WIM Yosha Iglesias had already made chess history by becoming the first transgender woman international master. Last weekend, the 37-year-old added another accomplishment by winning the French Women’s Championship, as the second transgender woman to win a national title.
Thirty-seven-year-old Iglesias was only ranked seventh in the 16-player knockout event that took place in Vichy, France, but prevailed in the final by defeating WGM Mitra Hejazipour 1.5-0.5. She had previously knocked out 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 semifinal.
“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.”
Nothing makes me happier than knowing my title might show young trans people that they don’t have to choose between chess and transition.
—Yosha Iglesias
Iglesias played a truly spectacular game, one she defines as the best of her career, against Guichard in the quarterfinal. She describes it as a game that shows everything chess has to offer. “I doubt I’ll ever again be lucky enough to play a game that well, that also offers such beautiful content.”
Iglesias is the first-ever transgender national champion in France, the second to win a national title worldwide. In 2003, Annemarie Meier won the German Women’s Chess Championship. Meier, who no longer plays actively, congratulated the newly crowned champion in an email to Chess.com:
“It is a worldwide signal for the visibility and acceptance of us trans women, for our normalization, an empowerment that alleviates our doubts about our right to exist,” she said, adding: “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.”
I wish 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.
—Annemarie Meier
Iglesias says Meier has been an inspiration to her throughout her career, and they remain in regular contact. “I am very grateful to her for being a pioneer. Even though she rejects that label, I know I’m walking the path she paved.”
She has also been a staunch advocate for women’s and trans rights within the chess community since her transition in 2021. In 2023, FIDE came under heavy criticism for a new policy that stated that transgender women were to be banned from taking part in official women-only events for a period of two years until the federation could conduct “further analysis.” Iglesias called the new policy “appalling,” suggesting it could lead to depression and suicide attempts by trans girls.
That has made Iglesias a target for online abuse. According to French chess magazine Europe Echecs, Iglesias’ success triggered another wave of harassment. Asked by Chess.com how she can cope with that, she responded:
“At the beginning of my transition, I knew I would face much hatred,” she said. “I decided to make it an opportunity to grow as a person and also as a player in the face of adversity.”
“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.”
Just a tweet to thank all the transphobes of this nazi bar.
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.
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 pic.twitter.com/h9hQVNX2Fg
— Yosha Iglesias (@IglesiasYosha) August 24, 2025
Still, she acknowledged the toll such abuse can take: “At times, when I was already having a bad moment, harassment hurt me. And most importantly, it can be deeply harmful to other people.”
She expressed her gratitude for having so much support within the women’s chess community in France. “Most of the top French female chess players are my friends, and the others are also very supportive,” she noted.
She also shared a touching moment with Hejazipour after the final: “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.”
When Mitra resigned in the final game, I let a few tears drop while she 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.
—Yosha Iglesias
Looking ahead, Iglesias plans to complete the requirement for the WGM title, although an upcoming surgery in October will sideline her for several months. In the long term, her dream is to represent France at the Olympic Games or the European Team Championship.
“At 37, I’ll reach my peak rating in the upcoming list,” she said. “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.”
