FIDE Onlne Arena Titles - Are they worth spending money on?

Hello chess folks!

     Literally, no more than half an hour ago, I completed 100 blitz games in a row where I sustained a rating of over 2000 on the FIDE Online Arena site for those 100 blitz games (which is required to be eligible for an opportunity to obtain the FIDE Arena Grand Master (AGM) Title). 

     When I click on the Get Now link on my profile on the said site to obtain my AGM  title, it turns out that I have to pay 50 Euros (which translates to $54.61) just to get that title.  I'm not sure if it's worth paying that much money just for a title that will not mean much since it is just an online title and not an OTB one (like GM, IM, NM, FM, or CM). 

    But for those of you who have memberships for FIDE Online Arena and have come across opportunities to obtain FIDE Online Arena titles (especially those who are/were eligible for an Arena GrandMaster title), do you think those titles are worth the money?

I'd grab it in a flash.  Everyone knows how fascinated chicks are by chess in general and titled players in particular.  Probably get you out of speeding tickets too...

Of course it's not worth it. They're an absolute joke in every respect. You might as well flush your money down the toilet.

That I can agree with.  I have better things to spend my money on than on a meaningnless title.  But unfortunately, there are people out there who think it is worth the 50 euros just to have a title on there that will not mean anything in over-the-board play as I have seen multiple people with AGM titles when I have logged on to FIDE Online Arena in the last few days or so.  Although it would be a little cool to have a title on my FIDE profile stating that they are an "Arena Grand Master"), on the whole, it is not worth spending 50 euros on.  It is nothing more than a way for the people at FIDE (or whoever is in charge of the FIDE Online Arena) to make extra money... off of chess players' desires to boost their own egos through having an online title. 

I'm starting to change my mind now that I realize the ratings start at 1100 for an ACM.  Who doesn't have an extra $5?  Of course I'd have to actually sign up and play 50 games and that's unlikely.

Yeah, seeing that the requirement for qualifying for an ACM title is to maintain a 1100 rating or higher for 100 consecutive blitz games (or 50 rapid or 150 bullet) [1400 for AFM, 1700 for AIM] makes you question the meaningfulness of the arena title.  Like I said in my previous post on this thread, those titles are nothing more than money-makers for FIDE through the use of ego-boosting titles.

ACM AFM AGM - no good in my opinion. AIM is the best and also ANC (2000+) & ANM which is 2200+ and they are free and automatic. You and me are better than what.. way more than half chess players in the world. (only here average rating is 1100 or something. Even on other chess site it says im better than 95% of all players on that site..  So why don't you reward youself with real official title? Most people will tell you is a joke like that CM guy above - becouse he already have a title (But on arena even some OTB FM & CM title players purchases AGM titles) -  And in other hand - lower rated people - they know they are so bad they cant even reach AFM or ACM or they are afraid people will laugh at them becouse they are weak, but we are stroong (go to stats--> players and average rating of blitz is 1098 here lol - actually we are masters compared to them ;-))  The title comes with certificate like OTB ones. People spent money on really stupid things, this wont be waste- Its for Life. Even only for fun, you will find one way or another to use that title in next 50 years.

That's funny that you say that because according to https://www.premiumchess.net/usa/en/home/handbook/categories

in order to obtain a title of ANC, you have to maintain a 2000+ blitz rating for 100 consecutive games.  That is what I did and still, for some reason, do not see a ANC title to the left of my name when I log in to FIDE Online Arena.  I already have a full membership with them that will not expire for the next month or so.  Maybe it has something to do with having to purchasing a AGM title in order to confirm that I have maintained a 2000+ blitz rating for at least 100 consecutive games.  What do you think of this?

Check profile --> blitz  and bellow it says how much games you have left to play above 2000. Something like 86/100 for example. If it shows only 2200+ for ANM then wait few hours software to update.

Already did that.  It says I have completed 100 out of 100 blitz games for the AGM title.  Still, as of right now, it doesn't have an ANC title right next to my full name when I log on to FIDE Online Arena.  Maybe it hassomething to do with the fact that I only have a FIDE Online membership and not a National Federation Online Membership.  It seems that I have to have both memberships in order to be eligible for any of the arena titles (and I am referring to the ANM, ANC, AN1.... titles by the way).  In order to get both memberships, I have to pay 50 Euros for the Platinum service which grants me both memberships. 

Some people give out titles and awards for free.

People spend m0ney in cars, smartphones, cosmetic products, slot machines, lottery  ...  

so i Don´t see any problem in spend 50€ t0 be a chess master,  it´s  a good idea indeed , maybe you can find a good j0b thanks t0 your title.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6d-aoMzTvw

I see that this link leads me to a video titled " SNL Digital Short: Seducing Women Through Chess - Saturday Night Live."   Unfortunately, as of this very moment as I am typing this, the uploader has not made this video available in my country (which is strange b/c both SNL and I are located in the United States of America).

That's true.  For example, take USCF.  They give National Master certificates to those who reach a rating of 2200 or greater.  In order to obtain a USCF Candidate Master title, all you have to do is have 5 tournament performances that would be considered impressive for a 2000-rated player.  There's nothing in there about having to pay any sort of fee just to get a USCF Candidate Master title.

It's up to you what it's worth, no one else can answer this for you.

To me, on one hand, it's a silly attempt at generating some income. And of course many people will not see it as a "real" title at all.

On the other hand, it's $50. If you can afford it, why not?

I wonder if I spend a weekend in a nasa flight simulator and cut them a check if they will make me an astronaut...... sounds like a rip off to me.

I would not say its better than diamond membership here or platinum, but is cheaper and every week you play blitz vs Masters and simuls. Most of you will never get to master level or play any master at all, so this is great opportunetely to play agains GM/IM'/FMs i mean 1v1 blitz agains a master.. isnt that a dream?

Speaking of blitz against master-level (and above) players, I actually played against a GM in a blitz tourney on the FIDE Online Arena site earlier this week.  I was white.  I managed to get a draw against him.  It is a milestone for me in the sense that it is the first time that I did not lose to a GM in a blitz game (3-minute game). 

That's great, man.  Best of luck to you in your games on there.