The highest order in Hungary, the Order of St Stephen, was given to Judit Polgar, acknowledging her life-long chess career and unique educational achievements. Shortly after this prestigious medal, the JP Chess Palace Competence Developing Student Book and Exercise Book series has won the Hungarian Quality Product Award. JPCF is proud to reveal these awards and the fact that in more than 150 elementary schools, students and teachers are giving positive feedback of the practical use of the Chess Palace programme.

The Grade 2 Chess Palace books for teachers and students were completed in April. The news of the Chess Palace Programme has been spread since internationally on countless occasions, on meetings and conferences as well as the in the Hungarian pavilion at the Expo, in Milan. Judit gave a presentation on the outstanding advantages of implementing chess in public education, at the meeting of the EU Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Commission and for ECU representatives in Brussels. She gave a motivation speech at the Google Ground Training Center as a unique initiative a unique initiative, talking about her vision in education for children and grown-ups, the keys to success for women in male dominated areas and about using technology in different fields in the digital age. After presentations in NY; a successful talk at Tedx Danubia in Budapest; and promoting Chess Education in Spain; Judit presented in Italy on the topic of „Play your Way to Creative Thinking” at the international Creativity Conference organized by the Sapienza University of Roma. The message was clear: Creativity in the Chess Palace Educational Programme – chess is an exceptional learning tool. It facilitates the development of children, fostering their talent and creativity through chess.