The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has temporarily banned transgender women from competing. Chess tournaments are divided by gendered leagues, but after receiving an increased number of gender league change requests, the organization states that they need to further analyze the status of transgender competitors. They’ve estimated it may take up to two years to conclude their analysis, and in the meantime, transgender women are unable to compete in women’s events. Titles won in the women’s competition by transgender men pre-transition have been revoked, while transgender women are able to keep titles won pre-transition in the men’s league. According to FIDE, the abolished titles may be converted into a “general title of the same or lower level” or renewed if the player detransitions and provides proof of a FIDE ID that holds the title. Transgender players are still able to compete in the open section of tournaments that are already unisex.

In recent years, transgender individuals have been banned from many sporting events based on the argument of physical and biological advantages. Because chess is a sport requiring only intellectual strength, FIDE’s decision feeds into the pseudoscientific belief that men are inherently smarter than women – an idea based on misogyny and anti-transgender sentiments. The decision is offensive to all women and will put transgender chess players in the cruel position of picking between transitioning and competing.