Born in Odesa, Ukraine, in 1983 and raised in Brooklyn, Irina Krush stands as a monumental figure in American chess history. She became the first—and to date, only—woman to earn the Grandmaster title while representing the United States in 2013. At just 14 years old, she won her inaugural U.S. Women's Championship in 1998, setting a national record for youngest champion that remains unmatched.​ Krush's dominance in American women's chess is unparalleled, with eight U.S. Women's Championship victories across 1998, 2007, 2010, 2012–2015, and 2020. She has represented the United States at every Chess Olympiad since 1998, earning a silver medal in 2004 and bronze in 2008. As of November 2025, she maintains a FIDE rating of 2396, ranking 46th globally and third among American women. Beyond competitive play, Krush has contributed significantly to chess education and continues competing at elite levels, competing in the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss in September.​​