grandmasters

Grandmaster (GM) is the highest title awarded by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) to chess players. It denotes a high level of achievement and is considered a lifetime designation; once awarded, the title does not expire with age or inactivity. The title is open to players of any nationality or gender, with Women Grandmaster (WGM) as a separate title for female players.

To earn the GM title, a player must achieve three grandmaster norms in FIDE-approved tournaments and reach a FIDE rating of at least 2500 at some point. Norms are performance benchmarks attained in events that meet specific eligibility criteria, including the strength and diversity of opponents.

FIDE introduced the title in 1950; the first recipients numbered 27. Since then, players from many countries have earned the designation, which remains in force for life regardless of later results. The GM title is widely regarded as the pinnacle of competitive chess achievement and is held by many world champions and top professionals.

Among well-known GMs are former and current world champions, world-class opponents, and leading figures in international chess. In contemporary discourse, the term grandmaster is sometimes used informally to refer to a player of exceptional skill, and a related, unofficial label, "super grandmaster," is applied to players rated above about 2700.