--- title: "How to become a Grandmaster" url: "https://georgelichess.com/titles/grandmaster.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/titles/grandmaster" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "guide" summary: "The norm games, performance level and rating FIDE asks for the Grandmaster title, each with its Handbook clause, plus a checker." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/titles.md", "https://georgelichess.com/titles/international-master.md", "https://georgelichess.com/titles/fide-master.md", "https://georgelichess.com/titles/candidate-master.md", "https://georgelichess.com/titles/woman-grandmaster.md", "https://georgelichess.com/titles/woman-international-master.md", "https://georgelichess.com/tools/title-requirements.md", "https://georgelichess.com/tools/title-norm-calculator.md"] --- # How to become a Grandmaster > **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. The norm games, performance level and rating FIDE asks for the Grandmaster title, each with its Handbook clause, plus a checker. The Grandmaster title is earned through norms. You need to have reached a rating of 2500 (B01 1.5.3) and to play norm events that together cover at least 27 games (B01 1.5.1). Each norm needs a performance rating of at least 2600 (B01 1.4.8) against opponents who average at least 2380 (B01 1.4.8). ## What FIDE asks for - **Rating you must have reached:** 2500 (B01 1.5.3) rating points. At some time, published or not, even in the middle of a rating period. - **Games your norms must cover:** At least 27 games (B01 1.5.1) in total. The Handbook sets this total. It does not state a number of norms. - **Games one event can add:** At most 13 games (B01 1.7) per event. A longer event still counts for this many games when the total is added up. - **Performance rating in each norm:** At least 2600 (B01 1.4.8). Your rating for the event, from the average opponent and your score. - **Average opponent rating:** At least 2380 (B01 1.4.8). After the rating floor and the rule for unrated opponents are applied. - **Score:** At least 35% (B01 1.4.8). Your points as a share of the games played. - **Games in the event:** At least 9 (B01 1.4.1) (7 or 8 in the listed team and cup events). The usual minimum for a norm. - **Lowest-rated opponent:** Counted as at least 2200 (B01 1.4.6). The one lowest-rated opponent is lifted to this rating when the average is worked out. - **Unrated opponent:** Counted as 1400 (B01 1.4.6). An opponent with no rating counts at this level in the average. - **Opponents holding a title:** At least 50% (B01 1.4.5a) of the opponents hold GM, IM, FM, WGM, WIM, WFM. Titled opponents are counted in the games you play, not the field as a whole. - **Opponents holding GM:** At least 1/3 (B01 1.4.5b) of the opponents, and not fewer than 3. The Annex gives the exact count for the length of the tournament. - **Federations:** At least 2 (B01 1.4.3) other than your own. Counted among your opponents. - **Opponents from your own federation:** At most 3/5 (B01 1.4.4) of the games, rounded down. The Annex gives the exact count for each tournament length. - **Opponents from one other federation:** At most 2/3 (B01 1.4.4) of the games, rounded down. The same cap applies to any single federation. - **A norm with one round a day:** At least 3 (B01 1.1.3) days of one round a day, for one of your norms. One of the norms in your application must come from such an event. - **A norm under the normal foreigner rules:** At least one norm (B01 1.4.3e). Some events are exempt from the federation rules. One norm must come from an event that is not. - **Title won in a listed championship:** Needs a rating of at least 2300 (B01 0.6.2). Some championships award the title at once to a player who finishes high enough and has reached this rating. ## Check your own numbers Use the [title norm calculator](https://georgelichess.com/tools/title-norm-calculator.md) for one tournament and the [title requirements checker](https://georgelichess.com/tools/title-requirements.md) for a whole application. ## What score does a Grandmaster norm need in a nine round event? The score you need depends on how strong the field is. In a nine round event the Handbook annex ties each score to a band of average opponent rating, and for the Grandmaster title the lowest average