Irina Krush

Irina Krush is an American chess Grandmaster. She is the first woman and only woman to earn the Grandmaster title while playing for the United States. Since earning the title of Grandmaster in 2013, she has entrenched herself as the figurehead of women’s chess in America. Krush had exceptional showings in the 2002, 2004 and 2008 Chess Olympiads, as well as a gold-medal performance in the 2013 Women’s World Team Championship. She is an eight time U.S Women’s Chess Champion, winning the title in 1998, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2020. Because of her incredible chess career, Krush has been invited to all editions of the Cairns Cup thus far, an elite women’s tournament at the Saint Louis Chess Club.