 1993 I won the silver medal in the World Junior Championship in Brazil. I’m also very proud to be the middle one of the three Polgar sisters.
In the past few years, I’ve been busy with studying arts,graphics and architecture as well as raising a family in Israel. About a month ago we moved to Toronto with my husband and two sons for about a year. I plan to do more chess again on this side of the Ocean. I’m teaching again online and give lessons for kids and adults. You can contact me here for lessons and/or simultanious exhibitions.
Keep enjoying this Blog, I do!
Sophia Polgar
Thanks to Sofia for posting to the blog! I also enjoy Sofia’s art! I had the pleasure of meeting Sofia at the San Francisco 1995 invitational tournament where she competed with Korchnoi, Nunn, Gulko, Hubner, Xie Jun, and others. I presented Sofia with chess art I had made honoring her incredible Rome 1989 performance and a piece honoring the Polgar sisters. Best wishes to Sofia and her family in Toronto!
Oops! I apologize to Sophia for typing Sofia in my previous post. I see she uses the spelling Sophia. I guess I was thinking of the Zsofia spelling. Sorry about that.
Sophia,
Thank you for simul with all three of you. It was an honor for me. Best wishes.
What type of art?
http://www.patternlanguage.com/
Nice move Sophia! Better then that only to move to portugal 🙂
Long time since informal games played at Kasparov chess site (also from great time analysing games). (I have a few games saved which i treasure the most).Indeed we all that played that site miss u! Wishing all the best to u and family and hope u can blog as much as Susan. Susan is indeed a Queen of chess. And Susan dont be afraid to express your thoughts. This a blog not a web site. Only thing i dislike in people is when they became rude to someone who has the courage to open her blog to us all. Thx Susan. Safe move Sophia, a la Kramnik *wink*
Hi Sophia,
Best of luck in your stay in Canada.
I played once with you in a simul you gave in Tel-Aviv university many years ago – I’m the same age as you and was 15 or 16 at the time – I reached a winning position, suggested a draw, you smiled and declined – and I blundered and lost few moves later :). I actually had a small 15 year old crush on you and envied Yona when you started dating him and moved to Israel & married him 🙂
I found out Susan’s blog thanks to the WCC – its great reading her calm voice and great manners. I appreciate what she’s doing for our beautiful chess a lot.
Again – best of luck in your move and it was great reading about you again.
Shahar
We all enjoy your art sophia.
Thanks.
Hi Sofi
I’m thrilled that your trip to Canada has gone as planned.
You are an excellent teacher, maybe my schedule[and my daughter’s 🙂 ] will let me go on ICC to take another lesson soon.
Looks you are becoming one of the more popular teachers there.
Best of luck
Michael
Welcome to Canada! I hope you really enjoy your stay enough to remain here!
Hi Sophia,
I was leonid0 on KasparovChess….its good to know that you are ok and away from the crazy turmoil that goes on in the middle east. Your sister Susan recently came to my hometown in Cumberland Maryland to help promote chess, and I was able to meet her as well. I am glad you are well and that chess is once again in your interest. I dont know much about art but I’d love to see some of your work sometime. We had some interesting blitz games, and listening to your lectures and your work with the newsletter along with all the audio lessons by Alon Greenfeld, Shipov, Alterman, Kramnik, etc (too many names to mention) laid me a nice foundation of chess to learn from and my love for chess and thirst for knowledge took off from there. I dont get to play in tournaments very often but i recently placed 2nd and won $4000 at the world open in my section. I hope I can be honest and credit you with some of my success, (as I told Susan) I have never really had a chess coach (apart from playing some training games with GM’s Rustemov and Kiriakov on ICC) if I had to say any player had influence on my play it would have been you. I have a very good memory (am thankful for that) and I can still remember your lectures on Fischer’s games for example amongst other’s. Maybe someday if you visit the US i will get the pleasure of meeting you and your family as well. Tell Yona I said hello and wish you guys the very best in your new life and endeavours in North America!! Please send me an email to jbeatty79@yahoo.com I would be interested in playing some training games with you if it is possible via ICC, or Playchess or something. Hope to hear from you soon.
All my Best,
Jimmie Beatty
jbeatty79@yahoo.com
Welcome to North America! You and Susan should come to Los Angeles for a double simul — that would be an event to remember! 🙂
Sofia, welcome to TO! Huge respect to Rome 1989, an unreal performance!