Will Eric Hansen be the first 2600 IM?

To be honest I don't know if he already has the 3 GM norms and is waiting to be ratified but its bizarre to see someone rated 2568 with 'IM' next to their name. He may have lost points at the just finished Basle Open but he's still got to be 2560..I just don't see how its possible NOT to have 3 GM norms with that rating

Ive seen an IM with 2600 elo I believe Anton Demenchenko.

There was an article about him I think. He's a GM-elect and should get his title officially by the end of this month. There are a number of other IMs around his level according to the ratings on the Fide site.

He made his last norm in the Instabul Olympiad, and he will get his title soon (1st quarter PB, Yerevan, 18th January 2013).

Thanks for the information, It didn't seem possible that he could be at that rating without being a GM-Elect.

However..you were right - Anton Demchenko is on 2627 and STILL an IM - that is incredible!

Demchenko will be nominated as a GM at the same presidential board.

http://ratings.fide.com/title_applications.phtml

I suppose if you play in a lot of opens with other 2500 plus IM's it doesn't even matter if you make a perfect score, you won't get a GM norm. I see Demchenko made his last norm at the Chigorin Memorial in December. Still seems amazing that someone could get to 2600 plus and only have 2 GM norms...