Vladas Mikėnas was a Lithuanian International Grandmaster and International Arbiter of Chess. Born on April 17, 1910, in Vilnius, Lithuania, Mikėnas began playing chess professionally in 1930 and represented his country in nine Chess Olympiads. He won Lithuanian championships three times and received titles of International Master (IM) and International Arbiter (IA) in 1950, and eventually International Grandmaster title in 1987 at the age of 78.
Mikėnas shifted to representing Soviet Union in 1944 and became one of the leading chess organizers and journalists in the USSR. He was an editor of Shakhmatny Bulletin, a leading Soviet chess journal and also published dozens of books and hundreds of articles.
Some of his notable victories were against world champions like Alexander Alekhine, Max Euwe and Mikhail Botvinnik. Mikėnas passed away on November 3, 1992, in Vilnius, Lithuania, leaving an outstanding contribution to Chess.
An Open chess tournament has been held annually in Vilnius, Lithuania from 1993, in his memory. In addition, a variation of the English Opening (1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 d6) bears the name Mikenas-Carls Defence after him.