International
Chess Federation
CONTENTS Handbook
Table for Direct Titles effective from 1 January 2026
|
DIRECT TITLES : |
Gold = first after tiebreak; 1st equal = maximum 3 best players after tiebreak4; norm = 9 games Regional = maximum 3 regional Junior/Youth events per continent + Arab Youth Individual (Every continent may ask the FC to approve additional 4th event if this request is well-motivated, with the mandatory QC opinion) Sub-Continental Individual = include Zonals & Sub-zonals (if they establish direct qualifiers to World Cup or World Championship – see 1.23) Titles may be awarded conditional upon rating – see FIDE Title Regulations 0.6.2, 1.2.3 |
Table 1.23a
Women’s Events
|
EVENT |
WGM |
WIM |
WFM |
WCM |
|
Women’s World Cup |
Reaching last 8 - title |
Qualifying through play - title1 |
|
|
|
Women’s Olympiad |
|
|
65% in min 9 games2 - title |
50% in min 7 games2 - title |
|
Women’s World Team / Women’s World Club |
|
|
65% in min 7 games2 - title |
50% in min 7 games2 – title |
|
Women’s World Amateur - <2300, <2000 |
|
|
Gold - title |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
Women’s World Amateur <1700 |
|
|
|
Gold - title
|
|
Women’s World >65; >50 Individual |
Gold – title; |
Silver & Bronze - title |
|
|
|
Girls World U18 |
Gold – title; |
Silver & Bronze - title |
|
|
|
Girls World U17 |
Gold – norm |
Gold – title; |
Silver & Bronze - title |
|
|
Girls World U16; U15; U14 |
|
Gold – title; |
Silver & Bronze - title |
|
|
Girls World U13; U12 |
|
|
1st equal – title |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
Girls World U11; U10; U9; U8; U7 |
|
|
|
Gold, Silver & Bronze - title |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Women's Continental Team (or Club) |
|
|
65% in min 7 games2 - title |
50% in min 7 games2 – title |
|
Women’s Continental Individual |
Gold – title; |
Silver & Bronze - title |
|
|
|
Women’s Arab Individual |
Gold - title |
Silver & Bronze - title |
|
|
|
Women’s Continental >65; >50 Individual |
Gold – norm |
1st equal – title; |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
|
Women’s Regional U20 |
Gold – norm |
Gold – title; |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
|
Girl’s Continental U18 |
|
Gold – title; |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
|
Girl’s Regional U18 |
|
Gold – title |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
|
Girl’s Continental U17; Cont. & Regional U16 |
|
Gold – norm |
1st equal – title |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
Girl’s Cont. U15; U14; U13; U12 |
|
|
1st equal – title |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
Girl’s Regional U14; U12 |
|
|
Gold – title |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
Women’s Continental Amateur <2300 |
|
|
|
Gold Silver & Bronze - title |
|
Women’s Continental Amateur |
|
|
|
Gold - title |
|
Women’s Sub-Continental Individual |
|
1st equal – title; |
Silver & Bronze – title |
50% in min 9 games2 - title |
|
Commonwealth, Francophone, |
|
1st equal – title; |
Silver & Bronze - title |
|
|
Disabled - Women’s World U20 5 |
|
|
1st equal – title |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
Disabled –Women’s Olympiad5 |
|
|
|
65% - in min 7 games2 - title |
|
Disabled - Women’s Continental Individual5 |
|
|
1st equal = title |
Silver, Bronze = title |
|
Disabled - Women’s Continental U205 |
|
|
|
Gold, Silver, Bronze = title |
|
ASEAN U20 |
|
Gold - Norm |
Silver & Bronze - Title |
|
|
ASEAN U18 |
|
|
Gold &Silver - Title |
Bronze - Title |
|
ASEAN U16, U14 |
|
|
1st equal - Title |
Silver & Bronze - Title |
|
ASEAN U12, U10, U8 |
|
|
|
Gold, Silver, Bronze - Title |
Table 1.23b
|
EVENT |
GM |
IM |
FM |
CM |
|
World Cup |
Reaching last 16 - title |
Qualification through play - title1 |
|
|
|
Women’s World Cup |
Winner – title; |
Finalist - title |
|
|
|
Olympiad |
|
|
65% in min 9 games2 - title |
50% in min 7 games2- title |
|
World Team (or Club) |
|
|
65% in min 7 games2 - title |
50% in min 7 games2 – title |
|
World Amateur - <2300, <2000 |
|
|
Gold - title |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
World Amateur <1700 |
|
|
|
Gold - title
|
|
World >65; >50 Individual |
Gold – title; |
Silver & Bronze - title |
|
|
|
World U18 |
Gold – title; |
Silver & Bronze - title |
|
|
|
World U17 |
Gold – norm |
Gold – title; |
Silver & Bronze - title |
|
|
World U16; U15; U14 |
|
Gold – title; |
Silver & Bronze - title |
|
|
World U13; U12 |
|
|
1st equal – title |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
World U11; U10; U9; U8 ; U7 |
|
|
|
Gold, Silver & Bronze - title |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Continental Team (or Club) |
|
|
65% in min 7 games2 - title |
50% in min 7 games2 – title |
|
Continental Individual |
