From the Asbury Park Press by Jean Mikle:
TOMS RIVER -- Ever wanted to test your chess game against a grandmaster?
You could have your chance on Saturday, Nov. 14 when Grandmaster Irina Krush -- a seven-time winner of the U.S. Women's Chess Championship -- will appear at Ocean County College for a free lecture followed by an exhibition in which she will play 35 simultaneous games.
The event will take place at the college's Student Center, 1 College Drive. The free lecture by Krush will begin at 11 a.m., with a break for refreshments at noon. The simultaneous games will begin at 1 p.m.
The lecture is free, but there is a $15 fee to play Krush in a game. Stephen Shoshin, president of the Toms River Chess Club, which is sponsoring Krush's appearance, said there are still a few slots left to play Krush on Saturday. A grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can achieve.
To reserve a board, contact Shoshin at shoshin0407@yahoo.com or call (732) 598-8125.
Krush, 31, was born in Odessa, now Ukraine, and came with her parents to Brooklyn in 1989. That was the same year she learned how to play chess, at age 5. In 1998, Krush became the youngest ever U.S. women's champion, according to her United States Chess Federation biography.
She's won the U.S. Women's Chess Championship in 2012, 2013, 2014 and again this year. Her hobbies include photography, yoga and making rap music.
The Toms River Chess Club meets every Thursday at town hall, 33 Washington St., from 6:30 to 11 p.m.
Jean Mikle: jmikle@gannettnj.com
