Answers.Body: <p>One way it is evolving is with the informal 'super-GM' title.  At one time, there weren't many GMs.  Being a GM was being in an elite club.  Now there are a lot of GMs and the differences in their strengths are beginning to show.  (I'm not talking about a GM's performance degrading due to age...)</p>
  
  <p>From the wiki linked below:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>In 1972 there were only 88 GMs with 33 representing the USSR. The
    current FIDE ratings list includes over 1000 grandmasters.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Perhaps 20 years ago, a GM rated 2600 was a 'super GM'.  Now 2700 could well be that mark, with some GMs peaking at 2850 or so.</p>
  
  <p>Also from the article:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>December 2008 saw a record number of GMs (1,192) and IMs (2,916)
    causing some FIDE officials to suggest that FIDE should consider an
    "elite grandmaster" title.[17] The unofficial title, "Super
    Grandmaster", is often used by players to refer to those with a 2700+
    rating to distinguish the most serious world champion contenders.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_%28chess%29">Read more here</a>.  This article also includes a synopsis of how GM and IM norms are earned, including rules changes by year.  It's very interesting.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-06-15T22:10:37.970Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-06-15T22:10:37.970Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Body: <p>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_%28chess%29">wikipedia article</a> is a good starting point, but I'm also interested in how the specific regulations have changed over the years.</p>
  
  <p>Currently, 3 norms must be achieved<sup>1</sup> in tournaments that adhere to specific guidelines including foreign players, titled players, and a certain performance rating must be attained.  </p>
  
  <p>What was the origin of the current rules, and what were the earlier rules?</p>
  
  <p><hr />
  1. Usually...  there are exceptions to this however.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-06-16T13:29:01.387Z
Comments.Text: I answered but deleted it - I expressed my opinions, only to find they were mirrored in the link you posted.  The link's pretty much a full answer.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-06-16T14:50:19.587Z
Comments.Text: @TonyEnnis I thought your answer was a good summary and added information, you didn't need to delete it!
Comments.UserDisplayName: Andrew
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-06-16T19:26:58.957Z
Comments.Text: Ok, I put it back; SO retains deleted posts for a while.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Tags: <rating><fide><grandmaster>
Title: How has the Grandmaster title evolved?
ThreadText: # How has the Grandmaster title evolved?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2012-06-15)
  
  The [wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_%28chess%29) is a good starting point, but I'm also interested in how the specific regulations have changed over the years.
  
  Currently, 3 norms must be achieved1 in tournaments that adhere to specific guidelines including foreign players, titled players, and a certain performance rating must be attained.
  
  What was the origin of the current rules, and what were the earlier rules?
  
  ---
  
  1. Usually... there are exceptions to this however.
  
  **Tags:** rating, fide, grandmaster
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: I answered but deleted it - I expressed my opinions, only to find they were mirrored in the link you posted.  The link's pretty much a full answer.  
  > **username_0**: @TonyEnnis I thought your answer was a good summary and added information, you didn't need to delete it!  
  > **username_1**: Ok, I put it back; SO retains deleted posts for a while.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2012-06-15. Score: 6 | Accepted answer
  
  One way it is evolving is with the informal 'super-GM' title. At one time, there weren't many GMs. Being a GM was being in an elite club. Now there are a lot of GMs and the differences in their strengths are beginning to show. (I'm not talking about a GM's performance degrading due to age...)
  
  From the wiki linked below:
  
  > In 1972 there were only 88 GMs with 33 representing the USSR. The
  > current FIDE ratings list includes over 1000 grandmasters.
  
  Perhaps 20 years ago, a GM rated 2600 was a 'super GM'. Now 2700 could well be that mark, with some GMs peaking at 2850 or so.
  
  Also from the article:
  
  > December 2008 saw a record number of GMs (1,192) and IMs (2,916)
  > causing some FIDE officials to suggest that FIDE should consider an
  > "elite grandmaster" title.[17] The unofficial title, "Super
  > Grandmaster", is often used by players to refer to those with a 2700+
  > rating to distinguish the most serious world champion contenders.
  
  [Read more here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_%28chess%29). This article also includes a synopsis of how GM and IM norms are earned, including rules changes by year. It's very interesting.
  
  
  ---
  
  