Judit Polgar first recipient of new European chess award

Hungary's Judit Polgar has been selected as the first recipient of the European Golden Paw, a new award set up by the European Chess Union, in the women's category. The award is being granted annually to recognise chess performance and outstanding achievements related to chess, the Hungarian association said on Friday. This year it will be granted in 12 categories, the statement added. "Judit's award is a source of great pride for Hungarian chess and for Hungary as a whole; it's been common knowledge that she is the best female chess player that ever has lived and this is now again being recognised," the head of the Hungarian association Laszlo Szabo said.