it accepts is 2380 (B01 1.4.8). A field averaging more than that asks for fewer points. Score needed for a Grandmaster norm in a nine round event: | Score | Average opponent rating | | --- | --- | | 7 of 9 | 2380 to 2433 | | 6.5 of 9 | 2434 to 2474 | | 6 of 9 | 2475 to 2519 | | 5.5 of 9 | 2520 to 2556 | | 5 of 9 | 2557 to 2599 | | 4.5 of 9 | 2600 to 2642 | | 4 of 9 | 2643 to 2679 | | 3.5 of 9 | 2680 or more | Clause: B01 Annex, 9 rounds. Take a field that averages 2440 after the floor. The annex asks for 6.5 of 9. Worked out here: that is 72.2% of the games, the rating table adds 166 points, and the performance rating is 2606, which clears the 2600 (B01 1.4.8) line. Half a point less gives 2565, which does not. ## What score does a Grandmaster norm need over eleven or thirteen rounds? Longer events count more games, so the bands move up in half points. These are the Grandmaster bands for the two most common longer lengths. Score needed for a Grandmaster norm in an eleven round event: | Score | Average opponent rating | | --- | --- | | 9 of 11 | 2380 to 2388 | | 8.5 of 11 | 2389 to 2424 | | 8 of 11 | 2425 to 2466 | | 7.5 of 11 | 2467 to 2497 | | 7 of 11 | 2498 to 2534 | | 6.5 of 11 | 2535 to 2563 | | 6 of 11 | 2564 to 2599 | | 5.5 of 11 | 2600 to 2635 | | 5 of 11 | 2636 to 2664 | | 4.5 of 11 | 2665 to 2701 | | 4 of 11 | 2702 or more | Clause: B01 Annex, 11 rounds. Score needed for a Grandmaster norm in a thirteen round event: | Score | Average opponent rating | | --- | --- | | 10.5 of 13 | 2380 to 2388 | | 10 of 13 | 2389 to 2424 | | 9.5 of 13 | 2425 to 2458 | | 9 of 13 | 2459 to 2489 | | 8.5 of 13 | 2490 to 2512 | | 8 of 13 | 2513 to 2542 | | 7.5 of 13 | 2543 to 2570 | | 7 of 13 | 2571 to 2599 | | 6.5 of 13 | 2600 to 2628 | | 6 of 13 | 2629 to 2656 | | 5.5 of 13 | 2657 to 2686 | | 5 of 13 | 2687 or more | Clause: B01 Annex, 13 rounds. ## How does the rating floor change a Grandmaster average? If the lowest rated opponent is under the floor, that opponent counts at the floor when the average is worked out. For the Grandmaster title the floor is 2200 (B01 1.4.6). Only that one opponent is lifted, in every game you play against them. Worked out here: nine opponents, eight rated 2402 and one rated 1900. Counted at their own ratings they average 2346, under the minimum of 2380 (B01 1.4.8). With the lowest lifted to 2200 the average is 2380, which meets it. The floor limits how far one weak opponent can lower the average; it does not stop a field of weak opponents from missing the line, and the games against the lifted opponent still count toward your total. ## Which opponents does a nine round Grandmaster norm field need? The mix is counted in opponents. In a nine round event the annex asks for at least 3 (B01 Annex, 9 rounds) opponents holding GM and at least 5 (B01 Annex, 9 rounds) holding any title that counts for the Grandmaster mix. Worked out here: a field of 3 holding GM, 2 holding another counting title and 4 untitled players meets both counts. Trade one of the 3 for a player holding a different counting title and the total of titled opponents is unchanged, but the count of GM falls one short. ## How many events will your games add up to? The total is set by games, not by events. Norms must cover at least 27 games (B01 1.5.1), and a single event adds at most 13 games (B01 1.7). Worked out here: with nine round events that is 3 events, and with thirteen round events it is 3; two events can add at most 26, so two are never enough. ## What the Grandmaster title really measures The Grandmaster title is a record of performances, not a rating you cross and collect. The rating of 2500 (B01 1.5.3) is the entry ticket, and it only has to have been reached once, published or not. The real work is in the results, against opposition that is itself strong. In practice the path is a few tournaments in which everything lines up: the score, the strength of the field, the mix of titled players and the mix of federations. A great score in the wrong field does not count. That is why players rated well above the entry level can still wait a long time. Your norm events must add up to at least 27 (B01 1.5.1) games, and one event counts for at most 13 (B01 1.7) games. A single big open cannot carry an application alone, so expect several events. ## Reading the numbers that decide each