Achieving Grandmaster Title in Chess

A graduate of the University of Lagos, Dr. Imafidon Thomas Izekor has spent seven years as a family physician in Regina, Saskatchewan. Beyond his work in the Saskatchewan Health Authority Department of Family Medicine, Dr. Imafidon Thomas Izekor enjoys Grandmaster-level chess software.

In the game of chess, “Grandmaster,” or GM, is a title given to players by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) denoting exceptional skill and achievements. World Champion is the only higher rank a player can achieve. Once an individual has achieved Grandmaster status, they typically retain the title for life, barring a chess-related scandal, such as cheating.

There are only two primary qualifications needed to become a Grandmaster of chess, though they are both complex and difficult. To begin, a player must achieve a FIDE rating, based on Elo ranking methodology, of at least 2,500. This number can occur at any time during a player’s career and does not need to be maintained in order to continue using the Grandmaster title. For reference, a player is considered to be of professional caliber at about 2,400, with 2,882 standing as the highest rating in FIDE history.

Next, players must compete in at least 27 games at tournaments and achieve favorable results, referred to as “norms,” at least twice. The definition of a norm can vary from one situation to the next, but important criteria include a minimum of 50 percent of opponents being titled players, with one third being Grandmasters, and at least two opponents hailing from a different federation than the player in question. To succeed at the highest levels of the game, individuals will need to consistently practice and refine their strategies in order to outwit skilled players utilizing a diverse range of tactics.