Sonja Graf-Stevenson

The second-strongest woman in the world during Menchik's reign. Twice challenged Menchik for the title, twice lost, but remained the only woman who could consistently trouble the champion.

The Rebel of Munich

Sonja Graf was born on December 2, 1908, in Munich, Germany. She was a rebellious, free-spirited player who chafed against the constraints placed on women in 1930s society. Her chess was creative and combative, and she was the only woman who could consistently score points against Menchik. She challenged Menchik twice, losing 11.5-4.5 in 1937 and again in 1939, but the scores did not reflect the competitive quality of their games.

She fled Nazi Germany and eventually settled in the United States, where she married and continued to play. Though she never won the Women's World Championship, she was unquestionably the second-best female player of her era, and her games against Menchik are among the most interesting women's chess of the pre-war period.