Fenny Heemskerk

Who was Fenny Heemskerk?

Fenny Heemskerk was a Dutch female chess master.

She won the female Dutch Chess Championship ten times. Heemskerk won a match against Catharina Roodzant 4.5 : 0.5 in 1937, and lost a match to Sonja Graf 0 : 4 in 1939 in Amsterdam.

She took eighth place in Women's World Chess Championship at Moscow 1950, tied for second/third in Candidates Tournament at Moscow 1952, took ninth place in Candidates Tournament at Moscow 1955, tied for 15-16th in Candidates Tournament at Vrnjacka Banja 1961.

She played in the first Women's Chess Olympiad at Emmen 1957 - but, sadly, had to withdraw after only two days upon learning her father had died.

Heemskerk was awarded the Woman International Master title in 1950, and the Woman Grandmaster title in 1977.

In januari 1940 Fenny Heemskerk married FIDE Master Willem Koomen.

Fenny Heemskerk was a Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau.