FIDE category: definition and usage

FIDE category

Definition

The FIDE category (often written “Category XX,” e.g., Category 21) is a label that classifies the strength of a round-robin chess tournament based on the average FIDE Elo rating of all participants. Categories are grouped in 25-point rating bands starting at 2251–2275 for Category 1, then 2276–2300 for Category 2, and so on. The higher the category number, the stronger the event.

In chess media and regulations, “FIDE category” serves as a compact way to describe the overall rating strength and prestige of a tournament. It is especially used for elite “supertournaments.”

How it is used in chess

FIDE categories have two main uses:

• Prestige and context: Organizers, commentators, and journalists use the category to communicate a tournament’s strength at a glance, e.g., “a Category 22 supertournament.”
• Norm context: In classical round-robins, the category aligns with norm tables used for title norms (e.g., GM and IM norms). Although norms are calculated from the actual average rating of a player’s opponents, the category provides a shorthand for the event’s strength, which correlates with the required score for a GM norm or IM norm.

Note: FIDE categories formally apply to round-robin events. Swiss-system events don’t have an official “category,” though organizers sometimes quote an “average rating” for context. For norms in Swiss events, FIDE uses the rated opponents you actually face, not a tournament category.

How a FIDE category is computed

1. Take the published FIDE rating of every player at the tournament’s start (usually from the relevant monthly list).
2. Compute the average of all participants’ ratings.
3. Locate the 25-point band that average falls into, starting from 2251–2275 (Category 1), 2276–2300 (Category 2), etc.
4. The band number is the tournament’s FIDE category.

Example: An average rating of 2758 falls into 2751–2775, which is Category 21.

Quick reference: sample categories and rating ranges

• Category 1: 2251–2275
• Category 5: 2351–2375
• Category 10: 2476–2500
• Category 15: 2601–2625
• Category 18: 2676–2700
• Category 20: 2726–2750
• Category 21: 2751–2775
• Category 22: 2776–2800
• Category 23: 2801–2825

Strategic and historical significance

Historically, rising category numbers tracked the professionalization and rating inflation/deflation dynamics at the very top. The emergence of Category 20+ “supertournaments” signaled an era where multiple 2750+ players competed regularly. For players, a higher category often means tougher pairings every round and, paradoxically, sometimes slightly fewer points needed for a GM norm (because the required performance rating can be achieved with a lower raw score against higher-rated opposition).

Categories are also part of chess culture: fans compare events by category to discuss which tournaments were the “strongest ever,” and organizers often aim to achieve a particular category as a benchmark.

Famous examples

• Sinquefield Cup 2014 — Category 23 (average rating ≈ 2802), one of the strongest tournaments ever at the time. Fabiano Caruana started 7/7, a historic run against an elite field featuring Magnus Carlsen and others. Example snippet from a typical elite Ruy Lopez:
  
• Norway Chess (various editions) — frequently Category 21–22, gathering the world’s top five to ten players in a compact field.
• Linares (1990s–2000s) — a defining supertournament tradition; several editions reached Category 20+ and shaped elite rivalries throughout the “Classical” and “Modern” eras.

Usage tips and caveats

• Round-robin versus Swiss: Only round-robins are officially assigned categories. In Swiss events, norms depend on your actual opponents’ ratings, not an overall “category.” See Swiss system and Round-robin.
• Norms depend on more than category: FIDE’s Title Regulations also require a minimum number of titled/foreign opponents and other conditions for a valid Norm. The category is just a rating-strength shorthand, not a guarantee of norm eligibility.
• Rating lists and cutoffs: The official average is derived from the rating list announced for the event; last-minute rating changes typically don’t alter the published category once the event starts.

Related concepts

• FIDE and Elo/Rating systems
• Title norms: GM norm, IM norm
• Event formats: Round-robin, Swiss system
• Elite event context: Tournament, World championship cycle

Interesting facts and anecdotes

• Record strength: The 2014 Sinquefield Cup’s Category 23 mark (≈2802 average) set a benchmark in the “strongest tournament ever” discussions, reflecting the clustering of multiple 2800-level players.
• Perception versus reality: A Category 22 event sounds daunting—and it is—but for norm seekers, playing only higher-rated opponents can sometimes reduce the raw score required for a norm compared to a lower-category event.
• Language of the elite: “Category 21” or “Cat. 21” became shorthand among commentators to signal a super-elite field, much like “Super GM” for a 2700+ player.

FAQs

• Do women’s events use the same bands? Yes. The category formula is the same: it’s purely rating-based.
• Can a Swiss event be “Category 21”? Not officially. People may quote an average rating for context, but FIDE categories are for round-robins.
• Does a higher category always mean a better chance for a norm? Not necessarily. It depends on your individual opponents’ ratings and fulfilling all norm conditions.