Are there any rules for transgender players in chess?

Question

Wikipedia's article on transgender people in sports indicates there's considerable controversy about male-to-female players competing in women's competitions. The controversy is over physical prowess that's retained through the sex change process. For this, chess is special, because physical prowess presumably matters less in chess. Further, it's already possible for women to join open tournaments and play against men.

I'm wondering if there're any rules concerning transgender people in chess. For example:

1. If Carlsen (as of time of writing the [male] World Chess Champion) decides to sex change, are there rules that bar him (her?) from competing in Women-only competitions?
2. If Carlsen decides to sex change, does he instantly become the Women's World Chess Champion?
3. If Carlsen decides to sex change, does he instantly acquire the WGM title?

Answer 1

I'm wondering if there're any rules concerning transgender people in chess.

I asked this question or something very like it of someone who was in a position to know. Basically if your sex is recorded by FIDE as "M" and you tell them it has changed to "F" (actually your federation has to tell FIDE. Not you since FIDE trust the federations who they know rather than the players who they generally don't know) then FIDE will change your records to reflect this fact. Similarly if you choose to go in the opposite direction. I should add that I asked this question in a spirit of intellectual curiosity rather than personal interest :-).

If Carlsen (as of time of writing the [male] World Chess Champion) decides to sex change, are there rules that bar him (her?) from competing in Women-only competitions?

First you should know that there is no such thing as "male" World Champion. Carlsen is world champion, period. If one of the top women players qualifies to play him (or another person) for the title of "World Champion" and wins then that woman would become World Champion.

If Carlsen decides to change sex then she would, of course, be eligible to play in Women-only competitions.

If Carlsen decides to sex change, does he instantly become the Women's World Chess Champion?

Your question is grammatically wrong. It should read "does she instantly become the Women's World Chess Champion?"

The answer is, of course, "obviously not". There is a cycle of tournaments which anybody wanting to become Women's World Chess Champion must compete in and succeed in to become Women's World Chess Champion. Carlsen would have to do this first.

If Carlsen decides to sex change, does he instantly acquire the WGM title?

Again the grammatical error in the question. It should be "If Carlsen decides to sex change, does she instantly acquire the WGM title?"

Certainly not! She would have to apply for the title. FIDE would have to decide if norms achieved while a man qualify for women's titles. I would suspect not which would mean that she would have to achieve the norms required as a woman.

I would add one further point. In general titles cost money. FIDE charges you if you want a title and have qualified for it. In your hypothetical situation if Carlsen wanted even the WFM title, even the WCM title, then she would have to apply and pay for the title.

I know the new regime under Dvorkovitch has talked about charging players and officials (arbiters and organizers) less and getting more money from sponsorship but I don't think this rhetoric has been changed into action yet.

Answer 2

If Carlsen decides to sex change, does he instantly become the Women's World Chess Champion?

Of course not. Just like if any other woman suddenly made herself known as an extremely strong chess player, she wouldn't instantly become the world champion. You become world champion by winning the world championships, not by being the highest-rated player.

Answer 3

The answer to question 1 is currently 'no'.

FIDE Regulations on Transgender Chess Players’ Registration on FIDE Directory

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. Such decision should be based on further analysis and shall be taken by the FIDE Council at the earliest possible time, but not longer than within 2 (two) years period. There are no restrictions to play in the open section for a person who has changed the gender.

For question 3, the answer is also 'no'. Quoting from the above document,

If a player has changed the gender from a man into a woman, all the previous titles remain eligible. The player may use only the published rating at the time the registration was changed, and all subsequent ratings when applying for women titles. No peak ratings or results that have been reached before the official gender change may be used to qualify for women titles after the legal gender change.

So it will take some time for Carlsen to qualify for the WGM title.