Irina Krush

Irina Krush, who was inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame last year, is truly a legend of the game. Born in Ukraine, she moved to New York at the age of 6 and has always represented the United States. Krush made her debut in the U.S. Women’s Championship in 1995 at the age of 11 and won her first title three years later at 14 – both still stand as records almost three decades later.

Krush, who is the only American woman to earn the Grandmaster title while representing the United States, is one of only two players to play on all three U.S. Women’s Olympiad teams which have medaled (silver in 2004 and bronze in 2008 and 2024). She is also number two on the all-time list of U.S. Women’s titleholders behind only Gisela Gresser’s nine championships. Krush, with eight victories (1998, 2007, 2010, 2012-15, and 2020), is right behind her.

Is 2026 the year she ties Gresser’s record?