--- title: "International Master in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/international-master.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/international-master" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "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." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/grandmaster.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fide-master.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/international-master-norm.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/title-application.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/title-requirement.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/tournaments-ratings-titles.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # International Master in chess > **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md. 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. 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. The International Master title, written IM, sits one step below [Grandmaster](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/grandmaster.md) 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](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/international-master-norm.md) 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](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/grandmaster-norm.md) (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](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fide-master.md), and for the process see [title application](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/title-application.md) and international master norm. Also called: IM. Compare it with [Woman International Master](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/woman-international-master.md). 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](https://georgelichess.com/improve.md) show what players near your rating work on. ## Related terms - [Grandmaster](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/grandmaster.md) - [FIDE Master](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fide-master.md) - [International Master norm](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/international-master-norm.md) - [Title application](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/title-application.md) - [Title requirement](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/title-requirement.md) ## Guides that go further - [How to become an International Master](https://georgelichess.com/titles/international-master.md): The requirements, each with its FIDE Handbook clause, and a checker for your own numbers. - [FIDE chess titles](https://georgelichess.com/titles.md): How the Candidate Master, FIDE Master, International Master and Grandmaster titles are earned, with every Handbook clause. - [Chess ratings explained](https://georgelichess.com/chess-ratings-explained.md): 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 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/B012024 - FIDE Handbook B.01 FIDE Title Regulations, effective 1 January 2024 (Clauses 1.5.1 and 1.5.3), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/B012024 - 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 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/B012024 - FIDE Handbook B.01 FIDE Title Regulations, effective 1 January 2024 (Clause 0.6.2), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/B012024 [Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com. ## Related - [Grandmaster in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/grandmaster.md) - [FIDE Master in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fide-master.md) - [International Master norm in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/international-master-norm.md) - [Title application in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/title-application.md) - [Title requirement in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/title-requirement.md) - [Chess terms: Tournaments, ratings and titles](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/tournaments-ratings-titles.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)