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Irina Krush
I Krush 
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons  

Number of games in database: 1,293
Years covered: 1996 to 2023
Last FIDE rating: 2429 (2392 rapid, 2342 blitz)
Highest rating achieved in database: 2502
Overall record: +374 -254 =359 (56.1%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 306 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 Nimzo Indian (133) 
    E32 E39 E53 E34 E38
 Queen's Gambit Declined (73) 
    D31 D35 D37 D30 D36
 Slav (59) 
    D10 D15 D11 D17 D12
 King's Indian (50) 
    E94 E73 E99 E91 E98
 Queen's Pawn Game (48) 
    A41 A40 D05 E00 A46
 English (29) 
    A10 A13 A18 A17 A11
With the Black pieces:
 Sicilian (241) 
    B62 B63 B56 B28 B22
 Queen's Gambit Accepted (65) 
    D27 D20 D26 D25 D22
 Queen's Pawn Game (62) 
    D02 E00 A45 A40 D05
 Sicilian Richter-Rauser (51) 
    B62 B63 B60 B67 B65
 King's Indian Attack (28) 
    A07
 Sicilian Taimanov (25) 
    B48 B47 B45
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   Korchnoi vs I Krush, 2007 0-1
   I Krush vs Nakamura, 2001 1-0
   O Zambrana vs I Krush, 2003 0-1
   E Kuzmenko vs I Krush, 2008 0-1
   I Krush vs K B Richardson, 2007 1-0
   I Krush vs A Adames Rojas, 2010 1-0
   A Lee vs I Krush, 2022 1/2-1/2
   I Krush vs Shabalov, 2007 1-0
   I Krush vs J Estrada Nieto, 2001 1-0
   I Krush vs J Shahade, 2003 1-0

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   US Women's Championship (2008)
   USA Women Championship (2010)
   US Championship (Women) (2015)
   US Championship (Women) (2012)
   US Chess Championship (Women) (2013)
   US Championship (Women) (2020)
   American Cup (Women) (2023)
   U.S. Women's Championship (2022)
   Canadian Open (2009)
   Istanbul Olympiad (Women) (2012)
   Turin Olympiad (Women) (2006)
   Chennai Olympiad (Women) (2022)
   Gibraltar Masters (2009)
   Dresden Olympiad (Women) (2008)
   Batumi Olympiad (Women) (2018)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   K Players of the 21st Century by fredthebear
   Krush! by larrewl
   2006 Montreal (group B) by gauer

RECENT GAMES:
   🏆 Tata Steel India Blitz (Women)
   V Agrawal vs I Krush (Sep-04-23) 1/2-1/2, blitz
   I Krush vs W Ju (Sep-04-23) 1-0, blitz
   I Krush vs A Ushenina (Sep-04-23) 1-0, blitz
   I Krush vs D Deshmukh (Sep-04-23) 0-1, blitz
   Shri B Savitha vs I Krush (Sep-04-23) 0-1, blitz

Search Sacrifice Explorer for Irina Krush
Search Google for Irina Krush
FIDE player card for Irina Krush


IRINA KRUSH
(born Dec-24-1983, 39 years old) Ukraine (federation/nationality United States of America)
PRONUNCIATION:
[what is this?]

Woman Grandmaster; International Master (2000); Grandmaster (2013).

Irina Krush ((Russian: Ирина Круш) was born in Odessa, Ukraine. She learned chess in 1989, the same year she and her family moved to Brooklyn in the United States. At age 12 she became a master and won the International Master title in 2000.

Championships

In 1998 she won the U.S. Women's Championship, becoming the youngest-ever holder of that title. The following year she tied for first place in the female section of the World Junior Championship. In 2007 she reclaimed the title of U.S. Women's Champion, and repeated that feat in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2020.

