Tantrix Tournament Master Titles

Full lists of TGM, ITM and TTM norms up to 31 July 2009 can be found below. New norms and titles added from 1 April 2009 onwards are highlighted in yellow. Players are ordered by the number of norms, then by major tournament ('non-brown') norms, then by highest single tournament rating.

Congratulations to Neil Jenner (GBR), who after winning the 2009 Euro has become only the third Tantrix Grand Master (TGM) and to new ITM Marek Reniers (POL), who was already a TTM and now has both titles.


TANTRIX GRAND MASTER ("TGM") NORMS - 3 NORMS PLUS OVERALL ONLINE RATING >= 2000 NEEDED FOR THE TGM TITLE
a) 3 TGM norms and an OVERALL Elo rating of 2000 or more are needed for this title. Once you have 3 norms, you get it once you reach 2000 overall, subject to note g) in the ITM section.
    N.B. you must have 3 norms and be rated 2000+ at the same time - if you once reached 2000 but dropped below before getting your 3rd norm, that does not count.
b) TGM norms can only be obtained in a given tournament if you play at least 20 games in the tournament against at least 5 different opponents.
c) TGM norms cannot be obtained in tournaments from which only brown ITM norms can be obtained. This and b) effectively limit TGM norm opportunities to the major Championships.
d) To get a norm, your rating based a single tournament plus the number of games played must be 2050+ and the rating itself for that tournament 2000+.
e) The winner of each year's World Championship gets a bonus TGM norm, so you can get two norms in the WTC if you win it and satisfy b) and d) above.
f) All three of the norms must come from major championships - WTC/Plate, WTTC, WJTC, open continental & national online championships
g) From August 2003, a norm will not be awarded if a player does not complete all of their scheduled games in a tournament even if they meet the other criteria.
(but missing a game because your opponent defaults or not playing the final game in a match because one player has already won the match for certain is acceptable)
Name Title Country Norms Norm 1 Norm 2 Norm 3 Official Elo Addnl Lobby
Now Posn/Tournt G Elo Posn/Tournt G Elo Posn/Tournt G Elo Qual on then norms Nick.
Matt Peek TGM* NZL
16 3rd, 1999 World 34 2023 1st, 2001 World 35 2064 2001 World Champ 35 BONUS 31-Aug-02 2028 13 Pekko
Tamás Gombkötő TGM* HUN
8 1st, 2004 European 61 2055 1st, 2005 Hungarian 41 2019 QF, 2006 European 40 2040 31-Mar-09 2003 5 TommG
Neil Jenner TGM GBR
8 2nd, 2004 European 51 2001 1st, 2005 World 48 2030 2005 World Champ 48 BONUS 30-Jun-09 2001 5 Typo
Yoseph Phillips ITM ISR
4 5th, 1999 World 29 2107 2nd, 2007 World 48 2005 1st, 2008 World 48 2024 1 yoseph
Jason Oliver ITM* NZL
2 2007 World Team 42 2017 1st, 2009 NZ 23 2074 Zorpolotta
Julia Schwarz   GBR
2 1st, 2000 World 38 2049 2000 World Champ 38 BONUS jade
Péter Petrecz ITM HUN
2 3rd, 2002 World 43 2048 2004 World Champ 48 BONUS Pepe
Mike McManaway ITM NZL
2 1st, 2007 World 48 2012 2007 World Champ 48 BONUS mikem
Matthias Neumeister ITM GER
1 2009 World Team 21 2029 voogel
Shaun Cooper ITM NZL
1 1st, 2001 NZ 22 2059 scoop
Marek Reniers ITM* POL
1 4th, 2009 European 53 2057 1kornik21
Steven Trezise ITM GBR
1 3rd, 2000 World 30 2041 steven2
Sarah Pizzignacco SWE
1 L16, 2006 European 33 2039 Fnitter
Graeme Jolliffe   AUS
1 2nd, 2002 Australian 31 2030 Thylacine
Zoltán Németh ITM* HUN
1 1st, 2005 European 51 2027 Zormac
János Püspöki ITM HUN
1 2003 World Team 30 2020 pusi
Simon Wright ITM GBR
1 1st, 2006 European 53 2014 shunter
Catherine Moxham ITM NZL
1 1st, 2005 NZ 37 2014 Bastet
Matt Kearse   NZL
1 2nd, 2000 World 38 2012 Fluffy
Rob Morton ITM* GBR
1 2nd, 2006 World 48 2002 skweeki
Zenon Kowalczyk   AUS
1 1999 World 34 BONUS Zazza
INTERNATIONAL TANTRIX MASTER ("ITM") NORMS - 3 NORMS PLUS OVERALL ONLINE RATING >= 1900 NEEDED FOR ITM TITLE
(includes norms that are also TGM norms)
a) 3 ITM norms and an OVERALL Elo rating of 1900 or more are needed for this title - once you have 3 norms, you get the title once reach 1900 overall, but see g) below
    N.B. you must have 3 norms and be rated 1900+ at the same time - if you once reached 1900 but dropped below before getting your 3rd norm, that does not count.
