The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has ruled that biological men identifying as female cannot compete in the women’s category at chess tournaments.
Fox News reported the permanency of the rule is pending the conducting of an official assessment of gender change.
FIDE reports the ruling is in response to the increased number of requests it has received from players who identify as transgender.
For the next two years, FIDE intends to determine the eligibility of transgender competitors in female categories on a case-by-case basis.
The Guardian reported the ruling was announced in Lausanne, Switzerland, and was published on Monday. The ruling has drawn criticism from advocacy groups and supporters of transgender rights.
FIDE elaborated on the matter, stating, “Change of gender is a change that has a significant impact on a player’s status and future eligibility to tournaments, therefore it can only be made if there is relevant proof of the change provided.”
They further clarified, “In the event that the gender was changed from a male to a female the player has no right to participate in official FIDE events for women until further FIDE’s decision is made.”
FIDE explained that eligibility decisions will be made by the FIDE Council and are expected to be reached within a maximum period of two years. However, there are no restrictions for individuals who have undergone a gender change to participate in open events.
Scientific American published a report by Karen Hopkin, which noted that no woman’s ever been a world chess champion. The Royal Society study Hopkin cited seems to indicate biological males have an inherent advantage in the game of chess.
The Conversation noted that “Just 37 of the more than 1,600 international chess grandmasters are women. The current top-rated female, Hou Yifan, is ranked 89th in the world, while the reigning women’s world champion Ju Wenjun is 404th.”
Former World Championship challenger Nigel Short argued that males are “hardwired” to play chess in a way that females are not.
This decision comes at a time when FIDE is hosting a World Cup event in Azerbaijan, attended by top players, including the World No. 1 Grand Master, Magnus Carlsen.
It’s worth noting that FIDE offers open competitions that are inclusive of all players. They also have specialized categories tailored for women, young players and even computers.
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