WGM norm

A WGM norm is a tournament performance that satisfies the requirements of FIDE, the International Chess Federation, for the Woman Grandmaster title, abbreviated WGM. A norm is not the complete title. It is a certifiable result that can count toward the qualification route. A FIDE rating is a number that estimates a player's competitive strength from her results.

The main numerical measure is performance rating, a number calculated from the player's score percentage and the average rating of her opponents. For a WGM norm, the performance must be at least 2400, and the opponents' average rating must be at least 2180. Those numbers alone are not sufficient. The event and opponent field must also meet rules involving the number of games, titled opponents, and representation from different national federations.

Titled opponents

Among the additional requirements, at least one third of the opponents, with a minimum of three, must be WGMs, IMs, or GMs. WGM means Woman Grandmaster; IM and GM mean International Master and Grandmaster, open titles that players of any sex may earn. FIDE also requires a minimum overall proportion of recognized title holders among the opponents.

Under the ordinary norm route, the WGM title requires norms covering at least 27 games and a FIDE rating of 2300 reached at some point. That is not the only route: designated championship results can award direct titles or direct norms under a separate table. A formal title application documents that the relevant conditions have been met.