Norm (chess)

Grandmaster norm

Main article: Grandmaster (chess)

To qualify for the title of Grandmaster (GM) of chess, a title awarded by FIDE, the World Chess Federation, a player must achieve three or more grandmaster norms in events covering a minimum of 27 games. Norms can only be gained in tournaments that fulfill FIDE's strict criteria: for instance, the entry must include at least three GM titled players from different countries playing over a minimum of nine rounds with not less than 120 minutes thinking time per round, assuming the game lasts 60 moves (so for instance 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move qualifies). There are a number of other more minor stipulations, such as that an International Arbiter must be officiating the event. Generally, players must achieve a tournament performance rating (TPR) of at least 2600 to earn a Grandmaster norm.

Norms can also be earned by placing highly enough in particular FIDE events. For example, Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux earned his first Grandmaster norm by virtue of winning the Under-18 section at the 2022 World Youth Chess Championship.

FIDE publishes the current title regulations on its website.

Other FIDE norms

There are also less strict norm requirements for the titles of International Master (IM), Woman International Master (WIM), and Woman Grandmaster (WGM).

In national organizations

In March 2009, the United States Chess Federation introduced its own title system. This system requires five norms in order to achieve titles at seven different levels, ranking from "Life Senior Master" down to "4th category". The requirements for these norms are less strict than those for FIDE norms.

References

References

1. (February 2016). "The US Chess Title System". US Chess Ratings Committee.
2. "Table for Direct Titles effective from 1 July 2017 till 31 December 2023".
3. "FIDE Title Regulations effective from 1 January 2024".
4. "Table for Direct Titles effective from 1 May 2025".