b) ITM norms can only be obtained in a given tournament if you play at least 7 games in the tournament against at least 4 different opponents.
c) To get a norm, your rating based a single tournament plus the number of games played must be 2000+ and the rating itself for that tournament 1950+.
d) The winner of each year's World Championship gets a bonus TGM/ITM norm, so you can get two norms in the WTC if you win it and satisfy b) and c) above.
e) At least 2 of the 3 norms must come from Main events, defined as the WTC, WTTC, WJTC, open continental & national online championships (i.e. events not in brown)
    N.B. Although the WTC and Plate are rated together, norms based partly on the Plate are not trated as norms from main events so they are shown in brown too.
    Post-qualification norms and second/subsequent 'brown' norms are shown in the Addnl norms column. The three norms shown in detail are those counted for the original ITM title.
f) From August 2003, a norm will not be awarded if a player does not complete all of their scheduled games in a tournament even if they meet the other criteria.
(but missing a game because your opponent defaults or not playing the final game in a match because one player has already won the match for certain is acceptable)
g) Reaching the overall rating level needed for any title only counts for the purposes of a) above if it occurs as a result of a rating for a tournament you have played in being added, not if it only 
    occurs because of a earlier tournaments being deweighted. This is to avoid any possibility of it appearing more advantageous for a player to deliberately miss a tournament than to play in it.
Name Title Country Norms Norm 1 Norm 2 Norm 3 Official Elo Addnl Lobby
Now Main Oth. Total Posn/Tournt G Elo Posn/Tournt G Elo Posn/Tournt G Elo Qual on then norms Nick.
Matt Peek TGM* NZL
22 22 3rd, 1999 World 34 2023 1st, 2001 World 35 2064 2001 World Champ 35 BONUS 31-Dec-01 1989 19 Pekko
Tamás Gombkötő TGM* HUN
15 3 18 1st, 2004 European 61 2055 2nd, 2004 Hungarian 38 1966 L32, 2005 European 28 2013 31-Jul-05 1959 15 TommG
Péter Petrecz ITM HUN
9 2 11 1st, 1999 European 10 2051 3rd, 2001 European 24 1986 3rd, 2002 World 43 2048 31-Dec-02 1973 8 Pepe
Neil Jenner TGM GBR
10 10 2nd, 2004 European 51 2001 2004 World Team 33 1978 1st, 2005 World 48 2030 30-Nov-05 1969 7 Typo
Yoseph Phillips ITM ISR
9 1 10 5th, 1999 World 29 2107 1st, 2004 Asian 18 1982 2004 World Team 15 2012 31-Dec-04 1913 7 yoseph
Zoltán Németh ITM* HUN
8 2 10 4th, 2003 European 40 1988 2003 World Team 30 1977 4th, 2004 European 54 1973 30-Apr-04 1935 7 Zormac
Rob Morton ITM* GBR
8 8 QF, 2003 World 31 1985 2004 World Team 33 1988 2nd, 2004 World 50 1955 31-Jul-04^ 1964 5 skweeki
Mike McManaway ITM NZL
4 1 5 2nd, 1999 May Open 16 2052 1st, 1999 Pacific 9 2056 4th, 2004 World 50 1953 31-Dec-04 1919 2 mikem
Jason Oliver ITM* NZL
4 1 5 2nd, 2006 NZ 36 1964 2nd, 2006 Plate 42 1980 2007 World Team 42 2017 31-Mar-07 1950 2 Zorpolotta
Attila Mikulán ITM* HUN
3 2 5 3rd, 2003 Magyar 30 1987 1st, 2004 Hun. Mas. 8 2049 2009 World Team 21 2018 31-Mar-09 1908 2 blick
Shaun Cooper ITM NZL
4 4 1st, 2001 NZ 22 2059 QF, 2002 World 29 1976 2003 World Team 25 1978 31-Jul-03 1970 1 scoop