Krush has competed in a number of Women's World Championship events. In 2000, 2004 and 2006, she played in the Women's World Championship Knockout matches, making it to round two on all three occasions. She qualified for the 2008 event but was unable to participate. In the Women's World Championship Knockout Tournament (2012), and beat Singapore IM Li Ruofan and Swedish GM Pia Cramling in the early rounds before bowing out in the tiebreaker to the third round to WGM Huang Qian.

Standard Tournaments

Krush earned her first GM norm in 2001 by tying for first place at the Mayor's Cup International Tournament in New York City. She won her 2nd GM norm at the Women's World Team Championship (2013) and her 3rd GM norm (and requisite 2500 rating) at the Baku Open (2013).

Match

In 1998, she lost a short match to John Fedorowicz by 1.5-2.5 (+0 -1 =3).

Team Events

<Olympiads> Krush played for the US women's team in 1998, and from 2002 to 2012 inclusive, playing either first or second board. She was second board for the silver-medal-winning US team at the 36th Olympiad, Women (2004) and board one for the bronze medal winning team at the Dresden Olympiad (Women) (2008).

<World Team Championships> Krush played for the USA in the Yinzhou Cup Women World Teams (2009) and the Women's World Team Championship in 2013 (see above). Playing board 2 in the latter, she scored a silver and a gold medal, and won her 3rd GM norm, for her efforts on board two.

<National Leagues> Krush plays for the New York Knights in the U.S. Chess League and has played for Guildford ADC in the 4NCL.

Kasparov vs The World

Krush was part of the consultation team that included Etienne Bacrot, Elisabeth Paehtz and Florin Felecanin that made recommendations to the public in the Kasparov vs The World, 1999 game played over the internet. Garry Kasparov played the white pieces and The World, via the internet, voted on moves for the black pieces, guided by the recommendations of Krush and the others.

Other

Pascal Charbonneau is her ex-husband.

Wikipedia article: Irina Krush; USCF bio: http://www.uschesschamps.com/2013-u...

Last updated: 2020-10-27 14:08:26

 page 1 of 52; games 1-25 of 1,293  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. I Krush vs D Strenzwilk  1-0571996US opA41 Queen's Pawn Game (with ...d6)
2. Y Dembo vs I Krush 1-0301996Wch U14 Disney GirlsB89 Sicilian
3. I Krush vs G Leite  1-0311996New York OpenE32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical
4. I Krush vs M Fierro  0-1361996New York OpenE92 King's Indian
5. I Krush vs Y Wang 0-1361996Wch U14 GirlsA56 Benoni Defense
6. R Burnett vs I Krush  ½-½551997New York opB67 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...a6 Defense, 8...Bd7
7. N Kosintseva vs I Krush  1-0381997Wch U14 GirlsB23 Sicilian, Closed
8. J Frenklakh vs I Krush  ½-½641997United States Championship (Women)A07 King's Indian Attack
9. I Krush vs A Hahn  ½-½451997United States Championship (Women)D36 Queen's Gambit Declined, Exchange, Positional line, 6.Qc2
10. I Krush vs S Burtman  ½-½381997United States Championship (Women)A87 Dutch, Leningrad, Main Variation
11. I Krush vs A Belakovskaia  1-0441997United States Championship (Women)E98 King's Indian, Orthodox, Taimanov, 9.Ne1
12. I Krush vs J Shahade  ½-½481997United States Championship (Women)A73 Benoni, Classical, 9.O-O
13. T Zitserman vs I Krush  0-1371997United States Championship (Women)D35 Queen's Gambit Declined
14. A Akhsharumova vs I Krush  ½-½461997United States Championship (Women)D27 Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical
15. I Jezierska vs I Krush  1-0381997United States Championship (Women)B22 Sicilian, Alapin
16. I Krush vs E Epstein  0-1411997United States Championship (Women)E30 Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad
17. I Krush vs L Khusnutdinova 1-0331997Wch U14 GirlsD36 Queen's Gambit Declined, Exchange, Positional line, 6.Qc2
18. Sherzer vs I Krush  1-043199826th World OpenB56 Sicilian
19. Kudrin vs I Krush  1-040199826th World OpenB62 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer
20. K L Deng vs I Krush  1-0441998Saitek US MastersB50 Sicilian
21. I Krush vs F Wolferink  1-0481998Saitek US MastersB06 Robatsch
22. I Pohl vs I Krush  0-1511998Saitek US MastersD02 Queen's Pawn Game
23. I Krush vs I Rogers  0-1301998Saitek US MastersA56 Benoni Defense
24. D Woods vs I Krush  ½-½341998Saitek US MastersD02 Queen's Pawn Game
25. I Krush vs G Kahane  1-0391998Saitek US MastersA08 King's Indian Attack
 page 1 of 52; games 1-25 of 1,293  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Krush wins | Krush loses  
 

