Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Register and compete in an ICCF or OTB tournament
1–4 weeks (depending on format)
Register for an official rated tournament — either an ICCF online correspondence chess event or an OTB (over-the-board) tournament rated by USCF or FIDE. Complete at least one full rated game in the tournament (a draw or a win counts; a forfeit does not). Most club championships and local scholastic tournaments are rated.
Proof required
Submit: (1) tournament registration confirmation showing your name and event; (2) result of at least one completed rated game (score sheet, ICCF game record, or USCF/FIDE results page entry).
What gets checked
- Event is rated by ICCF, USCF, or FIDE — not a casual online blitz game
- At least one completed game with a result is documented
- Registration confirmation shows the event is real
Common mistakes
- Playing only online bullet/blitz games and calling it a tournament — unrated casual play does not count
- Defaulting from the tournament after registration — a default is not a completed result
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Check event is rated (USCF, FIDE, or ICCF) — not casual play
- Verify at least one completed game result is shown
You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.
Achieve a positive tournament score
1–3 months (multiple tournaments)
Score 50%+ in a rated tournament (more points than half the possible total). A full-point win counts more than a draw. Study the openings and endgames most relevant to your level using free tools — Chess Tempo and Lichess Studies are sufficient. Analyse every game you lose.
Proof required
Submit: (1) tournament result or crosstable showing your score (e.g. 3.5/7 or 2/4); (2) annotated analysis of one lost game showing what you should have played at the key moment.
What gets checked
- Score is 50%+ — 4/8 counts; 3/8 does not
- Crosstable or result record is from the official tournament — not self-reported
- Game analysis identifies the specific move where the game turned with a proposed improvement
Common mistakes
- Entering tournaments without post-game analysis — same mistakes repeat across tournaments
- Blaming time trouble for every loss without studying the specific positions that led to it
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Check 50%+ score on official crosstable
- Verify game analysis identifies a specific turning point — not just 'I played poorly'
You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.
Win a rated tournament or class prize
Tournament duration (1 day to several weeks depending on format)
Win a rated tournament outright, share first place, or win a class/section prize in a tournament with a prize fund by section. Your name appears in the official results as the winner or prize recipient. USCF Member Services Area, ICCF results pages, or tournament directors' published results are the accepted sources.
Proof required
Submit: (1) official tournament results page or USCF/FIDE/ICCF entry showing your name as winner or class prize recipient; (2) tournament name, section, and date.
What gets checked
- Official results show your name as winner or section prize — not self-reported
- Tournament is rated by USCF, FIDE, or ICCF — not a casual event
- Section or class you won reflects genuine competition — not a 1-player section
Common mistakes
- Winning a 1–2 player section via uncontested byes — does not represent genuine competitive performance
- Claiming a win from an unrated event — ratings context is essential for the credential
Resources
Foundationstart here
What a verifier looks for
- Confirm result is on USCF MSA, ICCF, or official FIDE results — not self-reported
- Check section has genuine competition (more than 1–2 players)
- Verify rating event status on the database entry
You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.
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