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Chess Titles
Chess titles and titled players are often mentioned in the chess world, but what is the difference between a master and a grandmaster? Let's learn about the different chess titles and how you can achieve them!What are chess titles?
Chess titles are titles awarded to players based on their skills, performance and rating. A player who has won a chess title is often referred to as a "titled player" or by his or her actual title (e.g. grandmaster). Chess titles are awarded by chess bodies and federations. The most prestigious titles are awarded by FIDE, while national federations also have their own titles. If a player has a title, he is probably a strong player.
Why are chess titles important?
Chess titles not only indicate the strength of the best players, but also show the differences between them. For example, if you watch Titled Tuesday and see a National Master (NM) playing against a Grand Master (GM), you will immediately know that the Grand Master is the favorite.
What are the different chess titles?
As already mentioned, FIDE awards the most prestigious chess titles. Once a player is awarded a chess title, he retains it for life unless FIDE revokes it for disciplinary reasons. Here are the eight titles that FIDE awards:
Grandmaster
The highest title in chess (apart from the title of World Champion) is Grandmaster (GM). To earn this title, the player must achieve a FIDE classical rating of 2500 and earn three grandmaster standards in international competitions.
International Master
The title of International Master (IM) is the second highest title a chess player can achieve. To earn this title, the player must achieve a classic FIDE rating of 2400 and earn three IM standards in international competitions.
FIDE Master
To become a FIDE Master (FM), the player only needs to reach 2300 FIDE classic rating. He doesn't need any standard for this title.
Master Candidate
The title of Candidate Master (CM) is obtained by any player who achieves a FIDE classical rating of 2200 in international competitions. No standard is required.
Women's Grandmaster
The title of Women's Grandmaster (WGM) is exclusive to women and is achieved by achieving a FIDE classical rating of 2300, as well as three WGM standards in international competitions.
Women's International Master
The title of Women's International Master (WIM) is also exclusive to women. To win this title, the player needs to reach the classic FIDE rating of 2200 and three standards for the WIM title.
FIDE Women's Master
The title of Female FIDE Master (WFM) is awarded to women who have achieved a FIDE classical rating of 2100. No standards are required.
Women's Master Candidate
The title of Candidate Master (WCM) is exclusive to women and is obtained by achieving a FIDE classical rating of 2000. No standards are required.
OBS: It is important to note that women can win any title, whether female or not. In cases where a player has won more than one title (e.g. IM and WGM), it is up to the player to determine which title she will use. It is also worth mentioning that some of these titles (for example, CM, WFM and WCM) are awarded for good results in a national or international event and not just for the rating criteria mentioned above.
NACIONAL MASTER:
Chess titles are also awarded by national federations. US Chess, the Canadian Chess Federation, the English Chess Federation, the New Zealand Chess Federation and other national federations award the title of national master (NM). Most of these federations use a rating-based system where the NM title is awarded upon reaching 2200 rating, although some federations are different and also adopt other criteria.