Elaine Zelia Pritchard (7 January 1926 – 7 January 2012), née Saunders, was an English chess player who held the title of Woman International Master (WIM, 1957). She was a four-time winner of the British Women's Chess Championship (1939, 1946, 1956, 1965).

Quick Facts Full name, Country ...

Elaine Pritchard
Full name	Elaine Zelia Pritchard
Country	England
Born	(1926-01-07)7 January 1926
Died	7 January 2012(2012-01-07) (aged 86)
Title	Woman International Master (1957)
Peak rating	2150 (January 1990)

Close

Pritchard learned to play chess at the age of five, and was considered a child prodigy.^[1] For two consecutive years, she won the World Girl Chess Championships (1936, 1937), and also successfully participated in simultaneous exhibitions against Alexander Alekhine and Rudolf Spielmann.^[2]

For decades, she was among England's leading women chess players. Elaine Pritchard four times won the British Women's Chess Championships (1939, 1946 — after winning an additional match against Rowena Mary Bruce,^[3] 1956, 1965).^[4]

Pritchard played for England in the Women's Chess Olympiads:^[5]

• In 1957, at first board in the 1st Chess Olympiad (women) in Emmen (+6, =4, -4),
• In 1972, at second board in the 5th Chess Olympiad (women) in Skopje (+1, =2, -4),
• In 1974, at second board in the 6th Chess Olympiad (women) in Medellín (+4, =2, -2),
• In 1976, at second board in the 7th Chess Olympiad (women) in Haifa (+4, =2, -2) and won the team silver medal,
• In 1978, at second board in the 8th Chess Olympiad (women) in Buenos Aires (+2, =3, -1).

In 1957, she was awarded the FIDE Woman International Master (WIM) title. She was author of two chess books and an Honorary Life Member of the English Chess Federation.^[6] She was married to David Pritchard.

• Elaine Pritchard. Chess For Pleasure. London. 1971. ISBN 9780571092017
• Elaine Pritchard. Young Chess Player. London. 1976. ISBN 9780571105670