2013 named by FIDE as the year of the third women's world champion Eliuzabeta Ivanovna Bykova

Elizabeta Ivanovna Bykova (born 4 November 1913, in the village of Bogoljubovo, formerly in Vladimirsky region  — died 8 March 1989, Moscow) was the third women's world champion (1953—56, 1958—62).

A women's grandmaster from the moment the title was introduced (1976), an international master (1953) and the third women's world champion. An Honoured Master of USSR Sport (1953), an economist-planner by profession, and a journalist. At the age of 12, Bykova moved to Moscow with her older brother. Two years later, she started to take part in chess competitions. Her first success came in the Moscow Cha,pionship in 1937 (3rd place). In the period 1938-1952 she won this title six times, and also three USSR women's championships. During the war she organised chess in hospitals, giving lectures and simultanoeus displays.  

The world chanmpionship match of 1953 between Bykova and Rudenko was one of the most interesting in the history of women's chess. Winning the match by a score of 7-5 = 2, Bykova became the third women's world champion. "In her best years, Elizabeta Bykova somehow reminded one of Tigran Petrosian. She had the same patience and solidity, the same ability to outplay opponents with seemingly harmless manoeuvres, and trhen 'prove her point'" (N Gaprindashvili).  

Bykova - Kogan

(Kiev 1954)

23.Nc6 Qc7 24.Re7 Rxe7 25.Bxd6 Black resigned (1:0)

In 1956 in Moscow, there was a tournament between three players for the world title, but Bykova finished only second and lost her title to Olga Rubtsova. In 1958, she won a retuirn match and regained the title, and the following year, defended it successfully against Kira Zvorykina. In 1962, she lost a match against the Georgian star Nona Gaprindashvili. "Bykova, despite the disastrous course of the match, behaved correctly to the highest possible extent. She took her disappointment with enormous fortitude." (N Gaprindashvili). She continued to play in Moscow tournaments until the end of the 1970s. 

The match Bykova - Gaprindashvili

Bykova took an active part in organising women's chess in the USSR and was the author of the popular book "Vera Menchik", "The women's world championship tournament", and "Soviet womern chessplayers". "When it came to playing simple positions and endgames, she had no equals. She was characterised by exceptional working capacity, rare calmness and fantastic tenacity". (N Gaprindashvili). For her work in developing women's chess, Bykova was awarded the USSR order "Mark of Honour". 

In 2012, in Vladimir, a group was founded called "The Elizabeta Bykova Memorial", the aim of which is to erect a statue of her by the sculptor Ilya Shashin in teh village of Bogoljubovo.