new: FIDE-titles for amateur chess players

@NM Reb

IM Valeri Lilov who is rated over 2500 apparently paid the 50 euros fee to have AGM 'Arena Grand Master' listed on his online profile instead of 'IM' ... or is it a typo?: http://arena.myfide.net/news/top-players-of-fide-online-arena.aspx

re: "FIDE titles will soon mean nothing .... why not just issue everyone a title at birth , for the proper fee ofcourse ? "

These titles suck. You're not a master if you're 1900.

I can't wait to get my Foody master title, cause I play with edible chess pieces.

YES Fide rocks they will ban cheaters because they have all your real data.

I am a AFM = Arena Fide Master.

As a club player I like it :)

It means youre a real serious chess player and no beginner. :)

On fide I play real games serious chess ,   I use chess.com for training/training games and practice.

FIDE Online Arena I like it :)

No, you are confusing Valeri Petrov Lilov with IM Valeri Lilov (father and son, that's why it says Valeri Lilov Sr. in Arena Website).

http://ratings.fide.com/card.phtml?event=2905396

https://ratings.fide.com/card.phtml?event=2906597

http://www.tigerlilov.com/about-us

http://arena.myfide.net/news/top-players-of-fide-online-arena.aspx 

This is a pretty good trolling attempt (I hope)

I like the titles. I am trying to get over 2000 there. But right now I am 1700!

I'm using the title AM for my name. AM Frankie Kam. Sounds great. AM for AMateur. Hope I don't get in trouble.

Being a University lecturer, perhaps I could give an analogy.

The FIDE On Arena title is similar to the online course, for example, Harvard online course. Yes, Harvard formally recognizes it, but it never replaces the traditional degree. Yes, an online graduate (certificate) has a qualification - but it is not the degree. Perhaps, some schools will count as credits (waiver) when the student (later on) takes the degree. Similar to FIDE, when a chess player with FIDE On Arena title plays OTB -> they can use their title and rating.

FIDE clearly mentions that it is for "lower rating" players. If a FIDE player has (W) CM/FM/IM/GM -> it is similar to the traditional degree, higher level than the online course's degree. Then I even wonder why a player with a higher level then takes a lower degree. Similar to me, I already have an academic Ph.D. degree, then why if I take some online degrees?

But I am aware, for some people, for some reason, they are busy with other commitments (jobs), so they could not attend the traditional degrees - so they just take online degrees to get some qualifications. That's good. For me, I have already a full-time job, I never dream of being a professional chess player, I know it is hard and requires full-time commitment (and long hours preparation). Because of my job, I don't have time to compete in OTB chess tournament. So in the chess world, I am very happy to have FIDE On Arena Title - I know that my qualification is just "competitive at "lower rating" FIDE players" - never dream of beating (W) CM/FM/IM/GM.

For pay, I think it is decent. Just pay 25 Euro per year to play (you know that it is not cheap to maintain servers and pay staff), and the title costs below 50 Euro - 50 Euro if you attain Arena Grand Master. Having been living in Europe and traveling to Zurich, the costs are cheap for International Standards. My kid's bus school costs 30 Euro per month. Even if I join the unrecognized local tournament, the registration fee is 10-20 Euros per tournament. Compared with 25 Euros per year; it is nothing.

Also, the FIDE On Arena title with FIDE ID will be listed in the FIDE player list.