Juggling Chess Olympiad prep and commentary gig in India: The other side of GM Irina
Irina Krush has been a constant presence in the United States women’s chess team’s rise, featuring in all three of its historic Olympiad medals. From becoming America’s youngest women’s champion at 14 to earning the country’s only female GM title, Krush, speaking exclusively to TimesofIndia.com, reflects on her journey, the changing landscape of American chess, her commentary career, and the…
New Delhi, the birthplace of India's capital, is also home to the Chess Olympiad, a biennial event that showcases the world's best chess players. One such player is Irina Krush, the first woman to earn the Grandmaster (GM) title while playing for the United States. Krush, who is currently participating in her 13th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, shared her journey with TimesofIndia.com.
Born in Odesa, a city in Soviet Ukraine, Krush moved to Brooklyn with her family when she was five years old. Her father, an accomplished amateur chess player, taught her the game at a young age. Krush made her first appearance for the United States at the World Youth Championship in Poland at the age of seven and won the US Women's Championship at the age of 14, a record for the youngest champion in the event's history.
Krush's association with India dates back several years, with her playing against a young chess prodigy, Koneru Humpy. Over the years, she has continued to contribute to chess coverage in India, most notably as a commentator for the Global Chess League (GCL) during its inaugural 2023 season in Dubai. Krush, who became a grandmaster in 2013, credits her natural love for the game as the reason behind her success in commentary.
However, Krush's commentary work has come at the cost of her own chess preparation for the Olympiad. With the 46th Chess Olympiad set to begin just two days after her India schedule wrapped up, Krush had to make time for her own chess games. Despite the busy schedule, she has managed to play a few tournaments before the Olympiad and is now focused on preparing for the event.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
