Vera Francevna Mencikova, was a Russian-born Czechoslovak chess player who primarily resided in England. She was the first and longest-reigning Women's World Chess Champion from 1927 to 1944, winning the championship eight times primarily in round-robin tournaments. In an era when women primarily competed against other women, Menchik was the first and only woman competing in master-level tournaments with the world's best players.
The Women's World Chess Championship is a chess match played to determine the Women's World Chess Champion. It has been administered by FIDE since its inception in 1927, unlike the absolute World Chess Championship, which only came under FIDE's control in 1948.
Paulino (Paulin) Frydman was a Polish chess master.
Teodor (Theodor, Theodore) Regedziński (Regedzinski, Reger) was a Polish chess master of German origin.
Izaak (Isaak) Appel (1905–1941) was a Jewish-Polish chess master.
Albert Becker, also known as Alberto Becker, was an Austrian–Argentine chess master.
Edith Martha Holloway was a volunteer nurse in Serbia during World War I and a British chess player. She was the daughter of sculptor John Denton Crittenden (1834–1877), who exhibited at the Royal Academy.
Róża Maria Herman was a Polish chess player. She was awarded the title International Woman Master by FIDE in 1950.
Clarice Benini was an Italian chess player. She was awarded the title International Woman Master by FIDE in 1950.
Agnes Lawson-Stevenson was a British chess player. She was four-time British Ladies' Champion, and married to Rufus Henry Streatfeild Stevenson, home news editor of the British Chess Magazine, secretary of the Southern Counties Chess Union and match captain of the Kent County Chess Association.
Gisela Harum was an Austrian chess player.
Friedl Rinder was a German woman chess master.
Olga Menchik Rubery was a Czech-British female chess master.
Chantal Chaudé de Silans was a French chess player and Woman International Master. She also participated in the Men's/Open competitions.
The first Women's World Chess Championship took place during the 1st Chess Olympiad, held from 18 to 30 July 1927 in London. It was organized by FIDE and was played as a full round-robin tournament. Vera Menchik won the championship, conceding only half a point in her 11 games. The final results were as follows:
After their 1934 match, reigning Women's World Chess Champion Vera Menchik and Sonja Graf played a second championship match in Semmering from June 26 to July 17, 1937.
The Women's World Chess Championship was established by FIDE in 1927. The format and regularity of the event has changed many times.
Barbara Flerow-Bułhak was a Polish chess master. She was a Women's World Chess Championship participant (1937). She was killed in the Warsaw Uprising.
Natalia Kowalska was a Polish chess master. She was a Women's World Chess Championship participant (1935).
Women represent a small minority of chess players at all ages and levels. Female chess players today generally compete in a mix of open tournaments and women's tournaments, the latter of which are most prominent at or near the top level of women's chess and at youth levels. Modern top-level women's tournaments help provide a means for some participants to be full-time professional chess players. The majority of these tournaments are organized by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and revolve around the World Championship cycle, which culminates in a match to decide the Women's World Chess Champion. Beyond those events, among the most prominent women's tournaments are women's and girls' national and continental championships.
