Vera Menchik was 38 when she was killed by a German V1 flying bomb that landed on her home in Clapham. Born in Moscow in 1906 to a Czech father and an English mother, she was in her teens when her family settled in England. Aged 21, she won the first women’s world championship, and defended the title six times in the 1930s; she had two wins against Max Euwe a few years before he became world champion in 1935. Her sister Olga was another accomplished player; both sisters, along with their mother, were killed by the bomb.

The Menchik Memorial was held last week at the Mindsports Centre in Hammersmith, to mark the 80th anniversary of Menchik’s death in 1944. A strong female field was invited for this all-play-all event, with international master Marta Garcia Martin from Spain as the top seed. She began with four consecutive victories, including a memorable finish in round four against 21-year-old Kamila Hryshchenko, who moved from Ukraine to England after the war began in 2022.

In this position, Hryshchenko’s 34…e5-e4, was a plausible bid for counterplay, as 35 Qxe4 Be5 leaves the bishop more active than if it was on e7.

Marta Garcia Martin-Kamila Hryshchenko (left diagram)

Menchik Memorial, London, March 2024

35 gxf6!! exd3 36 Rxg7+ Kh8 37 Rg4! 37 Bxd3 looked tempting, to threaten Rg7-h7+ followed by Rb1-g1 mate. But 37…Qc6+ 38 Kh2 Qd6+ turns the tables by forking king and bishop. Leaving the bishop on b5 ensures that there is no good answer to the threat of Rg4-h4+ and Rb1-g1 mate. Qg3 38 Rxg3 Nd5 39 Rg4 Nxf6 40 Rh4+ Nh7 41 Bxc5 Rfd8 42 Bd4+ Kg8 43 Rg1+ Kf8 44 Bc5+ Black resigns

Garcia Martin was overtaken in the seventh round by England’s Harriet Hunt, who went on to secure outright first place with 7/9. Here is a critical moment, when Hunt sacrificed rook for bishop to dismantle the kingside.

Marta Garcia Martin-Harriet Hunt (right diagram)

Menchik Memorial, London, March 2024

34…Rxe3! 35 fxe3 Qxe3 36 Qc2 Be2 37 Nxc4 Bxc4! Much stronger than 37…Bxf1+ 38 Rxf1, when the attack is repelled. 38 Qxc4 Ra3 The crucial point. Once the g3 pawn falls, the king will be in permanent danger. 39 Kh1 Qxg3 40 Rb2 Rc3 41 Qa2 Qh4+ 42 Rh2 Qxe4+ 43 Qg2 Qd3 44 Rg1 Rb3 45 Rh4 White’s defensive prospects are slim, and the computer suggestion 45 Qg4 Qxd5+ 46 Rhg2 defies intuition. Who wants to lose a pawn with check? Bf6 46 Rc4 h5 47 Rc7+ Kh6 The king is safe here. 48 Rc2 Rxb4 49 Qd2+ Qxd2 50 Rxd2 e4 51 Rdg2 g5 52 Re1 Rd4 53 Rge2 Rxd5 54 Rxe4 Be5 55 R4e2 Kg6 56 Rf1 Rd4 57 Rf8 h4 58 Rg2 Bf4 The anchor bishop on f4 leaves the rooks with no targets. The pawn advance is inevitable. White resigns