Olga Rubtsova

Biography (1909–1994)

Born in Moscow in 1909, Olga picked up the game from her father, a professor of welding metallurgy and a strong player who had faced future fourth World Champion Alexander Alekhine several times. In 1926 she won her first tournament and just a year later came out on top in the first USSR Women's Chess Championship.Rubtsova entered the first after-war Women's World Chess Championship as a four-time USSR champion and one of the main favourites but finished only second after Bykova. Her second attempt was even worse, as she ended up in the middle of the standings.Olga's heyday came in 1955 when she first won the Candidates and then the 1956 World Championship in which the top three female players participated. Two years later, she conceded her crown to Bykova in the title match (+4 -7 =3).Rubtsova also played correspondence chess and became the first Women's World Correspondence Champion in 1972. She remains the only player to become a world champion in both over-the-board and correspondence chess.

Notable game

This game was played in the 1956 Women's World Championship which Rubtsova won and became the fourth Women's World Champion

Play like a champion!

Black to move.

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On Rubtsova

Rubtsova adheres to a dynamic, combinational style of play.

Olga Nikolaevna is a charming person, and it is a pleasure to play with her—even to lose to her. In the 1964 national championship held in Tbilisi, I lost a game to her but felt no bitterness because she was so gracious and sweet.

The longevity of Rubtsova’s career led to the formation of the ‘Rubtsova Club’. Unlike the Vera Menchik Club, this was definitely one you wanted to be a member of. It was for anyone who earned 100 victories in the Soviet Women’s Championship, named after Olga,because she was the first to do it.