How to Get a FIDE ID Number and FIDE Rating

As a competitive player, nothing can motivate you to become better at chess as much as a FIDE (World Chess Federation) rating can. In many international tournaments, titled and higher rated players receive conditions such as free entry and complimentary boarding and lodging. A higher rating also means a higher national ranking which could lead to possible sponsorship deals once a player is in the top 10 or 5.

Screenshot of the list of top FIDE rated active players in Kenya in May 2018

Here are the steps you need to take to become a FIDE rated player:

Step One: Apply for a FIN

A FIN or FIDE ID Number is a unique identifying number assigned to each player which is needed for him/her to participate in FIDE rated tournaments. This number is also required for organisers, arbiters and trainers in connection with FIDE rated tournaments and to allow them to attend FIDE sanctioned seminars that lead to non-playing titles.

To get a FIN, contact your federation’s rating officer and submit to him/her the following information:

• Your full name (last name, first name middle/other names)
• Your gender
• Your birthdate (yyyy-mm-dd)
• Your email address
• Your recent photo (in JPG format and cropped to a width of 16o pixels by a height of 200 pixels)

Once your FIN has been generated and communicated to you, you will be able to view your profile on FIDE’s website at http://ratings.fide.com/card.phtml?event=xxxxxx (where ‘xxxxxx’ is your FIN). Example: My FIDE ID Number is 10801626 and my FIDE profile can be viewed at http://ratings.fide.com/card.phtml?event=10801626.

My FIDE profile as of May 2018

Helpful Tips:

• Kenyan players can apply for a FIN online using this form: http://bit.ly/ckfinnew or by writing to [email protected].
• It is a good idea to memorise your FIN as soon as you know it to avoid problems of duplication when playing in FIDE rated tournaments.
• You can always find your FIN on the FIDE website by searching for your name at ratings.fide.com.
• If you will be participating in tournaments with sections or prizes based on age categories, make sure the birth year on your profile is correct.

Step Two: Participate in FIDE Rated Tournaments

Once you have a FIN, it’s time to play some OTB (Over The Board) chess and find out what your relative strength is. To do this, you can participate in three types of FIDE rated tournaments: standard (also known as classical), rapid or blitz. For the purpose of this tutorial, I will assume that you are most interested in getting your initial standard FIDE rating so I will focus on that format.

So, how do you get your initial rating? By playing in at least 2-3 rated tournaments. If the tournaments are long (7 to 9 rounds), it will take you less time than if they are short (4 to 6 rounds).

The conditions to be met before your initial FIDE rating will be published are:

1. You must have played at least 5 rated games (games against players who already have FIDE ratings).
2. Your score against rated players should be at least ½ a point for your first tournament’s results to count towards your rating.
3. Your rating should be at least 1000 after 1. and 2. above are met.

If, say, your first FIDE rated tournament is a 9-round Swiss system event played with a time control of 60 minutes + 30 seconds increment and you score 2 points against 5 rated players whose average rating is 1350, your initial standard rating will be 1278 (same as your performance rating).

If, instead, in your first FIDE rated standard tournament you face only 1 rated player and lose that game, you will have to wait for the next rated tournament for results to count towards your initial rating.

Here are some relevant articles of the regulations governing FIDE’s rating system that explain other conditions too:

Article 6 of the FIDE rating regulations in effect from 1st July 2017

Step Three: Check the Next Month’s FRL

If all three conditions in step two have been met, your initial standard rating will be seen when the next month’s FRL (FIDE Rating List) is published (usually on the 1^st/2^nd of every month).

Congratulations, you are now a rated player!

If you don’t see a rating on your FIDE profile after the next FRL is published, go through the following article of the rating regulations to find out why:

Article 7 of the FIDE rating regulations in effect from 1st July 2017

Related Links:

• FIDE Rating Regulations (in effect from 1 July 2017)
• Initial FIDE Rating calculator
• FIDE Rating Change calculator
• The Elo rating system explained