You might have come across such terms in chess such as ‘FIDE Master’, ‘International Master’ and ‘Grandmaster’. It can all become a little confusing. So what doe these terms mean?
As you become better at chess, you skill will improve. Those people who have attained a level of skill such that he can usually beat a ‘chess expert’, he will become a ‘chess master’. A ‘chess expert’ typically will nearly always beat most amateurs.
When the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) was established as the world chess body it created titles awarded to those who achieved set requirements. These titles are ‘FIDE Master’, which is the lowest master title it awards, the ‘International Master’ and the ‘Grandmaster’.
The way this is done is via the ELO rating system. This is a system to set up to calculate the relative skill levels of players in two player games.
To achieve the level of the ‘FIDE Master’, a player needs to achieve the FIDE Rating of 2300 or more. The October 2009 FIDE ratings list records 5561 FIDE Masters.
It’s harder to achieve the title of ‘International Master’. To do this a player needs three favorable results in international chess tournaments which involved other International Masters and Grandmasters. An ‘International Master’ usually has a rating between 2400 and 2500.
Another way of getting the title of ‘International Master’ is through specific performances. For example, the runner up at the World Junior Championship will be awarded the ‘International Master’ title.
After the title of ‘World Champion’, the title of ‘Grandmaster’ is the highest title a chess player can attain and once attained it is held for life. The title is awarded to players who achieve a rating of above 2500.
Men and women who play in international chess competitions are able to receive a title.
