Vera Menchik ( Moscow , 16 February 1906 -- London , 27 June 1944 ) was a British-Czech chess player . Menchik was the first women 's world chess champion . Vera Menchik ( 16 February 1906 -- 27 June 1944 ) was a British-Czech chess player who gained renown as the world 's first women 's chess champion .