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What are the different chess titles?
What are the different chess titles?
Updated over 3 months ago

Chess titles are official designations awarded by FIDE (the International Chess Federation) to recognize a player's skill level and achievements in chess. These titles are earned through success in official tournaments and represent significant milestones in a player's chess career.

You can identify a titled player by the red square next to their username:

Titles recognized by Chess.com

The titles that Chess.com acknowledges are listed below:

Title

Title name

GM

Grandmaster

WGM

Woman Grandmaster

IM

International Master

WIM

Woman International Master

FM

FIDE Master

NM

National Master

CM

FIDE Candidate Master

WFM

Woman FIDE Master

WCM

Woman FIDE Candidate Master

Earning these titles generally involves a long process of consistent success in chess tournaments. Players must achieve specific performance criteria set by FIDE, such as reaching a certain rating or winning against other titled players in official competitions.

Check out this article to learn how to earn a FIDE title: How do I get a chess title (Grandmaster, IM, etc)?

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