grandmaster
Top chess title
A grandmaster is a chess player who has achieved the highest title awarded by the World Chess Federation, requiring exceptional tournament performance against other top players.
The term extends to masters of other pursuits—martial arts, competitive gaming, or any domain where hierarchical ranks exist: He's a grandmaster of Go.
Sometimes used loosely for anyone with supreme skill: a grandmaster of negotiation.
Inescapable capture position
- endgameConcluding phase of competition
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- fianchettoFlank bishop placement
- zugzwangObligatory weakening move situation
opening · middlegame · sacrifice · positional · tactical · brilliancy · preparation · analysis
Supremely accomplished performer
- maestroDistinguished musical leader
- expertHighly skilled practitioner
- prodigyGifted youth with rare talent
- savantPerson of profound learning
genius · authority · specialist · legendary · elite · renowned · distinguished · celebrated
Martial arts proficiency level
- dojoMartial arts school
- senseiJapanese word for teacher
- taekwondoKorean striking martial art
- judoJapanese throwing discipline
karate · aikido · kendo · rank · discipline · lineage · tradition · practitioner
Multi-round competitive event
- championshipCompetition for top rank
- matchGame between opponents
- roundCurved like circle
- bracketSupport or category
qualifier · finals · opponent · rivalry · clash · showdown · victory · defeat
One who instructs
- trainerOne who conditions others
- secondUnit smaller than minute
- advisorOne who gives guidance
- teacherOne who instructs others
instructor · guide · analysis · preparation · student · pupil · protégé · training
Assigned evaluative score
- normsExpected behavioral standards
- IMRealtime digital chat
- FMCarrier wave frequency variation
- CMLength abbreviation
candidate · round-robin · classical · rapid · blitz · correspondence · arbiter · federation
checkmate
Inescapable capture position
- endgameConcluding phase of competition
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- fianchettoFlank bishop placement
zugzwang · opening · middlegame · sacrifice · positional · tactical · brilliancy · preparation · analysis · blunder
virtuoso
Supremely accomplished performer
- maestroDistinguished musical leader
- expertHighly skilled practitioner
- prodigyGifted youth with rare talent
savant · genius · authority · specialist · legendary · elite · renowned · distinguished · celebrated · preeminent
dan
Martial arts proficiency level
judo · karate · aikido · kendo · rank · discipline · lineage · tradition · practitioner · honorary
tournament
Multi-round competitive event
- championshipCompetition for top rank
- matchGame between opponents
- roundCurved like circle
bracket · qualifier · finals · opponent · rivalry · clash · showdown · victory · defeat · draw
coach
One who instructs
teacher · instructor · guide · analysis · preparation · student · pupil · protégé · training · school
rating
Assigned evaluative score
CM · candidate · round-robin · classical · rapid · blitz · correspondence · arbiter · federation · ranking
- difficultyeasy, hard, medium, difficult, moderate
- chesscheck, pawns, knights, rooks, pawn
- martial artskarate, taekwondo, judo, kung fu, aikido
- strategystrategy, tactics, tactic, tactical, military tactics
- competition levelselite tier, top tier, mid tier, lower tier, upper tier
- elite performerssuperstar, virtuoso, all-star, MVP, maestro
- Grandmaster FlashInfluential turntablist from hip-hop's birth