Title Application Process Letter
Over the past few years the FIDE Qualification Commission has received a number of questions concerning the operation of the FIDE Title System. We have collected some of the more important questions and answers into a letter that we have distributed to all FIDE federations. QC feel that the updates and cases in the letter would be of interest to the general chess playing population, and so are publishing it here.
Shaun Press
Secretary, FIDE QC
FIDE Title Application Process
from the FIDE Qualification Commission
Dear Federation Rating Officer and Title Officials, I would like to thank you for the work you have carried out in the past year in helping FIDE provide a reliable and timely title service to your Federation members. The FIDE Qualification Commission (QC) recognise that this work is often voluntary, and we appreciate the sacrifice you have made in working with us. Without your assistance, players world wide would not be able to benefit from the important service that the FIDE Titles System provides. During the past 2 years QC has received a number of questions regarding the operation of the Titles System, and I would like to share some of the answers with you, to help make your job easier.
1) The Chief Arbiter signed off on a players title norm and submitted it to FIDE. Is that norm automatically valid?
No. The validity of norms is checked by FIDE QC when a title application is made. While submitted norms are listed at https://ratings.fide.com/titles_page.phtml, it states at the top of the page “The Norms are not confirmed by FIDE Qualification Commission.” Title applications and norms may be rejected by QC as part of the application process.
2) Why would a seemingly valid norm be rejected?
There are a number of reasons for a norm being rejected. The most obvious reasons are for administrative defects. These include missing signatures (Host Federation Official or Chief Arbiter), incomplete or incorrect information (dates don’t match tournament registration), or wrong norm regulations are being followed. Norms may also be rejected due to issues with the tournament itself. Two main issues are (a) the pairings for the event were altered to benefit one or more players. Even if it does not effect all players, norm from the entire event are invalid (b) failure to meet the exemption for foreign player
requirements for all rounds. Also, other issues about number of rounds, wins and losses by default, and the level and licensing status of the Chief Arbiter need to be checked.
3) A player has just made their third title norm. How long do they have to wait until the title is awarded?
Once the required number of title norms has been met there is still a process to be followed. Firstly, all tournaments from which norms are awarded must be rated on the FIDE Rating System (FRS). Then any title submission must be made 45 days before the next scheduled FIDE Council Meeting (FC). During this time FIDE QC will check the validity of the application, including the validity of each norm certificate submitted as part of the claim. If the claim is valid (and all other conditions have been met), then QC will recommend to FC that the title is to be awarded. New titles will be listed against a players
rating profile when the minutes of the FC meeting are published. NB This process is also followed for direct titles. QC will be informed by the Chief Arbiter of Direct Title events which players have earned direct titles. QC will then check the results to confirm this, and send the FIDE Titles Office the list of players who are eligible for direct titles (or titles conditional upon rating). The players Federation is then informed, and the player can apply for the title, which will be confirmed upon the payment of the title fee. In both cases, all applications must be made by the players Federation. Only if the federation refuses to do so then a player may use regulation B.01.1.10.4 “If the player’s federation refuses to apply, the player can appeal to FIDE and apply (and pay) for the title.” But even in this case QC will consult with the Federation on why they have declined to apply for the title.
4) How do ‘Live’ ratings work for titles?
Titles that are awarded when a player reaches a required rating, can be awarded based on live (or interim) ratings. These are ratings that are achieved in the middle of a rating period, rather than ratings that are published at the end of each rating period. The purpose of this is to avoid a situation where a player feels compelled to stop playing an event (or events) to maintain a rating for title purposes. For live ratings to be used, a player must specifically apply to FIDE QC for this to be checked. Only events that have been rated (and published on the FRS) can be used. QC officials will then check the rating reports of the event (and other simultaneous events) to see if the required rating has been achieved. If QC is satisfied that the rating has been achieved, then they can confirm the title, even if the next published rating is below the required rating.
5) Regulation B.0.1.4.1e allows players to ignore games played after a norm has been achieved. Does this apply to all events (eg Round Robin)?
Further reading of the regulation also states that this cannot be done in events with ‘pre-determined pairings’. Round robin events (individual) falls into this category, so no. Attempts to circumvent this regulation by withdrawing from such an event after a norm has been achieved will result in QC rejecting such a norm.
Case Studies
A) A player in a large open swiss event requested he not be paired against players from a specific federation. This request was agreed upon by the Chief Arbiter, and subsequently certain pairings in the tournament were changed. The decision by the Chief Arbiter breached the FIDE Title Regulation concerning altered pairings. Regulation B.01.1.4.2 excludes events from awarding title norms where “Tournaments in which changes are made which have the effect of benefiting one or more players (for example by altering the number of rounds, or the order of rounds, or providing particular opponents, not otherwise participating in the event).” NB This regulation invalidates all norms from the tournament, not just those involving affected players. A large number of title norms (and subsequent
title applications) were rejected as a result.
B) FIDE Title Regulations allow for a valid norm to be achieved even if the player received a forfeit win (B.01.1.4.1c). However this only applies to a 9 round event (In events of more than 9 rounds, the player can simply ignore the unplayed round). A player took part in a 7 round Continental Club Championship, but only played 6 games, receiving a final round forfeit. His federation applied to QC to recognise the norm from the event. QC rejected this claim on a number of grounds. QC does not confirm norms, but only checks them as part of a title application. Secondly, the regulations regarding forfeited games only applied to 9 round events. Finally, no norm certificate was signed by the Chief Arbiter for the player concerned.
C) QC and FIDE Titles have received applications for FM and CM titles from players who started with initially high ratings, or as a claim for a Direct Title from an eligible event (eg Zonal Championship). We have rejected a number of these as the players have not played a minimum of 30 rated games (Regulation B.01.0.6.2). If the player maintains the required rating after playing 30 rated games, then the title will be approved. D) A player applied for a GM title based on historical results from over 20 years ago. Despite attempts by QC to find authoritative sources for both the results, and interim ratings for the player, we were unable to do so, due to the passage of time. Regulation B.01.1.5.5 states “Title norms gained before 01/07/2005 must have been registered with FIDE before 31/07/2013 or they will be considered to have expired.” While QC is sympathetic to such cases, this regulation is in place to cover this issue.