Simon Wright ITM GBR
4 4 2004 World Team 21 1979 QF, 2004 World 31 1983 1st, 2006 European 53 2014 30-Apr-06 1940 1 shunter
Catherine Moxham ITM NZL
4 4 2004 World Team 33 1979 1st, 2005 NZ 37 2014 QF, 2006 World 31 1996 31-Dec-06 1958 1 Bastet
Matthias Neumeister ITM GER
4 4 L32, 2008 European 27 1976 1st, 2008 German 31 2001 3rd, 2008 WTC 46 1972 30-Nov-08 1933 1 voogel
László Szobonya ITM* HUN
3 1 4 2004 World Team 33 1967 3rd, 2006 European 54 1979 2nd, 2006 Hun. Mas. 11 2030 31-Dec-06 1933 1 SiRPi
Marek Reniers ITM* POL
3 3 L16, 2004 World 25 2032 2009 World Team 27 1974 4th, 2009 European 53 2057 30-Jun-09 1947 1kornik21
Steven Trezise ITM GBR
3 3 2nd, 1999 European 10 2044 3rd, 2000 World 30 2041 1st, 2002 European 36 2000 31-Aug-02 1954 steven
Attila Bőhl ITM HUN
3 3 2004 World Team 33 2012 1st, 2008 European 55 1962 2009 World Team 39 1969 31-Mar-09 1920 Aata
Ben Polman ITM* NED
3 3 1st, 2001 European 22 2004 QF, 2004 European 40 1986 2nd, 2008 European 52 1950 30-Apr-04^ 1916 benopi
James Else ITM GBR
3 3 2004 World Team 33 1987 3rd, 2005 European 52 1953 2nd, 2005 World 50 1953 30-Nov-05 1939 ta56636
Jérôme Papillon ITM FRA
2 1 3 3rd, 1999 Masters 8 2031 1st, 2003 European 39 1993 2004 World Team 15 2133 31-Jul-04 1913 papillon
Britta Steude ITM NZL
2 1 3 1st, 1999 May Open 16 2065 1st, 2001 Pacific 18 2034 L16, 2006 World 24 2000 31-Dec-06 1908 Bdot
János Püspöki ITM HUN
2 1 3 QF, 2002 World 29 2012 2003 World Team 30 2020 3rd, 2003 Hun. Mas. 8 2052 31-Dec-03 1916 pusi
* = also a TTM; ^ = Ben and Rob originally qualified under the old system by including what is now a TTM norm (see below) - however, both would since have qualified under the new system too.
Ben Trumbore   USA
2 2 1st, 1999 PanAm 7 2088 1st, 2000 PanAm 20 1984 Crispy
Brad Swanlund   USA
2 2 1st, 2002 PanAm 18 2015 2002 World Team 8 2060 brad
Julia Schwarz   GBR
2 2 1st, 2000 World 38 2049 2000 World Champ 38 BONUS jade
Frank Heyer   FRA
2 2 2nd, 2002 European 35 1969 L16, 2003 World 24 2031 blob
Jacques Giraud FRA
2 2 L16, 2007 World 24 2009 QF, 2007 French 36 1996 jacgir
Chris Hill NZL
2 2 2003 World Team 30 1995 3rd, 2004 NZ 36 1988 fear
Murray Pharaoh NZL
2 2 1st, 2003 NZ 29 1988 2003 World Team 30 1990 Scarab
Rick Yagodich TTM GBR
2 2 2003 World Team 30 1982 3rd, 2003 World 46 1986 Rick
Zenon Kowalczyk   AUS
1 1 2 2nd, 1999 Masters 8 2003 1999 World Champ 34 BONUS Zazza
Simone Puterman   RSA
1 1 1st, 1999 African 10 2054 IrcMaidon
Chris Peek   NZL
1 1 2nd, 1999 Pacific 9 2048 Chriz
Sarah Pizzignacco SWE
1 1 L16, 2006 European 33 2039 Fnitter
Graeme Jolliffe   AUS
1 1 2nd, 2002 Australian 31 2030 Thylacine
Bevan Chong   NZL
1 1 2nd, 2001 Pacific 19 2025 Mighty
Matt Kearse   NZL
1 1 2nd, 2000 World 38 2012 Fluffy
Brad Kast AUS
1 1 3rd, 2009 Australian 36 2012 kasty
Glynn Ridley GBR
1 1 L16, 2005 World 24 2011 Puddleglum
Koppány Nagy HUN
2 2 2009 World Team 21 2007 L8, 2009 European 39 1988 dunadan
Thierry Berguin FRA
1 1 L32, 2004 European 36 2005 ThB99
Christopher Davis   AUS
1 1 2007 World Team 27 2002 Brainless
Charlotta Klevedal SWE
1 1 2007 World Team 42 2001 greenfox
Tuti Ameliah INA
1 1 2004 World Team 15 1997 nopaprika
Feza Avrilia INA
1 1 2004 World Team 15 1995 sasia
Pierre Sanchez FRA
1 1 2nd, 2006 European 52 1989 pierre
