Direct title

A direct title is earned by achieving a placing, score, or result that FIDE, the International Chess Federation, has explicitly linked to a title in a specified competition. The achievement listed in the table creates entitlement to that title without completing the ordinary norm or rating route, depending on the title. The same table can also award direct norms, but a norm and a title are not the same thing.

Examples from the table effective in 2026

• In the open World Cup, reaching the last 16 earns Grandmaster (GM), while qualifying for the World Cup through play earns International Master (IM).
• In the open Chess Olympiad, a 65 percent score over at least nine games can earn FIDE Master (FM), while 50 percent over at least seven games can earn Candidate Master (CM).

Each competition has its own conditions, so there is no single formula for every direct title. Also, “direct” does not necessarily mean “unconditional.” FIDE can make the title conditional on rating, a number used to estimate competitive strength. If the player has not yet reached the minimum for immediate award, the entitlement remains conditional until that requirement is met. The result must also be reported and processed by the relevant authorities.