Short answer: a child gets a first FIDE rating by playing in FIDE-rated tournaments and scoring games against opponents who already have a FIDE rating. Under the rules FIDE has used since 1 March 2024, a player needs at least 5 games against rated opponents, which can be collected across several tournaments within 26 months. In Bangkok, Fat Cat Chess Academy runs its own FIDE-rated tournament, Caturayuth, and registers a FIDE ID for every player.
What is a FIDE rating?
FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs) is the international chess federation. Every game in a FIDE-rated event changes the players’ ratings: beating a stronger player gains more points, losing to a weaker one costs more. FIDE keeps separate ratings for Standard, Rapid and Blitz games, and publishes an updated rating list every month.
What your child needs
- A FIDE ID. Every player needs one before playing rated games. At Fat Cat, the academy registers it for Caturayuth players, so parents do not need to apply themselves.
- Rated tournaments. Only games in FIDE-rated events count.
- Games against rated opponents. At least 5 such games in total; they can come from more than one tournament.
- Patience. The rating appears on the next monthly FIDE list after the requirements are met. The lowest possible FIDE rating is 1400.
The path at Fat Cat Chess Academy
- Beginner I group course. Units K and L teach tournament basics: etiquette, notation and using a chess clock.
- First event: Intramural, a friendly in-house tournament.
- Caturayuth, the academy’s FIDE-rated standard tournament: 45 minutes + 15 seconds per move, round-robin groups of four, three rounds in one day.
While a child is still collecting rated games, parents can follow progress through the academy’s own Fat Cat Rating. The Thai version of this guide is FIDE Rating คืออะไร.
Fat Cat Chess Academy is in Khlong San, Bangkok, opposite The Platform Wongwian Yai. Ask about the next Caturayuth or Beginner I class on LINE @fatcatacademy.
Frequently asked questions
Does my child need a FIDE ID before entering Caturayuth?
No. Fat Cat Chess Academy registers a FIDE ID for every Caturayuth player.
Will my child get a FIDE rating after one tournament?
Not necessarily. They need at least 5 games against FIDE-rated opponents, which can be spread across several tournaments within 26 months.
How long does a Caturayuth tournament take?
One day: three rounds, about two hours each, with 45 minutes per player plus 15 seconds per move.
Is there an entry fee?
Yes. Tournaments have entry fees separate from class fees. Ask on LINE @fatcatacademy for the next event.
