Explanation
Correspondence Chess Expert, abbreviated CCE, is a player title awarded by the , or ICCF. In correspondence chess, moves are transmitted remotely, normally through a server, and time controls are much longer than in over-the-board play.
CCE belongs to ICCF's international title ladder. It sits immediately below . Once confirmed and registered, the title is not limited in time.
The usual qualification route
The standard route requires two or more CCE results in qualifying international title tournaments, covering at least 24 qualifying games in total. A title result is commonly called a norm: a performance reaching the required score in an eligible event. When a player scores sufficiently above the required mark, that excess, called overscoring, can reduce the effective number of games required.
Direct routes also exist for specific championship results. For example, the 2026 rules award CCE for scoring at least 60 percent of the possible points in the World Correspondence Chess Ladies' Championship Final. Exact conditions belong to the ICCF rules in force for the event.
Usage and context
CCE is a correspondence title. It does not by itself award an equivalent over-the-board title from , the International Chess Federation.
Common confusions
CCE and CCM
CCE is the lower of the two levels. CCM requires Correspondence Chess Master results.
View termICCF title and over-the-board title
They are credentials from different systems, each with its own rules, competitions, and rating numbers used to estimate playing strength.
Sources
- 1.ICCF Rules (Valid from 1 January 2026), International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF)
- 2.ICCF Achievements, International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF)
- 3.ICCF Definitions and Acronyms, International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF)
