Those that intently comply with the over-the-board (OTB) chess world will likely be conscious that over the previous few months, FIDE (the worldwide governing physique for chess) has not too long ago elevated the rankings of most of its OTB gamers.

Many have speculated precisely why FIDE made this modification – however at the moment, on today, we will completely reveal the true cause: for years, FIDE has been working tirelessly to align their very own rankings to be nearer to Lichess rankings.

Now, we all know this will appear a bit weird – however all will develop into clear to those that learn on. In the meantime, these energetic inside on-line chess boards (there isn’t a internal circle!) will already know that FIDE has been adopted by debate and dialogue on-line over whether or not FIDE rankings are deflated when in comparison with Lichess rankings, for a number of years now.

To assist painting this for these unfamiliar with the uninformed carping of on-line society ahem, enlightened discourse by our technology’s brightest minds, we have collected some anonymised samples of the feedback, under, from the favored “r/chess” subreddit:

Lol yh u mite be 1700 FIDE however what’s ur lichess score? Every1 is aware of FIDE rankings are artificially deflated.

I want enjoying for FIDE score as a result of it feels extra real that my score is decrease, lol

Everybody is aware of FIDE is making an attempt to set a synthetic problem cap by having such deflated rankings.

FIDE wants to repair their damaged rankings to be extra life like, extra aligned with Lichess rankings.

After these artificially inflationary adjustments by FIDE, many gamers have obtained a whole lot of further factors to their FIDE score. The results of the change has been to slim the distinction between Lichess rankings and FIDE rankings – with some gamers’ FIDE rankings now being even larger, than their Lichess rankings.

Many imagine that the nearer harmonisation and FIDE’s alignment of their rankings with Lichess’s rankings, has been a long-term strategic purpose for FIDE for a while. The argument is that, in doing so, it helps the worldwide governing physique to ascertain extra credibility, legitimacy, and belief in its analysis of a participant’s energy. In the end, nevertheless, this stays an train flawed at its very outset, with totally different score programs getting used between the assorted chess platforms and organisations, totally different swimming pools of gamers, and video games performed below totally different circumstances – subsequently making an attempt to check rankings as being extra “real” is nothing greater than a advertising gimmick focusing on these unfamiliar with the subject.

Lots of the r/chess galaxy brains ahem, perceptive intelligentsia, aren’t but satisfied by the adjustments:

Lichess is the one platform utilizing the trendy Glicko-2, following Glicko’s paper precisely. FIDE makes use of Elo, in order that they’re simply slapping a band-aid on a flawed and outmoded score system.

haha, I gained 256 FIDE score, how a lot did you guys get?

you guys get score?

properly really, everybody is aware of you’ll be able to’t evaluate totally different score swimming pools, in several circumstances, utilizing totally different score programs

Further score factors will awarded at the moment, on 1st April, to those that have made it this far!