Road to GMs (!!)
Welcome back, dear chess friends!
Today we will address an interesting topic, which I have been thinking about for a while.
Nothing mysterious, but not so clearly known by many people either.
What is the path, what objectives must be fulfilled to achieve the title of Grand Master?
The path is explained in detail in the FIDE handbook…
...70 pages of indigestibile document, certainly more affordable than this...
One of the mathematical problems still unsolved
... but in my opinion it still gives you a stomach ache π
So the purpose of this blog is to briefly clarify the stages of this journey starting from level ZERO, without boring or making anyone sick!
Without further ado, let's get started. Fasten your seatbelts and... enjoy your journey!
Tablet of contents (scroll down! There's more text!)
- FIDE
- Elo
- Chess Titles:
NM = National Master - notes on National Chess Federations
- Titles by category:
- Age groups:
At some point in our lives of game lovers, almost all of us have certainly made the decision to join a chess club.
Why? To meet up with friends to cultivate and share a common passion for the game.
After playing at home with your family β€οΈ or with your closest friends (schoolmates, neighbors, childhood friends...etc.), joining a chess club represents a turning point.
My beloved chess club in Cavalese (TN), Italy - Regional Team Tournament - May 10, 2025
This way you'll have the opportunity to find yourself more often in front of a chessboard and the privilege of playing against people with great experience. That will be very enriching.
And what fun at the same time!
Last but not least, do we want to talk about the costs? Zero!
Okay, you pay for the club membership, but that's a pittance compared to the cost of purchasing tons of study material or of a private coach.
The reasoning should not be considered absolute, but usually the results when you are only studying alone are lower and slower than those obtained through exchange with others.
And the human relationships are the real treasure.
Man is a social animal.
— Aristotle
I have already talked about Aristotle, Alexander the Great and the first documented chess game in human history here.
By registering to a chess club you can simultaneously request a competitive membership card to participate in official tournaments recognized by your National Chess Federation and the International Federation for the game of chess, FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs).
Main aims of FIDE:
- Promote the spread of the game
- Regulate chess activity
- Check compliance with the rules
- Coordinate and integrate the different national and international realities
- Search, identify, support and promote new talents
FIDE members are registered. In addition, a reliable system has been used for years to estimate their strength and ability in the game:
The Elo system.
This system, in use since 1970, takes its name from its creator, Arpad Emrick Elo, a Hungarian physics professor, naturalized American, who lived between 1903 and 1992 and was a chess master.
The system is based on a comparative numerical score, which represents the player's skill.
The higher the score, the stronger the player.
One starts with an initial score.
After each game, the winning player takes points from the losing player.
The difference between the winner's and loser's ratings determines the total number of points gained or lost after a game.
If the player with the highest score wins, the player with the lowest score will only be deducted a few points.
Instead, if the player with the lower score gets a victory, many rating points will be transferred to him by his opponent.
The player with the lower score (who is presumably less strong) will gain some points from the player with the higher score even in case of a draw.
This rating system is self-correcting.
Players whose ratings are too low or too high should, in the long run, perform better or worse than the rating system predicts, respectively, and thus gain or lose rating points until their ratings reflect their true playing strength.
It is a measuring tool, not a device of reward or punishment.
— Arpad Elo
Talking part in official FIDE certified tournaments, valid for Elo rating changes, allows the player to make his way into this mega world ranking π
Playing only online does not allow you to obtain an official recognized title for a number of reasons:
- The rating is not controlled or approved
- There is no referee
- The identity of the players is not verified (of many players only the nickname is known)
- The risk of cheating is unacceptably high
Anyway Chess.com and Lichess assign ratings to players and symbolic titles such as:
“Verified titled player” (if you already have an official title)
Badges that place you in a percentage ranking compared to other players, such as "Top 1%" or other more social titles such as "Streamer" and/or "Top Blogger" βΊοΈ
Some official online tournaments (FIDE Online Arena, PRO Chess League, Titled Tuesday) are played, but they don't earn you titles: they're just for visibility and prizes.