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 30 OF 30 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Nov-26-20  Z4all: Thanks <JFQ> and <fabelhaft>.

I really wish I had gotten to the <Carolus> site before all the interzonal PGN links went stale...

https://cid-ea385817c877cd86.skydri... (Tunis 1985)

The skydrive Microsoft drive is no more. Too bad, as <Carolus> usually had the most accurate movelists of the games (vs. other online chess DB's).

* * * * *

As for <batgirl>, here's my reconstruction of her history (kinda meta, eh?!)...

In the earliest record of her work, that I could find, she used Angelfire for hosting:

<Sarah's Serendipitous Chess Page>

https://www.angelfire.com/games/SBC... (defunct)

https://web.archive.org/web/2001110... (2001 wayback version)l

(Found via Wall's 2007 post on chess.com -
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/ge...
- his site still being on geocities)

The sequence, I believe, went from <Angelfire> to <Carolus> to <chess.com>.

She used to be more active on <CG>, quite a few years ago. Her work on <chess.com> varies in frequency, but remains prolific.

.

Nov-26-20  Z4all: One last <batgirl> detour - she herself gives a brief sketch of her early history here:

https://www.chess.com/blog/batgirl/...

It includes some other history of chess history stuff, but doesn't mention her Angelfire days (nor any Z-stuff... tant pis).

Nov-26-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  jessicafischerqueen:

<z>, <all>. Ok and <4> I don't want to leave anyone out.

<Batgirl> still posts here from time to time: User: sbc

Nov-26-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  jessicafischerqueen:

I remember Angelfire <AJ> was on there. Seems like a precarious state of affairs for historical archiving, that platforms come and go- and with them comes and goes history.

The whole point of history is to try to preserve something for longer than a few years.

That is why we should be transferring all this to paper.

Nov-26-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: <jess>, no chance Angelfire was preserved on <Wayback Machine>?
Nov-26-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  jessicafischerqueen:

<perfidious> A lot of material is indeed preserved on <Wayback Machine>, most profitably by the tireless volunteer editors at Wikipedia.

I used to read a lot of <AJ's> stuff on Angelfire, but tbh I have not looked for any of it recently.

I save a lot of cg.com pages on the <Wayback Machine>, but certainly our whole website is not saved at the moment. I haven't counted the pages at cg.com but I imagine there are "plenty of them."

Fans of the the movie "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and the TV series "Alice" may prefer archiving with the <Vic Tayback Machine>: https://www.thefamouspeople.com/pro...

Nov-26-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: I've always liked Bat Girl's posts. I've seen her stuff copied, cut and pasted to other chess sites or pseudo chess sites. I remember seeing a Bat Girl reference on Yahoo Backgammon, of all places.

Does anyone remember a guy named Mitt Greengard or maybe Midge Greengard? Chess columnist, and [I think] free lance computer programmer? He had some funny chess columns, good opinion type writing, especially about the horrors that ARE the USCF and the state of North American chess, in general.

Is Kevin Spragett still putting out his entertaining chess column?

