Chess title
A chess title is a title regulated by a chess governing body and bestowed upon players based on their performance and rank. Such titles are usually granted for life. The international chess governing body FIDE grants several titles, the most prestigious of which is Grandmaster; many national chess federations also grant titles such as National Master. More broadly, the term "master" can refer to any highly skilled chess player.
Over-the-board chess
In general, a chess master is a player of such skill that they can usually beat most amateurs. Among chess players, the term is often abbreviated to master.The establishment of the world chess body, Fédération Internationale des Échecs, saw the creation of titles superior to the "national master" titles. In 1950, FIDE created the titles "Grandmaster" and "International Master", the requirements for which were increasingly formalized over the years. In 1978, FIDE created the lesser title of "FIDE Master".
Early use of the master title
From the beginning of recorded chess, to the establishment of the first chess organizations, the term master was applied informally, being simply a matter of popular acclaim. Strong players demonstrated their strength in play, and gained the informal reputation of being chess masters.As chess became more widespread in the latter half of the 19th century, the term began to be given out by organizations. One of the most prestigious events of the time was the DSB Congress, first organised by the Deutscher Schachbund in 1876. The DSB's standard for the title of Master was the Meisterdrittel, i.e. to win at least one third of the games in the premiere tournament at a DSB Congress. The winner of the Hauptturnier or "reserve" event was entitled to compete in the premiere event in the next congress, with a chance to achieve the Meisterdrittel.
FIDE titles
- Grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can attain. The usual way for a player to qualify for the Grandmaster title is by achieving a FIDE rating of 2500 at one time and three favorable results in tournaments involving other Grandmasters, including some from countries other than the applicant's.
- International Master. Requires a minimum rating of 2400 and three norms, while the requirements of achieving a norm are lowered compared to the GM title.
- FIDE Master. Requires a minimum rating of 2300. No norms are required.
- Candidate Master. Requires a minimum rating of 2200. No norms are required.
- Woman Grand Master Requires a minimum rating of 2300 and three norms.
- Woman International Master Requires a minimum rating of 2200 and three norms, while the requirements of achieving a norm are lowered compared to the WGM title.
- Woman FIDE Master Requires a minimum rating of 2100. No norms are required.
- Woman Candidate Master Requires a minimum rating of 2000. No norms are required.
For every above title, there are alternative ways of attaining it by performing at or near the top of certain high-level tournaments. For example, the GM title is awarded to the person winning the World Junior Championship.
FIDE also awards titles for "lower-band" players, regardless of gender, through the FIDE Online Arena:
- Arena Grandmaster. Requires a minimum online FIDE rating of 2000.
- Arena International Master. Requires a minimum online FIDE rating of 1700.
- Arena FIDE Master. Requires a minimum online FIDE rating of 1400.
- Arena Candidate Master. Requires a minimum online FIDE rating of 1100.
FIDE also awards titles for arbiters, study composers, and trainers.
National titles
Some national chess federations award titles such as "National Master". National chess federations are free to set whatever standards they want for such titles, which are not recognized by FIDE. Standards for "Master" titles in different countries vary, but are usually based on criteria such as achieving a certain rating, achieving the required number of tournament performances at a certain level, or featuring prominently in the country's national championship. In some cases, it may extend to honorary titles awarded to prominent chess administrators, business patrons or politicians. Since the introduction of the FIDE Master title in 1978, some federations such as those of Ireland and Germany have ceased awarding National Master titles, apparently regarding them as obsolete.Soviet Union
In the Soviet Union, the Master title was conferred by the federal government and was connected to the title of Master of Sport. The first chess player to receive the title was Peter Romanovsky in 1934. Only players who featured prominently in the Soviet Chess Championship were considered for the title, and fewer than 100 awards were made altogether. The majority of these players also qualified for the FIDE International Master or Grandmaster title.United States
The USCF currently gives a national title for achieving a 2200 rating :Expert
Chess expert is a title given by the United States Chess Federation. It is awarded to chess players rated from 2000 to 2199. Players rated above that are masters, while players below that are class players. Approximately 50,000 chess players have USCF ratings, of which approximately 2,500 are rated 2000 or better. Thus, chess experts are in the top 5% of all USCF tournament chess players. Since 2008, USCF has also awarded Candidate Master titles to players that achieve five performance-based 'norms' in tournaments and also hold a rating above 2000. Like the title of Master, Candidate Master titles are awarded for life.The title of chess expert is not awarded for life. Every time a tournament chess player plays a game, their rating goes up or down depending on the game's outcome and on how strong their opponent is. If the rating of a chess expert falls below 2000, they are not a chess expert any more. This is in contrast to international titles awarded by FIDE, which are awarded for life. In European countries the term "expert" is not used. Instead, players of that level are called "Candidate Masters", although the FIDE Candidate Master title generally requires a higher rating.
