Chess titles are lifetime ranks that FIDE — the international chess federation — awards to strong players, from Candidate Master at the bottom up to Grandmaster at the top. Each title is earned by hitting a rating threshold and, for the higher ones, by scoring tournament norms. Once granted, a title is yours for life.
Think of them as chess’s belt system: a public, permanent stamp of how strong you’ve proven yourself against real competition.
The open titles (in order)
These are open to everyone, regardless of gender:
| Title | Abbrev. | Rating needed | Norms? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grandmaster | GM | 2500 | 3 GM norms |
| International Master | IM | 2400 | 3 IM norms |
| FIDE Master | FM | 2300 | none |
| Candidate Master | CM | 2200 | none |
A norm is a strong tournament result — roughly playing at a much higher level than the title’s floor across at least 9 games, against titled opponents from multiple countries. The top two titles need three norms plus the rating; the bottom two just need the rating.
The women’s titles
FIDE also offers a parallel set of women-only titles with lower thresholds. Important: women can (and do) earn the open titles above too — Judit Polgár was a full GM. These are extra options, not a ceiling:
| Title | Abbrev. | Rating needed | Norms? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woman Grandmaster | WGM | 2300 | 3 norms |
| Woman International Master | WIM | 2200 | 3 norms |
| Woman FIDE Master | WFM | 2100 | none |
| Woman Candidate Master | WCM | 2000 | none |
A few things to know
- Titles are for life. Your rating can fall afterward; the title stays.
- Non-playing titles exist too — FIDE also awards arbiter (referee) and trainer titles, which are earned through officiating and coaching, not playing strength.
- National titles are separate. For example, “National Master” (NM) is awarded by individual federations (like the US Chess Federation) and isn’t a FIDE title.
Related terms
- Grandmaster · International Master · FIDE Master — each title in detail
- Elo rating — the number behind every threshold
- See titled players on the famous players hub
- Back to the chess glossary
Frequently asked questions
What are the chess titles in order? From highest to lowest: Grandmaster (GM), International Master (IM), FIDE Master (FM), Candidate Master (CM).
Which chess title is the highest? Grandmaster (GM) — the peak, requiring a 2500 rating and three GM norms.
Can you lose a chess title? Not through a rating drop — titles are permanent. They can only be revoked in rare cases such as proven cheating.
Written and fact-checked by the Chess Lab Academy Editorial Team (AI-assisted, human-edited) · Title requirements verified against the FIDE Handbook and Wikipedia · Last verified 2026-07-13 · Sources · How we verify content.