Gold – title; |
Silver & Bronze - title |
|
|
|
Arab Individual |
Gold – title |
Silver & Bronze - title |
|
|
|
Continental >65; >50 Individual |
Gold – norm |
1st equal – title; |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
|
Regional U20 |
Gold – norm |
Gold – title; |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
|
Continental U18 |
|
Gold – title; |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
|
Regional U18 |
|
Gold – title |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
|
Continental U17; Cont. & Regional U16 |
|
Gold – norm |
1st equal – title |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
Cont. U15; U14; U13; U12 |
|
|
1st equal – title |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
Regional U14; U12 |
|
|
Gold – title |
Silver & Bronze – title |
|
Continental Amateur < 2300 |
|
|
|
Gold Silver & Bronze - title |
|
Continental Amateur < 2000 |
|
|
|
Gold - title |
|
Sub-Continental Individual |
|
1st equal – title; |
Silver & Bronze – title |
50% in min 9 games2 - title |
|
Commonwealth, Francophone, |
|
1st equal – title; |
Silver & Bronze - title |
|
|
Disabled - World U205 |
|
|
1st equal – title |
Silver & Bronze – title
|
|
Disabled -Olympiad5 |
|
|
|
65% in min 7 games2 - title |
|
Disabled -Continental Individual5 |
|
|
1st equal = title |
Silver, Bronze = title |
|
Disabled - Continental U205 |
|
|
|
Gold, Silver, Bronze = title |
|
ASEAN U20 |
|
Gold - Norm |
Silver & Bronze - Title |
|
|
ASEAN U18 |
|
|
Gold &Silver - Title |
Bronze - Title |
|
ASEAN U16, U14 |
|
|
1st equal - Title |
Silver & Bronze - Title |
|
ASEAN U12, U10, U8 |
|
|
|
Gold, Silver, Bronze - Title |
1 - Qualification through play - a player's finishing position is sufficient to be eligible for one of the qualification places to the World Cup that that tournament provides (after tie-breaks are applied). NB A player does not need to participate in the World Cup to be awarded the title. Players who are selected as replacements due to an eligible player not taking up their place (or for a player who has also qualified via other means) have not ‘Qualified through play’
2 - For titles requiring a minimum number of games (9 games or more) - Games lost by forfeit do not count towards the minimum required number of games. Games won by forfeit count for the minimum number of games, but the player's percentage score is calculated only using the games played (eg +4=3-1+1 forfeit win = 5.5/8 = 69%). Scores including a Bye include that round for the minimum number of games, but the players percentage score is calculated only using the games played (eg +3=1-4 + 1 Bye = 3.5/8 = 44%) Only 1 game may be missed due to forfeit or bye. This regulation does not apply for 7 or 8 round norms and titles.
3 - No other events of this type may award direct titles without the recommendation of the FIDE Qualification Commission and the approval of the FIDE Council.
4 - Direct titles and norms will be awarded according to the final standings provided by the Chief Arbiter of the event.
5 - Titles from Disabled events can only be awarded for a single event covering all disabilities, as determined by the FIDE Players with Disabilities Commission, in consultation with the FIDE Qualification Commission.
01. Non-Elected Commissions
02. Financial Regulations
03. Electoral Rules
08. FIDE Ethics
01. International Title Regulations (Qualification Commission)
Table for Direct Titles
02. FIDE Rating Regulations (Qualification Commission)
03. Regulations on Registration & Licensing of Players
04. Registration, Transfer & Rules of Eligibility for Player
06. Regulations for the Titles of Arbiters
B.06.4 – Regulations for the Appointment of Arbiters in World Events effective from 10 November 2025
07. Regulations for the Titles of Trainers / FIDE Endorsed Academies
08. Regulations for Accreditation in Chess in Education
09. Regulations on Seminars & Title Award for Organizers
11. FIDE Online Arena Regulations
C.02. Chess Equipment Technical Specifications, Rules, and Regulations
04. FIDE Swiss Rules
C.04.1 Basic rules for Swiss Systems
C.04.2 General handling rules for Swiss Tournaments
C.04.3 FIDE (Dutch) System
C.04.4 Other FIDE-approved Pairing Systems
C.04.6 Swiss Team Pairing System
C.04.7 FIDE-approved Accelerated Systems
07. Play-Off and Tie-Break Regulations
08. FIDE Chess Calendar
01. FIDE Individual World Championship Cycles
02. Chess Olympiad
02. Olympiad Pairing Rules
03. Cycle for Competitions for Men`s and Women`s National Teams
04. Other FIDE Competitions
01. General Regulations for FIDE Competitions
14. Bids Evaluation Criteria
19. FIDE World Corporate Chess Championship
07. Regulations for the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships
01. Laws of Chess