what is a grandmaster in chess

A Grandmaster in chess is the highest title a chess player can attain, awarded by the world chess organization FIDE. It is the ultimate summit for the competitive chess player, and once earned, the title is held for life. The title is awarded to players who achieve a FIDE rating over 2500 and win a specific number of GM norms. The qualifications to become a Grandmaster have changed throughout the years, but currently, a player must have an Elo chess rating of at least 2500 at one time and three favorable results (called norms) in tournaments involving other Grandmasters, including some from countries other than the applicants. The number of Grandmasters has increased greatly between 1972 and 2008, but the Grandmaster title is still highly valued. Super Grandmasters are the world's elite players, and the term refers to players with an Elo rating of over 2700.