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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The International Chess Federation is banning trans-women from competing in women's chess tournaments. A woman who holds a chess title and then transitions to male will have their title "abolished." However, if the gender change is from male to female the titles will remain intact.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/17/sport/fide-bans-transgender-women-chess-spt-intl/index.html

When restrictions are placed on trans-women competing in something like swimming, I at least understand the rationale. Hormones can arguably provide a physical advantage for biological males who transition to become women. (Although my understanding is that the evidence for this is not as robust as one might think.)  But what the hell is the rationale here for chess? You don't need a big old bicep to move the bishop across the board.   [/quote]

Only one woman (Judit Polgar) -- but 133 men -- has ever achieved a chess rating above 2700.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_chess_players_by_peak_FIDE_rating

There are likely many reasons for this, but certainly one is that chess has not been seen as a traditional feminine activity.   The reason there are (occasional) women's chess tournaments is to try to encourage women to study the game.      Having a transwoman compete in a women's tournament would defeat this purpose.    (Nearly every top-ranked chess player has been a child prodigy, i.e. when most transwomen are still male.)

[/quote]

But isn’t also a simple fact that if a woman rarely competes against the top tier of men in tournaments there is no way she can rise to the top tier? [/quote]

The top tournaments are open.  Women are not prevented from entering.  They choose women's tournaments so that they can win.  This is the same reason every other sport has a women's category.  To provide a place where women have a chance at being competitive.[/quote]

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