How does one become a Chess Master?

There are three main official master titles awarded by FIDE, the international chess federation:

FIDE master - you have to achieve a FIDE rating of 2300. Ratings are given and changed when you compete in FIDE rated tournaments (most major tournaments in the world). The rating you get is determined by your score in the tournament and the ratings of your opponents.

International Master - a higher award. You must gain a number of "norms" (at the moment I believe it is 3) by performing in tournaments at a certain level. E.g. a tournament may have an IM norm of 6.5 out of 10, based on the strength of the players in the tourney. If you score 6.5 points or more, you get a norm. You also need to have a rating of 2400 as well.

International Grandmaster - the highest master award. Gained the same way as for IM but the requires score for a GM norm is greater. In that tournament you may need to score say 8/10 to gain a GM norm.

There are a few other ways - e.g. if you win a zonal tournament (qualification round for the world championship title) you automatically become an IM, no norms needed.

There are also a few other titles, such as WGM, Woman Grandmaster, Candidate Master, etc.

If you are white and want to become a grandmaster, you must learn to play chess well enough that you gain a world Elo rating for standard chess of 2500 or more, and gain a required number of "norms" (favorable results) during tournament games involving opponents at or above your current title level.

If you are BLACK and want to be given a title that is called "grandmaster," then you can get it even if your world Elo rating for standard chess is somewhere in the 2300s. Outwardly, it will appear to be the same title that whites must be better players to get, and almost no one will come up to you and say that you got your title upon reduced standards. Almost.

gd question.

Unfortunately wearing a Tuxedo and bringing your own handmade ivory chess set won't fool them into thinking your a master. Usually a master refers to someone with a certain number of points in the Chess Federation, which are gained through participating/ winning matches in chess tournaments.

Hope this helped.

Hi,

Yes! You have to practice and win quite a lot. You may like to visit my web page - link below. Everything you ever wanted to know about chess but were afraid to ask. PRINT any orthodox chess set and board in the world - FREE! I hope this is helpful for you.

Yours,

Chesmayne.