Susan Polgar Sets World Simul Record

GM Susan Polgar World Record

On Monday, August 1st, at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Grandmaster Susan Polgar set a new world record for simultaneous chess.

In a marathon 16½ hour session she set not one, but four new records, and unofficially set a Guinness World Record for the most simultaneous games.

More than 500 people from around the world, ranging in ages from 4 to 95, turned out for a chance to compete. The games began at 10.30 am and finished at 3.00 am on Tuesday.

"I am very happy that I chose the Gardens Mall," she said. "The turnout was incredible, much more than I could have imagined."

Her four records are:

•   326 Simultaneous Games played: 309 wins, 14 draws, 3 losses = 96.93%
•   Most games won: 309
•   Highest percentage: 96.93%
•   1,112 Consecutive Games played against 554 opponents for 1,112 wins, 16 draws, 3 losses.

Here are some interesting statistics:

•   She faced opponents from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Hungary, Jamaica, Mexico, Sweden, Turkey and the United States.
•   She walked 14,361 steps for a total of 9.1 miles. In metrics that's 14.65 kilometres, or a little more than Sydney's annual City-to-Surf fun run.
•   She took only five five-minute breaks throughout the whole 16½ hour event.
•   The last official game ended at 3.00 am.

Previous Records:

•   Simultaneous record: 321 games (294 wins, 26 draws, 1 loss) IM Martin, England.
•   Consecutive record: 1102 games by WGM Botsari, Greece.
•   Percentage record: 95.64% IM Martin, England.

Susan Polgar has been four times Women's World Champion. She has won ten Olympiad medals and has never been defeated in Olympiad competition. At present she holds a record of 56 consecutive Olympiad games without loss.