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How do I get a chess title (Grandmaster, IM, etc.)?
How do I get a chess title (Grandmaster, IM, etc.)?

Chess titles are awarded by FIDE when players meet specific criteria, like reaching certain ratings or achieving norms in tournaments.

Updated over a month ago

Chess titles

You've probably noticed some accounts on Chess.com with red boxes next to their names containing letters like GM, IM, WFM, etc. These are FIDE titles, and players with FIDE titles can have them added to their accounts:

Chess.com titled members

💡 If you already have one of these titles from FIDE, fill out our Titled Player Identification Form to get it added to your Chess.com account!

How to earn a FIDE title

All the titles listed below are open to men and women. Separate women-only titles, such as Woman Grandmaster (WGM), are also available.

Title

Requirements

Grandmaster (GM)

  • Rating: A FIDE rating of 2500 or higher at any point.

  • Norms: Three GM norms in tournaments covering at least 27 games.

📝 There are also other milestones a player can achieve to attain the title, such as winning the World Junior Championship.

International Master (IM)

  • Rating: A FIDE rating of 2400 or higher at any point.

  • Norms: Three IM norms in tournaments covering at least 27 games.

FIDE Master (FM)

  • Rating: A FIDE rating of 2300 or higher.

  • Norms: No norms are required.

Candidate Master (CM)

  • Rating: A FIDE rating of 2200 or higher.

  • Norms: No norms are required.

📰 Check out this article on the main site to learn how to earn these titles: How To Become A Chess Grandmaster

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