What is FIDE Online Arena? How does it work? Is FIDE Arena Elo = FIDE ELO

FIDE Arena is so reliable that the Federation has avoided using it for it's online and hybrid official tournaments during the pandemic, and has completely switched to Tornelo.

Actually the one and only reason FIDE is still loosely affiliated to FIDE Arena (which is held by a private company) are the signed contracts.

What are the Arena titles worth? Well, there are many "Arena Grandmasters" which are rated 1700 FIDE, and (well) below. They are so important, that the "titled players" list has been removed from the FIDE Arena site, and even the new design of the site is that of an online store selling snake oil.

Hence its in the FIDE handbook: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/B11FOATitlesForLowerRatingBand

The titles are official and created for the lower ratings. I don’t see a valid reason to be so negative about this.

Not everyone can and will participate in tournaments, physically and/or hybrid. Besides you often have to pay for that as well, especially participating in physical tournaments is expensive. Travel, accommodation, … that is if you achieve the title .

 I mean, the rules are quite similar. 

Also there like less than 400 AGMs.

That you have to pay like 50 euros to receive the title after achieving the requirements is a small fee compared to what you pay to join, travel to and find accommodation to achieve a FIDE title, that’s if you achieve it.  On top of that you pay 25 euros per year. With all due respect but don’t want to know how much you paid or were sponsored over the years to achieve your IM title, plus all the hours of studying and enhancing your skills.

I think it shows there’s a good direction in online and hybrid chess and chess tournaments. It grants chances for someone that’s passionel about the game, wants to advance and is aiming for titles. 

Kind regards,

Noel

Just some notes from arena experienced player....

I don't see reason for so much noise about such titles. AGM is not GM. AFM is not FM...

these are just one site online titles. chess.com may introduce same like CcomGM or whatver, it does not have same value as OTB title.

Arena titles the one does not just pay for the title (many other sites will suck your money for some other, minor, things too), there are requirements to be met, and trust me, when you start with 900 rating you have to work hard to achieve 1100 or 1400 or whatever, and contain it for further 100 games (for example only). I am OTB Candidate master, I can tell you that I was struggling hard to be just in range  1200-1400 rating there.

Players of rating of 1200 there are of very sold strenght.

The thing, it is private company, tied with contract, so what to expect in the future who knows, but in last two years i can say they really improving the site on monthly basis, they used to be responsive on mails, but who knows.....

Site, or playzone (because they only have play zone and small amount of high rated news) is not worse (for sure) than for example C24 where you have to play just to download your own played pgn games.

About ratings, check lichess, some OTB 1800 ELO guys reach 2500 or 2700 there, they are 300-500 pts inflated comparing to the chess.com, and perhaps 1500 points inflated comparing to FOA. If you visit ICC, there are IMs or GMs with normally 2100 or 2200 ICC rating. So no site can be compared with real OTB ratings. But local players like to play lichess and present themselves arround chess clubs, that the are 2400 in blitz or 2600 in rapid or whatever....

perhaps only problem was they used FIDE titles as base name ACM, AFM...maybe they should take some as EXPERT, SKILLED or whatever else...