So what do we need to start the chess career ladder?
Passion, dedication, commitment, perseverance and, FUNDAMENTAL, joy!
If playing is not a source of joy, inspiration and/or gratification, it is unlikely that you will go very far!
The non-professional player can be a beginner, have an intermediate, advanced or expert level.
Here is a rough classification of players by rating, so based on their skill level:
Beginner (<1000):
Players who are just starting to learn the basic rules and strategies of chess.
Intermediate (<1500):
Players who have medium experience and can play games with some knowledge of chess strategies and principles.
Advanced (1500-2000):
Players with more solid experience, who know chess openings, endgames, strategies and tactics well.
Then there are the experts (>2000), players who have reached a very high level of skill, often titled.
You always advance in Elo rating by participating in OTB tournaments (live Tournaments over the board).
As already mentioned, the rating score obtained online on gaming platforms such as Chess.com and/or Lichess is a different thing.
Nowadays Elo rating is diversified and based on time control.
There are Standard, Rapid, Blitz and Bullet games.
Standard (or Classical) βοΈ – Long time games (e.g. 90 minutes + increment).
Rapid
– Games with medium time duration (e.g. minimum 10' - max 60' per player + possible increment).
Blitz
– Very fast games (e.g. 3-5' per player + possible increment).
Bullet
– Ultra-fast games (typically 1' per player, the slowest game 2'+1'').
FIDE has three separate official ratings: Standard, Rapid and Blitz. Does not include Bullet.
Online platforms such as Chess.com and Lichess instead offer ratings for "Daily" or correspondence chess and for Bullet games.
The skills required to excel in the game are different depending on its duration:
Bullet and Blitz require and develop speed and reflexes.
Rapid and Standard βοΈrequire and develop deep calculation and planning abilities.
Some players excel in one format but not in others.
Experienced titled players who, by twists of fate, should drop in Elo rating (following bad defeats) do not lose the title acquired whatever it is, unless disciplinary action is taken for unfair play.
Titled players are among the best chess players in the world and perform at very high levels.
Many of them play regularly on Chess.com and you can easily watch them play live (Watch -> Live Chess).
Let's finally write in details about the titles!!
Chess Titles
NM = National Master - notes on National Chess Federations
The National Master title (abbreviated as NM) is a special title, as it is not recognized by FIDE.
As the title suggests, it is a master title that is awarded by National Chess Federations.
Not every chess federation awards this title, but several important federations do.
In general, federations that award the NM title do so to players who achieve a national rating of 2200—although there are exceptions as well.
Each federation that has this title also has different ways to qualify for it:
The U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) awards the NM title to players for life once they reach a 2200 rating.
USCF award the title of Senior Master to anyone who achieves a USCF rating of 2400.
The English Chess Federation (ECF) awards the NM title to players who reach a 200 ECF grade, roughly equivalent to a 2250 rating.
The Chess Federation of Canada (CDC) awards the NM title to players who reach a 2200 national rating and also achieve three norms (2300 Elo + tournament performances).
The New Zealand Chess Federation (NZCF) uses a points system in their national tournaments and other events. A player who achieves 100 points in their events earns this title, although not many players have attained this goal.
In Russia, the title “National Master” is not used, but the state itself awards chess titles through the Ministry of Sports in agreement with the Russian Chess Federation (RCF):
“ΠΠ°ΡΡΠ΅Ρ ΡΠΏΠΎΡΡΠ° Π ΠΎΡΡΠΈΠΈ” (“Master of Sports of Russia”) and
“ΠΡΠΎΡΡΠΌΠ΅ΠΉΡΡΠ΅Ρ Π ΠΎΡΡΠΈΠΈ” (“Grand Master of Russia”).
