Portreit of Elisaveta Bykova, the third Women's World Chess Champion

Elisaveta Bykova (1913–1989) was a Soviet chess player who became Women’s World Chess Champion twice, holding the title from 1953 to 1956 and again from 1958 to 1962. She earned the titles of Woman International Master in 1950, International Master in 1953, and Woman Grandmaster in 1976.
In 1960, she successfully defended the title against Kira Zvorykina, but in 1962, she was dethroned by 21-year-old rising star Nona Gaprindashvili. Passionate about women's chess, Bykova wrote three books on Vera Menchik, Soviet women chess players, and the Women's World Championship.