what is im in chess

In chess, IM stands for International Master. It is a title awarded to strong chess players who are below the level of Grandmaster (GM) . The conditions for obtaining the IM title are similar to those for GM, but less demanding. The minimum rating for the IM title is 2400. To qualify for the IM title, a player must achieve three required title norms over 27 or more games and a FIDE rating of 2400 or more. IMs are very strong chess players, and even highly talented players must prove themselves in difficult tournaments to achieve the title. As of 2020, there are roughly 3,800 active IMs worldwide.