How to achieve an ICCF Title

1. Title Norms As most people will be aware, ICCF awards Titles in recognition of players’ achievements! Briefly, qualification for these Titles is dependent upon achieving Norms (linked to Ratings) in ICCF International Title events. Listed below are the various ICCF Titles with the minimum Rating performances required to achieve a Norm in each:

• - 2600 Senior

• International Master - 2500

• International Master - 2450

• Ladies Grandmaster - 2300

• International Ladies Master - 2150

Note: Title Norms valid only in ICCF International Title events with at least 8 games.

2. How Norms are calculated Title Norms are dependant upon Average rating of event e.g. Average Rating of 2401 is Category 7 whereas Average Rating of 2360 is only Category 5. With 15 players at Category 7, 8.0 points are required for a Norm for the International Master Title whereas, at Category 5, 9.0 points are required. Full details of norms for all Titles at all Categories of Tournament are listed in the "Table of Title Norms" shown elsewhere on this site.

3. Grandmaster One of the following:

• 2 or more GM Norms – minimum 24 games

• 1st – 3rd places in World Championships Final

• Best result on Board 1, Olympiad Final (tiebreak if required)

Notes:

i. At least 5 of the 24 games must be against players who are already GM’s or who have Fixed Ratings of at least 2600. 2 SIM players each may substitute a maximum of 2 of this quota of GM’s.

ii. The previous concession whereby players who gain one or more GM norms with at least 14 games provided they had fixed ratings of at least 2550 or are FIDE GM’s without a published ICCF rating but with a FIDE rating of at least 2600 prior to the commencement of the tournament(s) is still applicable in those events which commenced or were approved prior to the ICCF Congress 2002, conditional to there being the same quota of GM’s as above. 4. Senior International Master • 2 or more SIM Norms – minimum 24 games

Notes:

i. Players who already held IM Norms prior to 01.10.2000, or who achieved IM Norms in events which started prior to 01.10.2000, may count one such IM Norm (maximum 14 games) towards the SIM Title.

ii. The previous concession whereby players who gain two or more SIM norms with at least 18 games provided they had fixed ratings of at least 2500 prior to the commencement of the tournament(s) is still applicable in those events which commenced or were approved prior the ICCF Congress 2002.

5. International Master One of the following:

• 2 or more IM Norms – minimum 24 games

• Qualification to World Championship Final or a Norm in a ¾ Final

• 1st place in Ladies World Championship Final

• 1st place in ICCF World Cup Final

Notes:

i. The previous concession whereby players who gain an IM norm with at least 8 games provided they had fixed ratings of at least 2450 prior to the commencement of the tournament(s) is still applicable in those events which commenced or were approved prior to the ICCF Congress 2002.

ii. Similarly, the IM title may still be achieved by those players who gain IM norms with at least 14 games in events that commenced or were approved prior to the ICCF Congress 2002. However, those players who hold only norms with less than 14 games in events that commenced or were approved prior to the ICCF Congress 2002 will now be required to meet the new specification of 2 or more norms with at least 24 games.

6. Ladies Grandmaster One of the following:

i. 2 or more Norms – minimum 24 games

ii. 1st – 3rd places in Ladies World Championship Final

iii. Best result on Board 1, Ladies Olympiad Final (tiebreak if required)

Notes: i. The previous concession whereby players who gain an LGM norm with at least 8 games provided they had fixed ratings of at least 2250 prior to the commencement of the tournament(s) is still applicable in those events which commenced or were approved prior to the ICCF Congress 2002.

ii. Similarly, the LGM title may still be achieved by those players who gain LGM norms with at least 12 games in events that commenced or were approved prior to the ICCF Congress 2002. However, those players who hold only norms with less than 12 games in events that commenced or were approved prior to the ICCF Congress 2002 will now be required to meet the new specification of 1 or more norms with at least 24 games.

7. Ladies International Master One of the following:

• 1 or more Norms – minimum 24 games

• 60% in Ladies World Championship Final or Board 1, Ladies Olympiad Final

Notes:

i. The previous concession whereby players who gain an LIM norms with at least 8 games provided they had fixed ratings of at least 2100 prior to the commencement of the tournament(s) is still applicable in those events which commenced or were approved prior to the ICCF Congress 2002.

ii. Similarly, the LIM title may still be achieved by those players who gain LIM norms with at least 12 games in events that commenced or were approved prior to the ICCF Congress 2002. However, those players who hold only norms with less than 12 games in events that commenced or were approved prior to the ICCF Congress 2002 will now be required to meet the new specification of 1 or more norms with at least 24 games.

8. This is the only award not dependent upon achieving Title Norms!

One of the following:

• 4 years successful work in ICCF Title and/or events

• 6 years successful work in ICCF Title and/or Promotion events with a break

Finally, one more special provision: all national federations may submit to the ICCF Congress appropriately qualified applications on behalf of players for the award of all of the above Titles. However, approval of all such applications requires a 2/3-majority vote of the Congress.

By George Pyrich (former ICCF Qualifications Commissioner)

i. The previous concession whereby players who gain an LIM norms with at least 8 games provided they had fixed ratings of at least 2100 prior to the commencement of the tournament(s) is still applicable in those events which commenced or were approved prior to the ICCF Congress 2002. ii. Similarly, the LGM title may still be achieved by those players who gain LGM norms with at least 12 games in events that commenced or were approved prior to the ICCF Congress 2002. However, those players who hold only norms with less than 12 games in events that commenced or were approved prior to the ICCF Congress 2002 will now be required to meet the new specification of 1 or more norms with at least 24 games. iii. Players who already held IM Norms prior to 01.10.2000, or who achieved IM Norms in events which started prior to 01.10.2000, may count one such IM Norm (maximum 14 games) towards the SIM Title. iv. The previous concession whereby players who gain two or more SIM norms with at least 18 games provided they had fixed ratings of at least 2500 prior to the commencement of the tournament(s) is still applicable in those events which commenced or were approved prior the ICCF Congress 2002.