Irene started playing chess at the young age of 7 and became Indonesia’s first Woman Grandmaster— the highest-ranking chess title aside from Women’s World Champion—at the age of 16. Her immense talent and hard work earned her the title of Indonesia’s first female International Master a few years later. Unarguably one of Indonesia’s leading chess players, Irene’s myriad achievements include five-time Women’s Chess Olympian, four-time winner of the Indonesia Women’s Chess Championship, two- time Asian Continental Champion, gold medals at the 2013 SEA Games, and numerous accolades. In 2017, she completed a Masters in International Relations at Webster University in Saint Louis.