Yosha Iglesias has captured the French Women’s Chess Championship, making history as the first transgender woman to win a national title in France and only the second openly transgender player in the world to do so. Ranked seventh among 16 competitors in the knockout event held in Vichy, Iglesias defeated Women’s Grandmaster Mitra Hejazipour in the final with a score of 1.5 to 0.5. Along the way she overcame WGM Maria Nepeina-Leconte and IM Pauline Guichard to secure her crown.
This victory builds on her achievement in 2024, when she became the first openly transgender player to earn the title of Woman International Master (WIM). That milestone, celebrated internationally, underscored her resilience and determination in a sport that has not always welcomed diversity.
After her championship win, Iglesias reflected on what the moment means for others. “Nothing makes me happier than knowing my title might show young trans people that they do not have to choose between chess and transition,” she said. “I do not 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.”
Her win drew recognition from Annemarie Meier, the German transgender woman who became her country’s women’s champion in 2003. Meier described Iglesias’s victory as a worldwide signal of acceptance and empowerment, adding that it should inspire open and respectful dialogue about transgender participation in both chess and sports.
Iglesias’s journey has not been easy. Since beginning her transition in 2020, she has faced waves of online harassment, often enduring thousands of hateful comments following her successes. Instead of retreating, she responded with grace and resilience, at one point writing publicly that the negativity only pushed her to become a better player and a stronger person.
Her path to this moment included not just personal challenges but also policy battles. In 2023, the world chess governing body FIDE introduced restrictions on transgender women competing in women’s events. The decision sparked outrage, with critics arguing it undermined inclusivity in a sport that prizes intellect above physical advantage. Several national federations, including France’s, chose not to enforce the restrictions, allowing Iglesias to compete and prove her excellence on equal terms.
Her personal story also speaks to perseverance. At 16 she left home to train in Russia, and for many years she delayed her transition due to financial struggles. Eventually, with the support of the chess community, she was able to raise funds through crowdfunding to access gender-affirming care. She has described those years as a time of mere survival rather than truly living.
Now at 37, Iglesias is looking forward. She is setting her sights on earning the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title and dreams of representing France in the Chess Olympiad or the European Team Championship. Beyond personal goals, her victory serves as a statement of belonging for transgender players in chess and in sports more broadly.
Yosha Iglesias’s championship win is more than a personal triumph. It is a message of hope, visibility, and courage for transgender people everywhere who wish to pursue their passions without compromise.
