International Master

American  

noun

1. a chess player of high ability but below the level of International Grand Master, as determined through specified types of international competitions.

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International Master British  

noun

1. Often shortened to: master.  chess the second highest title awarded by the FIDE to a player: won by obtaining a certain number of points during specific international chess tournaments Compare grandmaster

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Example Sentences

In August, she became the youngest person to earn the Woman International Master title - the second-highest ranking in chess, below grandmaster.

From BBC • Nov. 24, 2025

"When Pragg became the youngest International Master, he crossed my rating for the first time. Suddenly at home, the focus was entirely on him," Vaishali told BBC.

From BBC • Dec. 1, 2023

“Almost all the players who become grand masters start young,” said Jack Peters, an International Master who formerly wrote a chess column for The Times.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2014

The World of Chess, by International Master Anthony Saidy and Senior Master Norman Lessing, is the handsomest and most informative chess picture book ever produced.

From Time Magazine Archive

The F�d�ration Internationale des Echecs made a special gesture of naming him an International Master of Chess.

From Time Magazine Archive