They are based on specific criteria, respectively, national Elo rating (≥2400 for “ΠΠ°ΡΡΠ΅Ρ ΡΠΏΠΎΡΡΠ°”) obtained in official competitions and the title of FIDE GM and victory of the absolute Russian championship (for ΠΡΠΎΡΡΠΌΠ΅ΠΉΡΡΠ΅Ρ Π ΠΎΡΡΠΈΠΈ” “Grandmaster of Russia”).
In India, the All India Chess Federation (AICF) does not award the official title of National Master (NM).
In Italy we have the Italian Chess Federation (FSI).
When you reach the Elo threshold of 1500 you enter the "Third National (Category)";
When you reach the 1600 quota you enter the "Second National";
From 1800 you move to the "First National" category.
At the Elo score of 2000 you become a "Candidate National Master".
At Elo 2200 the title of National Master (NM) is recognized.
Many other federations once had their own master titles but stopped for various reasons.
It is the lowest of the international titles officially recognized by FIDE (above the national title of "master" but below titles such as FM, IM and GM).
Needed at least 2200 Elo points
No rules required (i.e. no specific results in tournaments as for IM or GM).
The title of FIDE Master (FM), awarded by FIDE, is the third highest title a player can obtain, behind only the titles of International Master and Grandmaster.
Anyone can obtain the title of FM by reaching a standard FIDE Elo of 2300 in an official FIDE tournament.
The player must also have played at least 30 games to qualify.
To become an IM normally three favorable results (norms) in International Tournaments involving other IMs and Grandmasters are required before FIDE will confer the title on a player.
IMs usually have an Elo rating between 2400 and 2500.
The IM title can also be awarded for a few specific performances (I'm going to write about it further ahead).
To qualify for the title of chess Grandmaster (GM), the higher title awarded by FIDE, a player must achieve the following:
Three or more grandmaster norms in events covering a minimum of 27 games.
Norms can only be gained in international tournaments that fulfil FIDE's strict criteria:
the entry must include at least three GM titled players from different countries,
playing over a minimum of nine rounds with not less than 120 minutes thinking time per round, assuming the game lasts 60 moves (so for instance 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move qualifies),
an International Arbiter must be officiating the event, and a number of other more minor stipulations.
The norm seeker must achieve a tournament performance rating (TPR) of at least 2600 to qualify.
Chess Q&A
β Can the Grandmaster title be awarded posthumously?
Try to guess, then click to reveal the answer
β Yes - Wrong!
β No - Wrong!
β It depends - Correct!
For further clarification have a look below to the story of the great Mir Sultan Khan!
Titles by category - Women's Titles
There are official titles recognized by FIDE by category.
Although I am not a fan of them (and I am in good company, the legendary Judith Polgar herself thought the same way) I mention them for completeness.
Judit Polgár, the highest-rated female player in history, was once the youngest grandmaster overall.
Official FIDE Women's Titles:
There are four titles exclusively reserved for women that can be obtained in parallel with the "open" (non-gender specific) titles.
Woman Candidate Master (WCM)
Requirements: minimum FIDE rating of 2000.
Direct award: medals in the U8–U16 World Youth Championships and in the Youth Continental Championships, with a minimum rating of 1800.
Woman FIDE Master (WFM)
Requirements: minimum FIDE rating of 2100.
Direct award: U14 and U12 world champions, U16 and U18 medalists, and U12-U16 continental champions, with a minimum rating of 1900.
Woman International Master (WIM)
Requirements: Minimum FIDE rating of 2200 and three norms with performances of 2250 against opponents with an average rating higher than 2030.
Direct award: Silver and bronze medals in the World Girls Junior Championship, U18 and U16 world champions, and U18 continental medals, with a minimum rating of 2000.
Woman Grandmaster (WGM)
Requirements: Minimum FIDE rating of 2300 and three norms with performances of 2400 against opponents with an average rating higher than 2130.
Direct award: winners of the World Girls Junior Championship and some continental women's tournaments, provided they reach at least a 2100 rating.
