Sonia Graf-Stevenson

Sonia Graf-Stevenson

American chess player, international master.
Date of Birth: 15.02.1908
Country: USA

Content:
  1. Biography of Sonia Graf-Stevenson
  2. Early Career
  3. Achievements
  4. Life During World War II
  5. Later Career

Biography of Sonia Graf-Stevenson

Sonia Graf-Stevenson was an American chess player and international master. She was considered one of the strongest female chess players in Germany during the 1930s.

Early Career

In 1934, Graf-Stevenson played a friendly match against Vera Menchik, the women's world chess champion, which she lost with a score of 1:3. Three years later, she competed in another match for the world championship against Menchik, which ended in a defeat with a score of 4½:11½.

Achievements

In 1936, Graf-Stevenson emerged as the winner of the women's international tournament in Semmering. She also had successful performances in the Women's World Chess Championships, finishing in 3rd-4th place in 1937 and 2nd place in 1939. Additionally, she won a match against Frida Kemserk with a score of 4:0 in 1939.

Life During World War II

During World War II, from 1939 to 1945, Graf-Stevenson lived in Argentina before eventually settling in the United States.

Later Career

In 1954, Graf-Stevenson secured a place in the Candidates Tournament by finishing 2nd-3rd in the US Zonal Tournament. However, in the Candidates Tournament held in 1955, she finished in 10th-13th place.

She went on to become the US Women's Chess Champion in 1957 and again in 1964.

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