Yosha Iglesias Makes History As 1st Transgender WIM

FM Yosha Iglesias has etched her name in chess history as the first-ever transgender player to achieve the woman international master title. UPDATE April 29, 2024: The title has now been confirmed officially by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

The French 36-year-old accomplished the milestone last week by securing her fourth norm at a closed international women's tournament in Rouen, France. The event ran concurrently with the Rouen Open where GM Alireza Firouzja wrapped up his qualification for the Candidates.

Iglesias claimed the second place in the tournament with an impressive 7 out of 9 points, falling half a point behind the winner WGM Anastasiya Rakhmangulova from Ukraine.

"I am exhausted, but so relieved and happy," she told Chess.com. She also shared her emotions on her X/Twitter account.

I just fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming a Woman International Master! 🥹🍾

I made my fourth and final norm in 4 consecutive tournaments with one round to go, scoring 6.5/8.

It was supposed to be my main goal for 2024, and I could not be happier to achieve it sooner. 😊💜 pic.twitter.com/SzkbqGM1VI

— Yosha Iglesias (@IglesiasYosha) December 30, 2023

Iglesias, a professional trans woman chess player and coach, underwent a transition process in 2021. In recent years, she has been a staunch advocate for women's and trans rights within the chess community. 

"When I began my transition in early 2021, I was already an FM with a rating still above 2250. I naively thought that becoming a WIM would be more or less a formality, and that the hardest part was changing my gender both legally and at FIDE," she told Chess.com.

She faced challenges changing her gender, enduring an 18-month process to update her ID.

"At that point, my rating had dropped to 2200. Another year later, in May 2023, my rating was below 2200, I still had no norms, and I was already 35."

Iglesias credits Annemarie Meier, a German trans chess pioneer, for motivating her to pursue the title. Meier's own success as a trans woman, winning four national women's championships, inspired Iglesias to train more rigorously. 

"She convinced me that seeing a trans woman becoming a woman international master would mean the world to many trans players. She gave me the motivation to train more seriously than ever."

Rouen Final Standings

In her final tournament, Iglesias needed 0.5/2 on the last day to secure the title. Despite nerves, she played strategically, even offering a draw in a critical moment. Reflecting on her games, she highlighted her impressive moves against opponents like Annmarie Mutsch and Tihana Ivekovic.

"I was so stressed and excited, that I just could not sleep the night before. I still managed to play 20 good moves in my morning game, got a slight advantage and offered the draw, which my opponent gladly accepted."

About her game against Muetsch, she says: "I'm quite pleased with the classy moves exf5! g4! and later Bxf4! Rg1! Kf1! which showed some understanding of the position."

She was also helped by a remarkable swindle against WFM Tihana Ivekovic in round five. "Five hours into the second game of the day, many things can happen."

I won with White in 2 moves against a 2150 WFM in a classical game.

1.Ka3 Qc5+?? "forcing the exchange of queens and resignation?"

But what did I play?

I never felt that sorry to win a game. Strangely enough, after she resigned, she laughed while I held back my tears. pic.twitter.com/jQnaAZkIhA

— Yosha Iglesias (@IglesiasYosha) December 29, 2023

Iglesias' achievement comes just a month after FIDE came under heavy criticism for a controversial new policy, which states that transgender women are banned from taking part in official female-only events until the federation conducts "further analysis" that can take up to two years. Iglesias called the new policy "appalling," suggesting it could lead to depression and suicide attempts by trans girls.

Last year, she was among the co-authors of an open letter signed by 14 of France's leading women players denouncing sexist behavior towards women. The letter ends with a powerful message: "To anyone who has experienced sexist or sexual violence, we want to say: You are not alone. We believe you. We will be there for you."

When you have some success as a trans woman, you receive thousands of messages of joy sent with sisterly love and hundreds of messages of hate, sent by petty harassers.

To the haters, I say: If you want to tarnish our brightness, it's only because we dazzle you. Get used to it💖 pic.twitter.com/TPJI1rkSaj

— Yosha Iglesias (@IglesiasYosha) December 31, 2023

The abuse hasn't stopped, Iglesias says, as she has received hundreds of messages of hatred. However, that doesn't stop her, thanks to a flood of congratulary messages.

"Some players told me that they quit chess to transition but that my story inspired them to get back to competition. In general, we trans women share such a bond of sisterhood that the happiness of one of us is the joy of all the others. For me, it was the best reward of all."

We trans women share such a bond of sisterhood that the happiness of one of us is the joy of all the others.

—Yosha Iglesias

Looking ahead, Iglesias expresses a desire to continue training and playing without setting a specific goals. Her focus is on enjoying the process, unburdened by additional pressure. 

On April 29, 2024, FIDE awarded Iglesias the title officially.

I'm officially a Woman International Master!

Despite its anti-trans regulations, FIDE had to recognize me as a WIM!

I'm happy to have shown that it was possible, to have paved the way for my sisters. Girls, I don't wish you to do as well, but to do even better. 🏳️‍⚧️💜 pic.twitter.com/DtKnRgnUik

— Yosha Iglesias (@IglesiasYosha) April 29, 2024