Chess Review, Vol. 10, No. 6

In 1942, U.S. Women’s Chess Championship, Mona May Karff was unbeatable. The championship returned to a tournament format that year, featuring nine competitors, including rival Adele Rivero, Gisela Gresser, Nancy Roos, and Mary Bain. Karff finished the tournament, which was held concurrently with the “men’s” championship, undefeated with a score of 8-0. Karff ultimately won the U.S. Women’s Chess Championship seven times (1938, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1948, 1953, 1974), just behind Gisela Gresser’s record of nine.