Wally Henschel

Wally Henschel (9 September 1893 – 13 December 1988) was a German chess master who also lived in the United States. She was Women's World Chess Championship bronze medalist.

Biography Wally Henschel was born in a Jewish family. She had a musical education. She was a singer and worked on piano lessons. In 1927 she received a diploma of a singing teacher, and in 1929 successfully passed the exam for suitability for the stage profession in the opera genre. After the National Socialists rise to power in Germany, she emigrated to the United States in March 1939. There in the mid-1950s she became an invalid and, until her death, lived on a disability pension.

Twice participated in Women's World Chess Championship tournaments. She was third in 1930 in Hamburg and fifth in 1931 in Prague. Her victory in 1930 over the current world champion Vera Menchik was the only defeat of Menchik in all Women's World Chess Championships.

Notable chess game Wally Henschel – Vera Menchik Women's World Chess Championship 1930, Hamburg