The Candidate Master title is norm-based, whereas the NM title is not. Once the 2200 rating has been reached, one is granted the title.
Once NM is obtained, there is no further updating to the norms-based "Candidate Master" designation on the website.
But there is also Life Master... I would think Spaqi would have been there by now.
This is dated. The USCF no longer makes a "life master" distinction. All who reach 2200 are granted the NM title for life.
This is dated. The USCF no longer makes a "life master" distinction. All who reach 2200 are granted the NM title for life.
I am not sure that is accurate. The Life Master continues to be awarded in 2014... here is an example http://main.uschess.org/msa/MbrDtlMilestones.php?13381704
The facts about national master/life master/candidate master:
1. USCF national master is attained by touching 2200 USCF, no need for norms or to keep a rating over 2200. This title is awarded for life; it is impossible to lose the NM title once it has been acquired. Actually, the norm-based titles are like this too.
2. Life master is a norm-based title separate from national master. It requires 5 norms as well as a 2200 rating. For example, I am a national master, but not a life master because I only have one norm.
3. To make things confusing, there is an "original life master" title for playing 300 rated games with a rating over 2200. I suppose this is how the life master title used to be attained until the USCF created a new life master title as described in #2.
4. Candidate master is also a norms-based USCF title, right below life master. It is the highest norm-based USCF title I have, although of course my national master title means infinitely more.
Hopefully this will close the discussion once and for all.
I stand corrected...it looks like life master is still being awarded. It used to be that without this one can lose the Master title, but that is no longer true. So does "Life Master" have any functional meaning any longer?
What no more senior master?
I stand corrected...it looks like life master is still being awarded. It used to be that without this one can lose the Master title, but that is no longer true. So does "Life Master" have any functional meaning any longer?
Depends on what you mean by "functional meaning". It is still a title, just not one that people care about so much anymore.
@rt1129 - there is still a senior master title. It is the highest of the norm-based titles in the USCF rating system.
I stand corrected...it looks like life master is still being awarded. It used to be that without this one can lose the Master title, but that is no longer true. So does "Life Master" have any functional meaning any longer?
Depends on what you mean by "functional meaning". It is still a title, just not one that people care about so much anymore.
@rt1129 - there is still a senior master title. It is the highest of the norm-based titles in the USCF rating system.
It used to mean something to gain "Life Master" status, but now, an 11 year old can breach 2200 is is National Master for life. So does becoming a "Life Master" mean anything anymore?
A life master's rating floor is 2200 and an NMs floor is 2000 unless that NM has been higher than 2399 . I do not like floors myself . I dont believe you could ever lose your NM title once acheiving it , unless perhaps before my time . I have been playing since 1973 .
The facts about national master/life master/candidate master:
1. USCF national master is attained by touching 2200 USCF, no need for norms or to keep a rating over 2200. This title is awarded for life; it is impossible to lose the NM title once it has been acquired. Actually, the norm-based titles are like this too.
| 2010-06-13 | Candidate Master Title | 201006130511 | 1 | |
| 2012-02-27 | National Master | 201202279722 | 1 |
Perhaps you can contact USCF and they might provide an answer? I honestly do not know.
Oh! Yes, an obvious overlook! Thank you for pointing that out.
There are approximately 3300 people rated 2200 or more in the USCF database
There are approximately 3300 people rated 2200 or more in the USCF database
That doesn't sound right. My rating is 2102 and it shows my overall ranking in USA is 1820 - http://www.uschess.org/msa/MbrDtlMain.php?13178575
1820(T) out of 53080
There are approximately 3300 people rated 2200 or more in the USCF database
There are exactly 938 active players 2200 or more. Perhaps the 3300 includes inactive players, but I cannot confirm your number.
Edit: I edited the parameters of the USCF search and found that 4014 current and inactive players have a rating of 2200 or more.
Oh I missed the obvious - 2200 or more. This means even GMs will be counted.
What is the definition of active players?
What is the definition of active players?
As near as I can tell, a player with at least 1 game in the last 12 months is considered active.
The Candidate Master title is norm-based, whereas the NM title is not. Once the 2200 rating has been reached, one is granted the title.
Once NM is obtained, there is no further updating to the norms-based "Candidate Master" designation on the website.