user11144: Recently I was browsing old issues of my clubzine when I tripped over "IGM". Wait, aren't all Grandmasters international by default? But I'm old enough to remember that the abbreviation "IGM" instead of the now-familiar "GM" was actually in use decades ago (1970ish).
Thus:

Was there ever a difference between GM and IGM (obviously, let's restrict to the official FIDE period 1950+)? I assume not.
If it was just a matter of standard abbreviation — when did it change? (Educated guess on the why: computer tables.)


user30536: Was there a difference?  Yes.  Botvinnik was a Soviet GM before he became FIDE IGM, for example, and the national title did not go away just because a FIDE title was instituted, especially as the FIDE title initially was honorary (no norms).
The original FIDE abbreviation was IGM.  A check in the FIDE 2022 title regulations indicates that the current official abbreviation is just GM, but I'm afraid I can't pinpoint the change in time.  Oxford Companion to Chess (new ed. 1992) still uses 'IGM'.

11144: <p>Recently I was browsing old issues of my clubzine when I tripped over &quot;IGM&quot;. Wait, aren't all Grandmasters international by default? But I'm old enough to remember that the abbreviation &quot;IGM&quot; instead of the now-familiar &quot;GM&quot; was actually in use decades ago (1970ish).</p>
<p>Thus:</p>
<ul>
<li>Was there <em>ever</em> a difference between GM and IGM (obviously, let's restrict to the official FIDE period 1950+)? I assume not.</li>
<li>If it was just a matter of standard abbreviation — when did it change? (Educated guess on the why: computer tables.)</li>
</ul>
 30536: <p>Was there a difference?  Yes.  Botvinnik was a Soviet GM before he became FIDE IGM, for example, and the national title did not go away just because a FIDE title was instituted, especially as the FIDE title initially was honorary (no norms).</p>
<p>The original FIDE abbreviation was IGM.  A check in the FIDE 2022 title regulations indicates that the current official abbreviation is just GM, but I'm afraid I can't pinpoint the change in time.  Oxford Companion to Chess (new ed. 1992) still uses 'IGM'.</p>