It is possible, however, for players in the United States to have a rating that places them in the 'expert' category while still retaining the title of 'Life Master' or 'National Master'. The title of 'master' is awarded to anyone meeting the criteria laid down by the USCF, including having once been rated over 2200. Like the FIDE titles of FIDE Master, International Master, and Grandmaster, the title of 'Master' is awarded for life. Players with a rating below 2200, but who have earned the title of 'National Master' or 'Life Master', are, according to the USCF, still referred to as 'masters'.
The first USCF rating list was published in December 1950. On that list, experts were players rated from 2100 to 2300 and masters were players rated from 2300 to 2500. However, within a few years, it was discovered that the ratings were rapidly deflating. As a result, the classifications were dropped by 100 points so that since then experts were rated between 2000 and 2200. In 1960, the USCF adopted the new Elo rating system replacing the original Harkness System. There have been continuous adjustments to that system ever since, with the primary purpose of stabilizing the rating system against the forces of inflation and deflation, so that a chess expert today will be approximately the same strength as a chess expert was twenty or forty years ago.
This information stated here also applies in Canada, under the auspices of the Canadian Federation of Chess, with one difference being that Class E encompasses all players rated under 1200. Similar class distinctions may apply in other national chess federations as well.
Master
The United States Chess Federation awards the Title of National Master to anyone who achieves a USCF rating of 2200, and the title of Senior Master to anyone who achieves a USCF rating of 2400 along with certain performance-based 'norms' during tournament play. The USCF also awards the Life Master title to anyone who holds a 2200 rating for a total of 300 or more games in his or her lifetime.In the United States, the title of "National Master" is awarded for life, regardless of whether the rating of a National Master subsequently goes below 2200. In August 2002, this position was codified by the USCF Policy Board with the passage of a motion stating "Any USCF member who has had a regular post tournament rating of 2200 or higher has demonstrated a significant level of chess ability and is recognized by being automatically awarded the lifetime title of National Master."
Life Master
Life Master is a chess title awarded by the United States Chess Federation. To be awarded this title, one must hold a master's rating of over 2200 for at least 300 USCF-rated tournament chess games.During the 1990s, the USCF also awarded a "Life Master" title on the basis of a different and more complex system that was similar to the FIDE 'norm system' of awarding titles. This method of attaining Life Master became officially recognized by the USCF on January 1, 1996. The "class norm" system was later discontinued, and players who had or were subsequently granted the title on the 300-game basis were renamed "Original Life Masters." In practice, the distinction is rarely made. Original Life Masters had to play 300 games as a Master without going below 2200 in their rating or the count would start over again.
As the name of this title implies, this title is held for life, regardless of any subsequent decrease in rating. Thus, it is possible to have a player with a USCF rating of 2000 who is a Life Master, although this is uncommon for 'Original Life Masters', who have a floor rating of 2200. It is more common for players who obtained the Life Master title through the now-defunct norm system, which did not require a rating of over 2200 to earn the title.