Age groups
FIDE does not award separate “youth” titles, exclusively dedicated to their age group.
However, FIDE youth tournaments can give direct right to the awarding of standard titles, depending on the performance, final position and category.
Shreyas Royal, a talented 9 years old chess player allowed to remain in the United Kingdom with his family after his father’s work visa expired. Courtesy of Lennart Ootes.
FIDE organizes World Youth Chess Championships annually.
The World Youth Chess Championship is divided into:
"World Cadets Chess Championship" (categories U8, U10 and U12)
and
"World Youth Chess Championship" (categories U14, U16 e U18).
Then there is also the World Junior Championship (U20) and Continental tournaments are also periodically organized.
Titles are awarded based on results achieved in these competitions:
World Junior Championship (U20)
Open 1° IM (if Elo ≥ 2200)
Open 2°–3° FM (if Elo ≥ 2100)
Girls 1ª WGM (if Elo ≥ 2100)
Girls 2ª–3ª WIM (if Elo ≥ 2000)
World Youth Championship (U18, U16, U14, U12, U10, U8)
U18 Open 1° FM (if Elo ≥ 2100)
U16 Open 1° FM (if Elo ≥ 2100)
U14 Open 1° FM (if Elo ≥ 2000)
U12 Open 1° FM (if Elo ≥ 1900)
U10 / U8 Open 1° CM (if Elo ≥ 1800)
U18 Girls: 1ª -> WFM (if Elo ≥ 2000)
U16 Girls: 1ª -> WFM (if Elo ≥ 1900)
U14 Girls: 1ª -> WFM (if Elo ≥ 1800)
U12 Girls: 1ª -> WFM (if Elo ≥ 1700)
U10 ed U8 Girls: 1ª -> WCM (if Elo ≥ 1600)
Second and third place winners may obtain the immediately lower title, provided they achieve the minimum rating.
FIDE divides senior players into two age groups:
50+ (Over 50)
65+ (Over 65)
Manolo Alvarez Escudero, 102 years old, during Moratalaz Open. Photo by Mariano Garcia Diez.
Currently, FIDE does not award specific official titles for the "Senior" category as it does for women.
However, there are senior tournaments recognized by FIDE that can lead to the awarding of open titles (IM, GM, FM, CM) through rules or by direct award.
Most important official senior tournaments:
World Senior Chess Championship (individual)
Two categories: 50+ e 65+ (open and Women)
European Senior Chess Championship
World Senior Team Championship
The following titles are awarded directly:
Senior World Champion 50+ (Open) 1st place IM if Elo rating ≥ 2200
Senior World Champion 65+ (Open) 1st place IM if Elo rating ≥ 2200
Senior World Champion 50+ or 65+ (Women) 1st place WIM if Elo rating ≥ 2000
Vice-champions: FM or WFM (if the minimum required rating is reached).
In summary the unofficial titles and not recognized by FIDE:
National Master (NM) = 2200 Elo
Official titles, recognized by FIDE:
Candidate Master (CM) = 2200 Elo
FIDE Master (FM) = 2300 Elo
International Master (IM) = 2400-2500 Elo + 3 norms or favorable results/victories in international tournaments with international IM and/or GM
Grandmaster (GM) = 2500 Elo + 3 strict norms.
Discouraged?
Remember that everything is possible with commitment and perseverance.
This is true especially for young people, who have fresh and plastic minds. Some of them are actually unstoppable killing forces.
Click here for useful tips to face "this plague of children" without fear.
So, if becoming a GM is really your life's dream, why not!?
Meanwhile I keep playing and my goal is still the same...
HAVING FUN!
Now it's your turn. What are your goals as chess players? And how do you feel about your Elo? Does it affect you?
Let me know. I'll be happy to read about it.
Furthermore please tell me if you find inaccuracies. I didn't know much about this topic before I started my research to write the blog.
My best regards and...
See you soon!
DocSimooo
