International Master

The International Master title, written IM, sits one step below Grandmaster in FIDE's open titles, and the route mirrors the GM one with lower numbers. A player needs a FIDE standard rating of 2400 at some point (clause 1.5.3) and norms that together cover at least 27 games (clause 1.5.1).

Each IM norm asks for a performance of 2450 or better against opponents averaging 2230 or higher, over at least nine games with a score of at least 35 percent. At least half the field must be title holders and at least a third, and not fewer than three, must be IMs or GMs, with federation limits like those for a GM norm (clauses 1.4.1, 1.4.5 and 1.4.8).

Certain championship results award the title directly, subject to a minimum rating, and an applicant rated below 2400 receives it conditionally until the rating arrives (clause 0.6.2).

The title is valid for life once confirmed, and it is separate from today's rating: a person can hold it while rated well above or below 2400, because ratings move through a career. For the neighboring titles see Grandmaster and FIDE Master, and for the process see title application and international master norm.

Compare it with Woman International Master. Woman International Master is the second title in the women's FIDE series, earned through WIM norms and a rating of at least 2200, or through qualifying results at certain women's events.

How "International Master" applies to your own results depends on where you stand now, and the improvement plans by rating band show what players near your rating work on.

Related terms

• Grandmaster

  Grandmaster is the highest title FIDE awards for over-the-board standard chess, earned through a rating of at least 2500 reached at some time together with qualifying norms, or through certain event results.

• FIDE Master

  FIDE Master is the third open FIDE title, below International Master, and it is usually earned by reaching a standard rating of 2300 over at least 30 rated games rather than through norms.

• International Master norm

  An International Master norm is a title performance of at least 2450 against opponents averaging at least 2230, achieved in an event that satisfies the title rules on administration and opponent mix.

• 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.

• 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.

Guides that go further

• How to become an International Master

  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 and 0.4, 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.