Grandmaster

Getting to Grandmaster is a two-part test, and both parts must be met. The first is a rating: at some point the player must have reached 2500 on the FIDE standard list, and the Title Regulations allow that peak to come mid-period, before it is ever published (clause 1.5.3). The second is a record of norms that together cover at least 27 games (clause 1.5.1).

A single norm is a tournament result that meets several conditions at once: at least nine games, a performance of 2600 or more, opponents averaging 2380 or higher, a score of at least 35 percent, and a field in which at least half the opponents hold titles and at least a third, and not fewer than three, are Grandmasters. Limits on how many opponents share your federation apply as well (clauses 1.4.1 to 1.4.8).

A few listed events award the title straight from a result, and if the player's rating is still below 2500 the award is conditional until it gets there (clause 0.6.2).

Once confirmed, the title is valid for life, although the Regulations allow removal after a fair-play breach (clauses 0.4 and 0.4.4). It describes standard play and says nothing on its own about a person's current rating. See the entries on grandmaster norm, norm and title requirement, and the next titles down, International Master and FIDE Master.

It sits close to FIDE. FIDE, the Fédération Internationale des Échecs or World Chess Federation, is the international body that publishes the Laws of Chess, keeps the rating lists and awards titles, working through its member national federations.

Compare it with Woman Grandmaster. Woman Grandmaster is the highest FIDE title in the women's series, earned through WGM norms and a rating of at least 2300, or through direct results in listed women's events.

Rating and title terms like "Grandmaster" matter once you know your next step, and the improvement plans by rating band set out a weekly routine for each rating range.

Related terms

• Grandmaster norm

  A Grandmaster norm is a title performance of at least 2600 against opponents averaging at least 2380, in a qualifying event that meets the FIDE rules on opponent mix.

• International Master

  International Master is the second-highest FIDE open title, below Grandmaster, earned through IM norms and a rating of at least 2400 reached at some time, or through certain event results.

• Norm

  A norm is a tournament result that meets the FIDE title standard for performance rating and opponent mix; several norms across enough games can earn a title, but one norm alone does not.

• Title requirement

  A title requirement is a condition that FIDE sets for awarding a title, such as a rating level, a number of rated games, a performance result or an approved event.

• Title application

  A title application is the formal request, made through a player's federation, for FIDE to confirm a title on the strength of norms, a rating level or a direct result.

Guides that go further

• How to become a Grandmaster

  The requirements, each with its FIDE Handbook clause, and a checker for your own numbers.

• FIDE chess titles

  How the Candidate Master, FIDE Master, International Master and Grandmaster titles are earned, with every Handbook clause.

• Chess ratings explained

  What a rating measures, how FIDE, Lichess, US Chess and chess.com compute theirs, and why the numbers differ.

Sources

• FIDE Handbook B.01 FIDE Title Regulations, effective 1 January 2024, Clauses 0.3, 0.4 and 0.4.4, read Oct 21, 2026.
• FIDE Handbook B.01 FIDE Title Regulations, effective 1 January 2024, Clauses 1.5.1 and 1.5.3, read Oct 21, 2026.
• FIDE Handbook B.01 FIDE Title Regulations, effective 1 January 2024, Clauses 0.5, 1.4.1, 1.4.5 and 1.4.8, read Oct 21, 2026.
• FIDE Handbook B.01 FIDE Title Regulations, effective 1 January 2024, Clause 0.6.2, read Oct 21, 2026.