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Subject: Re: A Plea for Grandmaster Qualification Data

Author: David Blackman

Date: 00:34:14 01/02/00

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On January 01, 2000 at 12:45:29, Leon Stancliff wrote:

>To whom it may concern,
>
>  I am very much interested in determining as valid a criteria as possible for
>classifying computer chess playing programs as Grandmaster level. What number of
>games should be considered as reasonably reliable? What achievements should be
>evaluated?
>  Since Fide titled players are hesitant about allowing computers to compete in
>the higher class tournaments required for Grandmaster norms, there must be some
>alternative method. Let us see if we can develop something which will be as
>reliable as possible when compared with the FIDE qualifications for awarding of
>the GM title.
>  First, we need to know precisely what the Grandmaster norms are at present.
>Arpad Elo gives them in his book THE RATING OF CHESSPLAYERS, published in 1978.
>At that time it appears that 24 games was the required number. A performance
>rating of 2550 had to be achieved three times within a three years period. A
>percentage of 55% had to be scored against the GM opponents faced in the 24
>games.
>  If someone has this sort of information for present FIDE GM title
>qualification, will you please make it available on CCC?

Currently you need to have an actual FIDE rating of 2500 or higher, in addition
you need norms. A norm comes from performing at 2600 rating equivalent or better
in an international grandmaster tournament. To be an international grandmaster
tournament, there are some complicated rules, for average player rating, for
number of players who are already grandmasters, for players having to be from
several different countries etc. The norms have to be from at least two
tournaments, but usually three, totalling (i think) at least 25 games.

[ There are also several special ways to get the GM title which don't depend on
ratings and norms. ]

>  Second, someone suggested data giving the FIDE rating which present day GMs
>had at the time the title was awarded would be useful in determining whether the
>programs were performing at GM level. If you have the GM title and you know what
>your FIDE rating was at the time your title was awarded, or you know of such
>information about present GMs, please share it with us here on ICC.

It's not unusual for players to get the three GM norms when their rating is only
2470 or so, and then they get the title as soon as their rating creeps up to
2500. So 2500 is quite a common rating for new GMs. Some players don't get a
chance to play in GM tournaments until they are already very good and very
highly rated. A few years back there was a player with a 2680 rating when they
became GM. But 2500 to 2550 would be the normal rating range for new GMs.



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