--- title: "Title requirement in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/title-requirement.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/title-requirement" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "A title requirement is a condition that FIDE sets for awarding a title, such as a rating level, a number of rated games." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/title-application.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/norm.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/grandmaster.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fide-master.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/candidate-master.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/tournaments-ratings-titles.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Title requirement 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. A title requirement is a condition that FIDE sets for awarding a title, such as a rating level, a number of rated games. 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. Each FIDE title has its own mix of requirements, and they fall into a few groups. Rating requirements come first: [FIDE Master](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fide-master.md) needs a rating of at least 2300 reached at some time, [Candidate Master](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/candidate-master.md) 2200, [Woman FIDE Master](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/woman-fide-master.md) 2100 and Woman Candidate Master 2000. A player whose rating arrived after the relevant start date must also have played at least 30 rated games. Norm-based titles add performance and game-count requirements, with a norm needing nine games, a 35 percent score and a specified opponent mix, and an application needing norms across at least 27 games. Event requirements decide which tournaments count: the event must be registered in advance, have a qualified chief arbiter, limit rounds per day and use identical time controls for everyone. Finally there are lifetime rules: titles stay valid for life, but the Qualification Commission may remove one when a [fair play](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fair-play.md) breach is found in the events behind it. You can check a plan against the numbers with our title requirements checker. Related entries are [title application](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/title-application.md), norm, [Grandmaster](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/grandmaster.md) and FIDE Master. Also worth reading is [Norm tournament](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/norm-tournament.md). A norm tournament is an event organized with the conditions that let players score a title norm, such as the right mix of opponents, enough rounds and a qualified arbiter. Rating and title terms like "Title requirement" matter once you know your next step, and the [improvement plans by rating band](https://georgelichess.com/improve.md) set out a weekly routine for each rating range. ## Related terms - [Title application](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/title-application.md) - [Norm](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/norm.md) - [Grandmaster](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/grandmaster.md) - [FIDE Master](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fide-master.md) - [Candidate Master](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/candidate-master.md) ## Guides that go further - [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 title norm calculator](https://georgelichess.com/tools/title-norm-calculator.md): Check one tournament against the FIDE norm rules, with every Handbook clause. - [How to get a FIDE rating](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-get-a-fide-rating.md): The Handbook rules for a first FIDE rating: five rated games, the 1400 floor, the two 1800 draws and a worked example. ## Sources - FIDE Handbook B.01 FIDE Title Regulations, effective 1 January 2024 (Clauses 1.3.1 to 1.3.4), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/B012024 - FIDE Handbook B.01 FIDE Title Regulations, effective 1 January 2024 (Clauses 1.1.1 to 1.1.6), read 2026-10-21: https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/B012024 - FIDE Handbook B.01 FIDE Title Regulations, effective 1 January 2024 (Clauses 0.4.1 and 0.4.4), 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 - [Title application in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/title-application.md) - [Norm in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/norm.md) - [Grandmaster in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/grandmaster.md) - [FIDE Master in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fide-master.md) - [Candidate Master in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/candidate-master.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)