Vera Francevna Menchik (1906-1944) was born in Moscow to a Czech father and English mother. She began playing chess competitively in school at age 14. A year later the Russian Revolution led her family to move to England, where she joined the Hastings Chess Club, where she began training with James Drewitt and Géza Maróczy. At nineteen she had established herself as the best female player in the country, defeating the British women's champion, and then two years later the best female player in the world by winning the inaugural Women's World Chess Championship.

She won the championship a record eight times, at one stage winning 59 consecutive games. She held the title for close to two decades, which makes her the longest-reigning women’s world chess champion in history.

Vera Menchik was the the only female able to compete at the highest level against male players. She recorded two wins against Max Euwe, the World Champion from 1935 to 1937, in four tournament games. Euwe became the most prominent member of the the "Vera Menchik Club" – master-level player who had lost to her.

Menchik was killed on 26 June 1944 when her house in south London was destroyed in a direct hit by one of the earliest V-1 flying bomb attacks during the Second World War. Together with her mother and sister she had sought shelter in the basement of their home, which had not given them enough shelter to survive. Apart from destruction of the Menchik family's home, most of the records of Vera's life were also lost in the attack.

Moscow 1935: you see Vera Menchik in the front row, seated beween Capablanca and Lasker. This picture was provided by Edward Winter, who posted it on his Chess History site. His article on Vera Menchik also includes many pictures and contemporary statements.

The Menchik Memorial

This tournament, now in its tenth year, is a women-only international norm event to mark Vera Menchik's extraordinary life. This year, England’s top female chess players are turning out among a strong field to compete for the Menchik Memorial title. The 2025 tournament will take place at the London Mindsports Centre in Hammersmith from March 20 to 24.

Venue

21 Dalling Road, London W6 0JD

Schedule

Thursday 20th - 2 rounds 10:00AM and 4:00PM
Friday 21st - 2 rounds 10:00AM and 4:00PM
Saturday 22nd - 2 rounds 10:00AM and 4:00PM
Sunday 23th - 2 rounds 10:00AM and 4:00PM
Monday 24th - 1 round 10:00AM
Finish around 3pm, prize giving

Time Control:

90 minutes + 30 seconds per move (from move 1)

Arbiters:

IA Shohreh Bayat
IA Paul McKeown

Organiser:

IA Agnieszka Milewska

Players:

For more information contact:

International Arbiter Agnieszka Milewska
Director of Women’s Chess
English Chess Federation
director.womenschess@englishchess.org.uk

Leon Watson, English Chess Federation
leon.watson@englishchess.org.uk
07786078770

About the English Chess Federation:

The English Chess Federation (ECF) is the governing chess organisation in England and is affiliated to FIDE. Its mission is to promote the game of chess, in all its forms, as an attractive means of cultural and personal advancement to the widest possible public. In addition, the ECF exists to develop chess by creating the means to enable the highest forms of chess excellence to be achieved, and to expand the game as a social and sporting activity.