Woman FIDE Master (WFM)
The International Chess Federation, known by the acronym FIDE, has been awarding chess titles internationally since 1950. The initials FIDE are for the organization’s original name in French: Fédération Internationale des Échecs. When titles are awarded, they are usually held for life (except in instances of fraud or cheating).
Women chess players have the right to earn chess titles that are exclusive to them. Woman FIDE master (WFM) is one of these titles. For more information on all chess titles awarded by FIDE and why some are for only women, see the term “Chess Titles.” Here is what you should know about the WFM title:
WFM Alexandra Botez won the U.S. Girls Nationals when she was just 15 and also won the Canadian National Girls Championship three times. Photo: Alexandra Botez via Instagram.
What Does WFM Mean In Chess?
First awarded by FIDE in 1980, the WFM title indicates that the recipient is among the world’s top players. Receiving the title is a very distinguishing achievement. For women players, it ranks just below the titles of woman grandmaster (WGM) and woman international master (WIM) and above woman candidate master (WCM). As of November 2021, just 1,799 players worldwide were holding the WFM title.
It is important to note that women can earn any chess title, whether or not it is a woman's title. In cases where a player has earned more than one title, it is up to the player to determine which title they use. However, the rating requirement for WFM is lower than that for an open title, such as grandmaster and international master.
WFM Anna Cramling is a popular streamer. Photo: Anna Cramling.
How To Achieve WFM
FIDE titles are generally achieved by a combination of Elo ratings and norms. Norms are qualifying standards based on a specific performance achieved in events at classic time controls under FIDE-approved conditions that include other titled players. However, for the WFM title, no norms are required. To become a WFM, a woman player has to achieve an established classical or standard FIDE rating of 2100 and have played at least 30 rated games.
The WFM title can also be awarded for strong results in several tournaments. For example, the Under-14 and Under-12 World Youth Champions as well as Under-16 and Under-18 medalists in the women's section are directly awarded the title. In addition, the Under-12, Under-14, and Under-16 Continental and Regional Champions in the women's section are also directly awarded the title. However, since 2017, direct titles have been awarded only if a player crosses the minimum rating of 1900.
WFM Maria Emelianova is a well-known chess photographer. Photo: Maria Emelianova via Instagram.
WFMs On ChessKid
WFMs and other titled players are part of the chess community on ChessKid. See the list here. They are easy to identify online because their titles are usually displayed next to their usernames.
For example, WFM Maria Emelianova, an internationally known streamer and renowned chess photographer who learned how to play at the age of six, earned her WFM title when she was 16 years old. On ChessKid, she is known as PhotoChess. She streamed the first ChessKid/UK Championship in June 2021 as recorded in the video “ChessKid UK Championship.”
Another WFM who has streamed ChessKid events is Anna Cramling. As recorded in the video “ChessKid European Team Festival: Region 8,” she covered the Nordic Region of the ChessKid European Team Festival in October 2022.
WFM Alexandra Botez (known as Friendly Queen on ChessKid) helped ChessKid celebrate International Women’s Day in 2021. In this video to celebrate that day. she plays against kids as FunMasterMike provides commentary. In the video “Stay, Push, or Capture?” she explains pawn structure.
ChessKid teamed with FIDE in July 2022 to conduct their first-ever unrated tournament for girls aged 16 and under. Perhaps a future WFM was a participant.
Another WFM who contributes to ChessKid is Elizabeth Spiegel, the author of ChessKid's Classroom Lesson Planner, who inspires teachers and players with articles such as this one, “Award-Winning Chess Coach's Remote Learning Plan.” Featured in the documentary Brooklyn Castle, she is the longtime coach of IS 318 in Brooklyn, NY. Her school is the only middle school ever to win the high school nationals.
Wrapping Up
Now you know what WFM means and why the title is prestigious. If you are a woman, plan to become earn the title yourself. Head over to our Lessons page to get better at chess and get closer to becoming a FIDE-titled player!