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She was 18, a Woman Grandmaster, and the highest-ranked female chess player in Iran's history. 🏅Then she played one tournament without a headscarf. Iran banned her from the national team and every domestic event. She didn't apologize. She left.She moved to St. Louis, studied biology, and started playing for the United States. "It feels peaceful to play for a federation where I am welcomed and supported," she said. She won bronze at the 2020 U.S. Women's Championship and is now in medical school. She lost a country. She found a future. ♟️