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Yosha Iglesias, 37, has become the French Women’s Chess Champion, making history as the second transgender player to win a national chess title. Iglesias, who was ranked seventh in the 16-player knockout event in Vichy, France, secured her victory by defeating Women’s Grand Master Mitra Hejazipour 1.5-0.5 in the final match.Iglesias progressed through the tournament by defeating WGM Maria Nepeina-Leconte 3.5-2.5, IM Pauline Guichard 1.5-0.5, and IM Anastasia Savina 1.5-0.5 in the semi-final. During the quarter-final against Guichard, Iglesias played what she considers the best game of her career.“Nothing makes me happier than knowing my title might show young trans people that they don’t have to choose between chess and transition. 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 follows Annemarie Meier, who won the German Women’s Chess Championship in 2003, as the second transgender athlete to win a national chess title. Meier, who no longer actively plays, shared her support for Iglesias.“It is a worldwide signal for the visibility and acceptance of us trans women, for our normalisation, an empowerment that alleviates our doubts about our right to exist. I wish that the public dialogue about trans women in chess and in sports would be conducted without fear, and especially without hatred, with respect from all sides,” told Chess.com.
Yosha Iglesias during the French national chess competition. (Image: French chess federation/chess.com)
Since her transition in 2021, Iglesias has advocated for women’s and trans rights within the chess community. She faced controversy in 2023 when FIDE implemented a policy banning transgenders from official women-only events for two years pending further analysis.Iglesias has encountered online harassment following her success. She addressed this challenge through social media, expressing gratitude to her harassers for helping build her mental strength.“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.”The championship final concluded with a meaningful moment between Iglesias and her opponent Hejazipour.“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. That shows how classy she is, but also that we share a deep sense of sisterhood.”Iglesias plans to pursue the WGM title after recovering from upcoming surgery in October. She aims to represent France at the Olympic Games or the European Team Championship.“At 37, I’ll reach my peak rating in the upcoming list. That shows that life before transition is only half-lived, and that transitioning enables you to truly blossom. I’ll try to make it for all the years I wasted before I finally accepted who I already was.”
