What is a FIDE Rating?
The FIDE rating is an international chess rating system used to calculate the relative skill levels of players. Managed by FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs), the world chess federation, these ratings reflect a player’s performance and are recognized globally.
How to Obtain a FIDE Rating
To get a FIDE rating, players must participate in FIDE-rated tournaments. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Start Playing in Rated Tournaments: Find and register for FIDE-rated chess tournaments. These tournaments have official recognition and follow FIDE rules.
- Scoring Points: During these tournaments, players earn points based on their performance against other rated players.
- Minimum Score for Rating: Players must achieve a performance rating of at least 1400 to receive a FIDE rating. This typically involves scoring against already rated players in multiple games to establish a reliable rating.
- Initial Rating: Once a player accumulates the required performance, FIDE will assign an initial rating starting from 1400 to 2200.
Understanding National Chess Ratings
A national chess rating is a metric used to assess a player’s skill level within their own country, managed by the national chess federation. In the United States, this is overseen by the United States Chess Federation (USCF). Players can obtain a USCF rating by participating in USCF-rated tournaments, where their performance against other rated players is evaluated. National ratings are essential for ranking players locally, determining eligibility for school and college sports scholarships, and qualifying for national teams. They provide a stepping stone towards achieving higher international FIDE ratings and titles.
Upcoming Indian Bharat Rating System
In India, the All India Chess Federation (AICF) will be introducing the Indian Bharat rating system in the next three months. This new national rating system will help further standardize and enhance the ranking of chess players within the country, providing more localized metrics to support player development and recognition.
Elo Rating Change Calculator
This section will calculate the change in a player's Elo rating after playing a single game against another player. The value K is the maximum change in rating.Where to Find Chess Events
Finding the right tournaments is essential. Here are some resources:
- chessfee.com: Lists various chess tournaments with registration details.
- easypaychess.com: Another platform for finding and registering for chess events.
- aicf.in: The official site of the All India Chess Federation, providing information on tournaments in India.
- Tip: Google: Your Country or State or District + Chess Association/Federation + Tournament Calendar
- fide.com: The official FIDE website, which has a comprehensive tournament calendar.
- USChess.org for tournaments in the United States.
- Chess.com They have a comprehensive calendar that lists major international and national tournaments
- The Week in Chess: This news website offers weekly summaries of major chess events.
- Chessdom: This website covers chess events primarily in Europe and North America.
Sports Quota in Chennai
In Chennai, to be eligible for the sports quota in educational institutions, the rating requirements are:
- Boys: 1800 and above.
- Girls: 1700 and above.
In Velammal School Mogappair, which is a popular choice for chess players, a rating of 1700 or 1800 can also bring some merit. The higher the rating, the more benefits you receive. Outside Chennai, the rating bar is slightly lower.
College Sports Quota
SRM College offers sports quotas, especially for players near or above the 2200 rating range. Many colleges provide some kind of sports quota or discount to chess players. It’s common for students with ratings as low as 1500 to receive sports quotas in colleges.
Government Job Quotas
For government jobs, such as positions in ICF or Indian Oil, a rating of 2200 for boys is the starting requirement, with higher ratings offering better opportunities.
Making Chess a Career
To make chess your main career, you should aim for a rating of at least 2200 for boys and 2000 for girls. These are approximate figures and achieving these ratings opens up more opportunities.
Raising Your Rating
Playing in international tournaments can be very beneficial for raising your rating. Chennai is considered one of the hardest places to increase your rating due to the high level of competition. Our academy takes students abroad twice a year to play in international events to help raise their ratings. Contact us for more information on these opportunities.
Understanding Chess Titles
FIDE awards titles based on performance and ratings:
- Candidate Master (CM): Achieve a rating of 2200.
- FIDE Master (FM): Achieve a rating of 2300.
- International Master (IM): Achieve a rating of 2400 and earn three IM norms (high-level tournament performances).
- Grandmaster (GM): Achieve a rating of 2500 and earn three GM norms.
- World Champion: The highest title, awarded to the winner of the World Chess Championship.
Highest Rankings in Chess
The highest rankings in chess are held by the top players in the world, with Magnus Carlsen being the former World Champion. The rankings are updated monthly by FIDE based on players’ performances in rated tournaments.
Summary
Understanding the FIDE rating system and chess titles is crucial for anyone serious about chess. Start by participating in FIDE-rated tournaments and scoring points against rated players. Use resources like chessfee.com, easypaychess.com, aicf.in, tnsca.in, and fide.com to find tournaments. Achieving high ratings and titles like FM, IM, and GM requires consistent performance and participation in high-level competitions. Playing internationally can significantly boost your rating. Contact our academy for opportunities to participate in international events and to get more detailed guidance on your chess journey.