result The required performance rating, at least 2600 (B01 1.4.8), comes from your opponents' average and your score, and that average is not the printed one. The lowest-rated opponent is lifted to 2200 (B01 1.4.6) if rated below it, and an unrated opponent counts as 1400 (B01 1.4.6). Only one opponent is lifted, so a long tail of weak players still pulls the average down. The average has to reach 2380 (B01 1.4.8). A field with a few stars and many weaker players can look impressive and still miss it, so count it the way the rules do before you enter. The mix is a separate test. At least 50% (B01 1.4.5a) of your opponents must hold a GM, IM, FM, WGM, WIM or WFM title, and at least 1/3 (B01 1.4.5b) of them, and not fewer than 3 (B01 1.4.5b), must be grandmasters. You also need opponents from at least 2 (B01 1.4.3) federations other than your own, with no more than 3/5 (B01 1.4.4) from your own and no more than 2/3 (B01 1.4.4) from any other single one. ## Where plans usually fall short An easy mistake is entering an event for its prestige without checking the mix. A strong Swiss with few grandmasters, or a closed event with players mostly from one federation, can leave you short after a fine tournament. Count titles and federations before you pay the entry fee, and again when the pairings appear. The next is the event itself. A norm needs at least 9 (B01 1.4.1) games. The exceptions cover some team and cup events and, within a limit, a forfeit win or a bye given by the pairings, but not a bye you request, which can cost a short event its norm. One of your norms must also come from an event with at least 3 (B01 1.1.3) days of one round a day. Last is the paperwork. Check that the event was registered at least 30 (B01 1.1.1) days before it started, and keep the crosstable and regulations of every event. ## Planning a year of events and preparation Start from the requirements and work backwards. Pick a handful of events where the field and schedule suit a norm, and treat the rest of the calendar as rating and form building. A few well-chosen events usually beat many chosen for convenience. Prepare for the opposition you will really meet: strong, titled players from several federations. Work on openings for that group and on staying sharp over a long event, and plan rest and travel as seriously as openings. After each round, update your projected performance rating and the score you still need. The record tells you early when an event has stopped being a norm event. ## Where a coach and the free tools fit A coach helps with two jobs: finding the weaknesses that cost points against strong players, and choosing events that fit the rules. In a first lesson, George reviews your games and builds a plan around the events you intend to play. Two free tools do the checking. The title requirements checker shows what your whole application still needs, and the title norm calculator takes one event's opponents and results, played or expected, and tests them against the rules above. ## Frequently asked questions **How many games must my norms cover for the Grandmaster title?** Your norms must cover at least 27 games (B01 1.5.1) in total, and one event counts for at most 13 games (B01 1.7). The Handbook does not state a number of norms. **Which rating do I need before I can apply for the Grandmaster title?** A rating of 2500 (B01 1.5.3) reached at some time. It does not have to be a published rating. **Does the Grandmaster title last for life?** Yes. A FIDE title is valid for life (B01 0.4). Checked against the FIDE Handbook edition dated 1 January 2024 on 2026-10-19. ## Related - [FIDE chess titles](https://georgelichess.com/titles.md) - [How to become an International Master](https://georgelichess.com/titles/international-master.md) - [How to become a FIDE Master](https://georgelichess.com/titles/fide-master.md) - [How to become a Candidate Master](https://georgelichess.com/titles/candidate-master.md) - [How to become a Woman Grandmaster](https://georgelichess.com/titles/woman-grandmaster.md) - [How to become a Woman International Master](https://georgelichess.com/titles/woman-international-master.md) - [Chess title requirements checker](https://georgelichess.com/tools/title-requirements.md) - [Chess title norm calculator](https://georgelichess.com/tools/title-norm-calculator.md)