Nov-26-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  jessicafischerqueen:

<HeMateMe> Mig Greengard was excellent. I used to read his stuff regularly at chesscafe.com before they put up their paywall.

He had all his stuff at the <Daily Dirt> but that website is now defunct AFAIK.

Nov-26-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  jessicafischerqueen:

<HeMateMe> Kevin Spragget's chess website is still up and running: http://www.spraggettonchess.com/

Nov-27-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: thanks Jessica! Good info. Spragett is a funny guy, offbeat. Nice to have a few loose wheels here and there in the chess world.

I liked the Mig columns but never thought it was quite good enough to be a pay site.

As much as <Winter> seems to be an unlikeable curmudgeon, one has to admit his historical chess columns have worth. I've always read them, when they pop up in my travels.

Nov-28-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  jessicafischerqueen:

<HeMateMe> I've read a lot of Spragget he is an excellent commentator and personality eh.

Edward Winter is the standard all others should try to live up to. He's all about the facts.

Nov-28-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: Jess, you have mentioned loving horror films so I left you a trailer in the cafe for <Motel Hell>, all time great campy horror!

(better see the film with a friend...)

Nov-29-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  jessicafischerqueen:

<HeMateMe> Thank you! I haven't seen that horror movie yet, but I'm going to look for it now.

Dec-11-20  Wanda Nida: whats batgirl's email?
Dec-24-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  Check It Out: Happy birthday, GM Krush. The perfect chess name.

Women's US Champion at the age of 15!

Wow. When I was 15...well, let's not go there.

Dec-24-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: I think the NY times did an interview with her at the park in queens where she played a lot of chess, as a teenager. The russians and Ukrainians seemed to live in little communities in the boroughs. She probably had some strong competition in that park.
Jun-21-21  pazzed paun: Nice interview with Irina on. Chessbase
Dec-24-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: Many time USA champ krush celebrated today. Wish the site would update the somewhat dour photo.
Dec-24-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  Stonehenge: OK, I have uploaded another photo.
Dec-25-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: Well done, Stonehenge. She's really pretty, I'd hope for something with a nice big smile

<https://www.bing.com/images/search?...>

how 'bout a little Mona Lisa grin?<https://www.bing.com/images/search?...>

chess in schools, Irina

<https://www.bing.com/images/search?...>

I love this one, date night with ex husband Pascal

<https://www.bing.com/images/search?...>

relaxing after a game

<https://www.bing.com/images/search?...>

Wait, wrong Irina!

<At age 14 Krush won the 1998 U.S. Women's Chess Championship to become the youngest U.S. women's champion ever. She has won the championship on seven other occasions, in 2007,[3] 2010,[4] 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2020.[5]>

That's pretty Fischeresque, mostly 'owning' the USA championship!

Dec-25-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  Stonehenge: Yes, but I don't want any problems with copyrights. Commons.wikimedia.org is safe in that regard.
Dec-25-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: Oh dear, the old photo is back. Why not just email irina for a photo you can use?
Jun-05-22  Albertan: Thé US Women’s team for thé 44th Chess Olympiad 2022 has been announced:

https://www.chessdom.com/the-us-wom...

Dec-04-22  stone free or die: A game when she was almost 10 yo, against Stephanie Chu (CN), can be found on <CL&R (Dec 1993) p58>.

It pre-dates her earliest here on <CG>.

Feb-16-23  SChesshevsky: Irina had an interesting game with Magnus in the first round of the Pro Chess League on 2/14.

In a seemingly rare ...c6, Be3 KID, looked like Irina had decent drawing chances. But probably was surprised at the opening and burned some time sorting it out.

Magnus, prepared and comfortable, eventually crushed Krush in a double rook endgame as she had to contend with a faltering position and time pressure.

Regardless of the ending, thought Irina played the opening and early middle game well. Especially against a tricky, well prepared, world champion.

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