Transgender chess player wins French Women’s Championship

Biological male Yosha Iglesias has won the French Women’s Chess Championship, becoming the second transgender player to win a women’s national chess title.

Iglesias, 37, was ranked just seventh entering the 16-player knockout event in Vichy, but defeated Women’s Grandmaster Mitra Hejazipour 1.5-0.5 in the final.

French author Marguerite Stern called the win unfair, citing the fact that the French competition features two separate tournaments – the women’s division and the open division, which is available to either gender.

“Congratulations to ‘Yosha’ who had the audacity to register in the women’s competition rather than the mixed competition,” she posted on X. “That said, if the law allows it, why not take advantage?

“As a reminder, all our organs are gendered, including our brains,” she added. “Men and women have different cognitive abilities, and it seems that those of men give them an edge in chess: mixed tournaments are open to both sexes, but the top 100 in the world does not include a single woman.”

Along the way, Iglesias beat Woman Grandmaster Maria Nepeina-Leconte 3.5-2.5, International Master Pauline Guichard 1.5-0.5 and International Master Anastasia Savina 1.5-0.5.

“Nothing makes me happier than knowing my title might show young trans people that they don’t have to choose between chess and transition,” Iglesias told Chess.com. “I don’t want them to suffer like I did during the many years I thought I had to reject my trans identity to continue playing the game I love.”

Iglesias is the first transgender player to win a women’s national title in France and the second worldwide. In 2003, Annemarie Meier, a male who identifies as female, won the German Women’s Championship.

Iglesias’ title triggered online backlash, as reported by French magazine Europe Echecs, and Iglesias acknowledged the controversy – while characterizing disagreement with his participation in women’s events as “hatred.”

“At the beginning of my transition, I knew I would face much hatred. I decided to make it an opportunity to grow as a person and also as a player in the face of adversity,” he said.

Iglesias argued the harassment helped fuel his victory.

“This is why I make a one-tweet comeback on X/Twitter to thank all the people who harassed me, helping me forge the mental strength I lacked and needed to become French Champion despite being seeded number seven,” he said.

The X post he referenced attacked conservatives.

“Just a tweet to thank all the transphobes of this nazi bar,” Iglesias wrote on X. “Your harassment forged the mental strength I needed to win the French Championship despite being seeded #7. Thanks to you, I am a better player and a better person. Your littleness became my greatness.”

However, Iglesias praised female competitors for showing support.

After the final, Iglesias said, “When Mitra resigned in the final game, I let a few tears drop while Mitra congratulated me. Shortly after, she hugged me with a huge smile.”

Iglesias now plans to pursue the Woman Grandmaster title and hopes to represent France internationally.