Chess Titles

So of course now that I’m playing chess everyone is harassing me about GM norms all the time, telling me to go get them, asking me if I’m going to try and etc etc. Well of course I’m going to try because for economic reasons. By having the GM title next to your name, you save a lot of money in entry fees, make money in conditions/fees, and get paid more for various tasks, and also command more respect in general. Despite all of these benefits though, I’m going to be sure not to let it influence my play or decisions at all. I’m simply going to attempt to play in a decent number of events where if I happen to do well, I’ll get a GM norm. And anyone who constantly harasses me about them, please stop, thanks! Just like you shouldn’t be norm/rating obsessed yourself, you shouldn’t be when it comes to other people as well, as it simply propagates the obsession that all of our young players have with ratings/norms etc, that often leads to a bit of stagnation and aiming for goals that are lower than their talent abilities.

One thing I’d like to do is create a new title system for myself, because if I do someday get the GM title, obviously I know that there would be a lot further to go. So here is my new title system, that I think the entire world should use, because we are at the point that the title “GM” doesn’t tell you anything anymore, when there are often 300-400 rating point gaps between the highest and lowest rated GM’s.

So…here it is below, and it assumes that everyone is a GM already, and the number in parenthesis is how many people are at that level, followed by what their minimum world rank would be:

2500 or less = Weak Grandmaster (not sure)

2500-2550 =  Normal Grandmaster (#540 – top 905)

2550-2600 = Solid Grandmaster (#178 – top 365)

2600-2650 = Strong Grandmaster (#88 – top 187)

2650-2700 = Very Strong Grandmaster (#57 – top 99)

2700-2750 = Super Grandmaster (#31 – top 42)

2750-2800 = Elite Grandmaster (#8 – top 11)

2800+ = World Championship Level Grandmaster (#3 – top 3 in World)

Now of course I know that the above makes it seem like I am obsessed with this stuff, but I promise you I’m not. First I think there needs to be more precise classification of top players, and secondly I want to make sure there is a very clear goal to achieve if I ever fulfill one of my goals. I will not pay extreme attention to it, but it’ll just happen to be this measuring stick that’s floating out there, so that after a tournament is over I can see where I stand.

So if by any chance I do one day earn the GM title, I will simply go for the next level of GM on my list, and that will be my very clear goal. By this I mean that I will attempt to get my playing strength to that level (not my actual rating!!). Once you play at a certain level, your rating automatically floats around that level anyway. I will be required to maintain it for 30 rated games in order to classify myself as that level of GM, so that it wasn’t just some fluke accident hot streak. But enough about that, maybe I should try to win my first chess game in six years before I get carried away talking about different levels of Grandmaster, because right now I still have enormous holes/weaknesses all over the place, and will be lucky if I can beat any of the big genius 12-13 year old’s that are all over the place these days. I start tomorrow, and I’m totally not ready yet, but that makes it a bit more fun. It’s more like a practice tournament so that when I do feel completely prepared in maybe 4-8 months or so, I’ll remember what it’s like to move a chess piece.