The rating system on World Chess is now called the Online Elo — the only official Elo rating you can earn online, calculated by FIDE, available to every registered player. Your Online Elo is official from your very first rated game. Titles — AGM, AIM, AFM, ACM — require a PRO subscription and a connected FIDE ID.
Update — March 2026
The rating system on World Chess is now called the Online Elo — the only official Elo rating you can earn online, calculated according to FIDE rules and recognized by FIDE, available to every registered player. Your Online Elo is official from your very first rated game. Titles — AGM, AIM, AFM, ACM — require a PRO subscription and a connected FIDE ID.
FOA Rating and World Chess Rating are now called the Online Elo
The Online Elo is available to all registered players — free and PRO
Nothing has been lost — your rating, history, and titles are fully intact
In the lobby: choose Rated to play for your Online Elo, or Non-rated for casual play
PRO members continue to unlock title eligibility, fide.com integration, and title tournaments
Everything below reflects the updated system.
What is the Online Elo? Is it official?
The Online Elo is your official chess rating on World Chess — the official FIDE gaming platform. It is calculated using the Elo system under FIDE regulations, recognised by FIDE, and available to every registered player whether free or PRO.
Unlike other major online platforms — Chess.com and Lichess use Glicko and Glicko-2, proprietary methods not recognised by any governing body — the Online Elo is real Elo, according to the FIDE rules.
It is measured separately across three time controls:
Bullet — under 3 minutes
Blitz — 3 to 10 minutes
Rapid — 10 minutes and above
PRO members additionally get their Online Elo and titles integrated into their official profile on fide.com.
How do I get the Online Elo Rating?
To get your Online Elo Rating you simply need to register on the World Chess platform. You can do it on WEB, IOS, or ANDROID.
Once registered, play Rated games and your Online Elo begins immediately. Every rated game counts from your very first one. When you are ready to make your Online Elo visible on fide.com and pursue official titles, upgrade to PRO and connect your FIDE ID.
If you need help registering or upgrading to PRO, check this step-by-step guide.
What is the difference between Rated and Non-rated?
When you start a game in the lobby you choose one of two options:
Non-rated — casual play. Nothing is recorded.
Rated — counts toward your Online Elo, officially.
That is the entire system. Non-rated is for play without pressure. Rated is official, permanent, and recognised by FIDE.
Which games count toward title progression?
Lobby games and tournament games both affect your Online Elo. However, title progression — your path to AGM, AIM, AFM, or ACM — is tracked through tournament play only. This is intentional. A title on World Chess means you competed under structured, official conditions. To pursue a title you need to:
Be a PRO member with a connected FIDE ID
Play in rated tournaments on World Chess
Meet the performance requirements for your target title
What is 'New' status?
If your profile shows 'New', it means you have not yet established your Online Elo. To receive your initial rating you need to play rated games against rated opponents. As soon as one of those games ends in a win or draw, play 4 more rated games — after that your Online Elo is set.
I have an OTB FIDE rating. Does it affect my Online Elo?
Yes. If your existing OTB FIDE rating is higher than your current Online Elo, your Online Elo will be updated to reflect it — in line with clause 3.4 of the FIDE handbook. The adjustment always works in your favour.
What happened to my FOA Rating / World Chess Rating?
It is your Online Elo. The names FOA Rating and World Chess Rating have been retired — they referred to the same calculation that now has its proper name.
For players who previously had both an FOA Rating and a World Chess Rating, the merge was applied in favour of the higher of the two. For all other players the rating carries over directly. Nothing was lost. The number, the history, the titles — all intact.
Does my Online Elo appear on fide.com?
Yes — for PRO members who have connected their FIDE ID. Your Online Elo and any titles you hold are displayed on your official fide.com profile.
Free players hold a real Online Elo displayed on their World Chess profile. The fide.com integration is a PRO feature.