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Home›Chess legends›Vera Menchik
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VM♛
Queens of chess · 1906 – 1944

Vera Menchik

The first women’s world champion

Menchik won the first Women’s World Championship in 1927 and held it until her death in 1944. She also competed in men’s tournaments and beat several famous grandmasters, including Max Euwe.

  • First women’s world champion (1927–1944)
  • Competed against the world’s elite
  • The Women’s Olympiad trophy is named after her
▶ Watch Menchik playRead the story ↓
Lived1906 – 1944
CountryRussia / Czechoslovakia / England

The story of Vera Menchik

  1. 01

    A pioneer

    Born in Moscow, Menchik moved to England as a teenager and studied with the Hungarian master Géza Maróczy. In 1927 she won the first Women’s World Championship in London and defended it again and again, often winning almost every game.

  2. 02

    Playing the men

    Menchik regularly played in strong open and invitational tournaments. She defeated several leading masters, including future world champion Max Euwe. The trophy for the women’s Chess Olympiad, the Vera Menchik Cup, honours her.

Did you know?

♞Fact #1Tap to revealMenchik was women’s world champion for 17 years.
♝Fact #2Tap to revealShe beat future world champion Max Euwe.

Three lessons from Menchik for your own games

  1. 1Play strong opponents to grow
  2. 2Solid technique wins tournaments
  3. 3Pioneers make the path easier for others

Vera Menchik’s games

Watch the featured game replay itself, or pick any game below. Every game opens move by move with engine analysis.

Euwe, Max
Menchik, Vera
Featured game · clash of legends

Menchik, Vera – Euwe, Max

Hastings 3132, 1931 · 56 moves

Starting position0/111
Open full replay & analysis →
Win
♚ Clash of legendsvs Euwe, Max1931 · Hastings 313256 moves
1–0
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Capablanca, Jose Raul1929 · Barcelona36 moves
1–0
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Capablanca, Jose Raul1929 · Karlsbad29 moves
0–1
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Euwe, Max1929 · Karlsbad47 moves
1–0
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Rubinstein, Akiba1929 · Karlsbadcheckmate in 30 moves
0–1
Win
♚ Clash of legendsvs Euwe, Max1930 · Hastings 303161 moves
0–1
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Capablanca, Jose Raul1930 · Hastings 303142 moves
0–1
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Alekhine, Alexander1932 · London40 moves
0–1
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Alekhine, Alexander1933 · Hastings333427 moves
0–1
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Botvinnik, Mikhail1934 · Hastings343525 moves
1–0
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Capablanca, Jose Raul1934 · Hastings343555 moves
0–1
Draw
♚ Clash of legendsvs Euwe, Max1934 · Hastings343555 moves
½–½
Draw
vs Spielmann, Rudolf1934 · Maribor34 moves
½–½
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Capablanca, Jose Raul1935 · Margate35 moves
0–1
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Botvinnik, Mikhail1935 · Moscow38 moves
1–0
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Capablanca, Jose Raul1935 · Moscow32 moves
1–0
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Alekhine, Alexander1936 · Hastings363735 moves
0–1
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Alekhine, Alexander1936 · Podebrady31 moves
0–1
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Capablanca, Jose Raul1936 · Margate48 moves
1–0
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Alekhine, Alexander1937 · Margate35 moves
1–0
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Alekhine, Alexander1938 · Margate48 moves
1–0
Loss
vs Spielmann, Rudolf1938 · Margate20 moves
1–0
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Capablanca, Jose Raul1939 · Margate47 moves
1–0
Loss
♚ Clash of legendsvs Keres, Paul1939 · Margate26 moves
1–0

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VT♛← PreviousVeselin TopalovNext →Nona GaprindashviliNG♛
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