International Grandmaster

The title International Grandmaster is awarded to world-class chess masters by the world chess organization FIDE. Apart from "World Champion", Grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can attain.

Related Topics:
Chess - FIDE

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It is a lifetime title, in chess literature usually abbreviated as GM or IGM (this is in contrast to FM for FIDE Master and IM for International Master.

Related Topics:
FIDE Master - International Master

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GM, IM, and FM are open to both men and women. A separate gender-segregated title, WGM for Woman Grandmaster, is also available, but is something of a misnomer. It is awarded for a level of skill between that of a FIDE Master and an International Master. In 1991 Susan Polgar became the first woman to earn the GM title under the same conditions as the men, and these days most of the top 10 women hold the GM title.

Related Topics:
Woman Grandmaster - Misnomer - Susan Polgar

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The requirements for becoming a Grandmaster are somewhat complex. A player must have an ELO chess rating of at least 2500 at one time (although they need not maintain this level to keep the title). A rating of 2400 or higher is required to become an International Master. In addition, three favorable results (called norms) in tournaments involving other Grandmasters, including some from countries other than the applicant's, are usually required before FIDE will confer the title on a player. There are other milestones a player can achieve to get the title, such as winning the World Junior Championship. Current regulations may be found in the FIDE Handbook http://www.fide.com/official/handbook.asp?level=B0101.

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International Grandmaster titles are also awarded to correspondence chess players, and composers and solvers of chess problems.

Related Topics:
Correspondence chess - Chess problem

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