Laszlo Polgar, a Hungarian educational psychologist, believed that anyone could become a genius with enough practice. He thought that society should help children reach their full potential. Even though many people doubted him in the 1960s, Polgar was determined to prove his theory by using his own children in an experiment.
Polgar wanted a partner who shared his vision, and he found Klara, a young woman from Ukraine. At first, she thought his ideas were strange, but she eventually agreed to join him. In 1969, they had their first daughter, Susan, and Polgar started planning her training carefully.
Polgar chose chess because it has clear rules and an objective way to measure success. Even though he was not a professional player, he learned how to teach chess effectively. He started training Susan at home, making the lessons fun to keep her interested.
By the time Susan was five, she had practiced chess for hundreds of hours. She entered her first tournament and amazed everyone by winning all her games. People thought she was naturally talented, but it was really her hard work that led to her success.
In 1974 and 1976, Klara had two more daughters, Sofia and Judit. They were inspired by Susan and started learning chess at five years old. The girls loved chess, so their training was enjoyable rather than forced.
As they grew up, the sisters spent thousands of hours practicing chess. Their achievements were incredible:
– Susan became the world champion for girls under sixteen at twelve and was the first woman to become a grandmaster. She won many world championships and Olympiads.
– Sofia won the girls under fourteen championship and gained fame at the “Sack of Rome” by winning eight games against top players at just fourteen.
– Judit became the youngest grandmaster ever at fifteen and was the top female player in the world for over ten years, defeating many top players.
Many people thought the sisters were naturally talented, but Laszlo Polgar explained that their success was due to hard work. He called this the “iceberg illusion,” where people only see the success and not the effort behind it. Neither Laszlo nor Klara were great at chess, proving that the sisters’ achievements came from practice, not inherited talent.
All three sisters were successful, but their dedication levels varied. Sofia didn’t reach the same heights as Susan and Judit, partly because she practiced less intensely. Judit was known for her strong work ethic, which helped her achieve remarkable success.
The story of the Polgar sisters shows that hard work and dedication can lead to extraordinary success. They believe anyone can become an expert in their field through perseverance. As Susan Polgar said, “My father believes that innate talent is nothing, that success is 99 percent hard work.” This story inspires not only chess players but anyone who wants to unlock their potential through dedication and effort.
Join a chess strategy workshop where you’ll learn the basics of chess and some advanced strategies. You’ll get to practice these strategies in small groups, just like the Polgar sisters did. This will help you understand how dedicated practice can improve your skills.
Watch a documentary about the Polgar sisters and their journey to becoming chess champions. After the viewing, participate in a discussion about the role of practice and dedication in achieving success. Reflect on how this can apply to your own interests and goals.
Create a personal practice plan for a skill you want to improve. Outline specific goals and the steps you’ll take to achieve them, inspired by Laszlo Polgar’s approach to training his daughters. Share your plan with the class and get feedback on how to make it more effective.
Engage in a role-playing debate where you take on the roles of Laszlo Polgar, his critics, and the Polgar sisters. Discuss the importance of innate talent versus hard work. This will help you explore different perspectives on the topic and develop your critical thinking skills.
Research another individual or group who achieved success through dedicated practice. Prepare a presentation to share their story with the class, highlighting the similarities and differences with the Polgar sisters’ journey. This will broaden your understanding of the power of perseverance.
Practice – Repeated exercise or performance of an activity to improve a skill. – To become better at playing the piano, Sarah made sure to practice for an hour every day.
Talent – A natural ability to do something well. – Even at a young age, Michael showed a remarkable talent for solving complex math problems.
Success – The achievement of a goal or purpose. – After months of hard work, Emily finally achieved success by winning the science fair competition.
Dedication – The quality of being committed to a task or purpose. – His dedication to studying every night helped him improve his grades significantly.
Psychology – The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behavior. – In her psychology class, Maria learned about how emotions can influence decision-making.
Education – The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university. – Education is important because it provides the knowledge and skills needed for future careers.
Training – The action of teaching a person a particular skill or type of behavior. – The athletes underwent rigorous training to prepare for the upcoming competition.
Commitment – The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause or activity. – Her commitment to volunteering every weekend showed her passion for helping others.
Chess – A board game of strategic skill for two players, each controlling an army of 16 pieces. – Playing chess regularly helped improve his problem-solving skills and strategic thinking.
Potential – Having or showing the capacity to develop into something in the future. – The teacher saw great potential in her student and encouraged him to pursue his interests in science.
