ICCF International Master

ICCF International Master, abbreviated IM, is a player title of the International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF). It recognizes strong international results in correspondence chess, where moves are transmitted remotely and players receive long reflection times. The title is not limited in time.

A norm is a regulated minimum performance in an event eligible for titles. An overscore is a result at least half a point above the score required for a norm and may reduce the total number of games required. Current routes to the IM title include:

• Qualifying for the World Correspondence Chess Championship Final or earning a master norm in a Candidates tournament.
• Winning the World Correspondence Chess Ladies' Championship.
• Achieving two or more master results in international title tournaments, normally across at least 24 games. A sufficient overscore may reduce that total.
• Receiving a specially qualified national-federation application approved by two thirds of the ICCF Congress.

In the ICCF hierarchy, IM stands below Senior International Master and Grandmaster. The abbreviation IM also exists in FIDE, the International Chess Federation, but the two titles belong to different organizations and competitive systems.