what is nm in chess

In chess, NM stands for National Master, which is a special title not recognized by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) . The title is awarded by national chess federations, which are free to set their own standards for such titles. In the United States, for example, the title of National Master is awarded for life to anyone who achieves a USCF rating of 2200, regardless of whether their rating subsequently goes below that level. The NM title is one of several chess titles that players can earn from FIDE by playing in chess tournaments. Other titles include Grandmaster (GM), International Master (IM), FIDE Master (FM), Candidate Master (CM), Woman Grandmaster (WGM), Woman International Master (WIM), Woman FIDE Master (WFM), and Woman Candidate Master (WCM) .