Irina Levitina, of  Hackensack, NJ  is the only person in the world to win world championships in both chess and bridge.  Irina is co-founder of the  International Chess Academy in Teaneck , NJ. You can read more about the International Chess Academy and Irina's chess career at which the following comment appears:  As a coach, Irina is very strict and demands only the best, with the most amount of effort from each and every student.  It is this that usually forces students to try and get on her good side.

When not playing bridge or teaching chess, Irina enjoys reading,  puzzles and watching ice hockey.

Irina is one of the most accomplished woman players from the days of the Soviet Union. Irina was a three-time USSR Women's Champion in 1971, 1979, and 1980, as well as winner of the Women's Olympiad in 1972 (scoring 5.5 out of 6), in 1974 (scoring 7.5 out of 9), and in 1984 (scoring 6.5 out of 11). Irina was given the rank of Woman's International Grand Master in 1976.

As a coach Irina is very strict and demands only the best, with the most amount of effort from each and every student. It is this that usually forces students to try and get on her good side