She learned the game of chess from her mother, who often accompanied her to tournaments. Kate Finn was a founding member of the Ladies' Chess Club, which was launched in January 1895 in London. In the following months, the club members played several friendly matches against other clubs. Four members participated in a women's tournament organized during the Chess tournament at Hastings in 1895. It was won by Lady Edith Thomas, Finn finished fourth. In the summer of 1897, Finn took part in the first international women's tournament, held in London and won by Mary Rudge. There were 32 entries for the tournament, from which 20 participants were selected. After eight rounds in which she scored 3.5 points, Finn did not continue playing, because warm weather and the tight schedule of 19 rounds in 11 days proved to be too exhausting for her. In June 1900, Finn won the B tournament at the Annual Congress of the Kent Chess Association, in which four men and two women participated, with 4 points from 5 games. In March 1901 she won the championship of the Ladies' Chess Club. In a simultaneous exhibition on 25 boards, given by Isidor Gunsberg in December 1902, Finn was the only participant to win her game.