Matt Mayoh   AUS
1 1 1st, 2001 Australian 18 1988 Sanabas
Josh Button   AUS
1 1 1st, 2002 Australian 30 1986 yoshi
Andrew Swan   AUS
1 1 2nd, 2001 Australian 18 1985 Admiral
Timo Strack van Schijndel NED
1 1 2007 World Team 27 1984 retestrack
Leah Sanders   AUS
1 1 3rd, 2002 Australian 26 1984 Bell
Viktoria Dobos HUN
1 1 3rd, 2004 World 49 1983 Viktoria
Ksenia Mlynarczyk POL
1 1 L16, 2008 World 25 1982 chupacabra
Galina Ryvchin ISR
1 1 2008 World Team 21 1980 galca
László König HUN
1 1 2008 World Team 39 1973 gulu
Roger Campbell USA
1 1 1st, 2004 PanAm 36 1971 rmanpv
Wolfgang Schwarz GER
1 1 2003 World Team 30 1971 space
Lewis Palmer GBR
1 1 L16, 2006 European 33 1969 Luigi
Niklas Andersson TTM SWE
1 1 QF, 2004 World 31 1969 NiklasA
Jamie Sneddon   NZL
1 1 2nd, 1999 World 39 1968 Ridcully
Mauro Lazzara ANG
1 1 1st, 2008 AsAf 36 1965 Soqquadro
Hamish Watt   NZL
1 1 3rd, 2007 NZ 39 1965 Metallor
Pete Henderson AUS
1 1 1st, 2009 Australian 39 1964 WilHunting
Phil Sneddon   NZL
1 1 1st, 2000 NZ " 15 1964 Runes
James Preen GBR
1 1 4th, 2008 European 51 1962 bluedog
Dave Dyer USA
1 1 2nd, 2002 World 46 1959 ddyer
Elemer Nagy HUN
1 1 3rd, 2006 WTC 59 1955 elemer
Alex Kowalczyk   AUS
0 1 1 1st, 1999 Masters 8 2115 AlexK2000
Péter Kovács TTM HUN
0 1 1 4th, 2008 Hun. Mas. 11 2051 mizo
Marta Keller HUN
0 1 1 2nd, 2008 Hun. Mas. 11 2043 mamo
Jason B (w)   USA
0 1 1 4th, 1999 Masters 8 2029 Phantom
László Harsányi   HUN
0 1 1 1st, 1999 Plate 22 1989 leslie
" = a special rule, since rescinded, applied to winners of KO competitions in 2000
TABLE TANTRIX MASTER ("TTM") NORMS - 3 NORMS PLUS OVERALL TABLE RATING >= 1900 NEEDED FOR TTM TITLE
 
a) 3 TTM norms and an OVERALL Elo rating of 1900 or more are needed for this title - once you have 3 norms, you get it once you reach 1900 overall, subject to note g) in the ITM section.
b) TTM norms can only be obtained in a given tournament if you play at least 7 games in the tournament against at least 4 different opponents.
c) To get a norm, your rating based a single tournament plus the number of games played must be 2000+ and the rating itself for that tournament 1950+.
d) A norm will not be awarded if a player does not complete all of their scheduled games or plays on only one day of a two-day event, even if they meet the other criteria.
   (but missing a game because your opponent defaults or not playing the final game in a match because one player has already won the match for certain is acceptable)
e) At least 2 of the 3 norms must come from the main 'Open' in any given country that year with at least 15 entrants (i.e. events not in brown below)
    Post-qualification norms and second/subsequent 'brown' norms are shown in the Addnl norms column. The three norms shown in detail are those counted for the original TTM title.
Name Title Country Norms Norm 1 Norm 2 Norm 3 Official Elo Addnl Lobby
Now Main Oth. Total Posn/Tournt G Elo Posn/Tournt G Elo Posn/Tournt G Elo Qual on then norms Nick.
Attila Mikulán TTM* HUN
9 9 2nd, 2005 Brit. Open 15 2112 1st, 2006 Brit. Open 16 2027 2nd, 2007 Ger. Open 16 2057 31-Jan-07 1953 6 blick
Rob Morton TTM* GBR
7 1 8 2nd, 2003 Brit. Open 14 1994 1st, 2004 Brit Open 14 2197 2nd, 2005 Ger. Open 17 2024 28-Feb-05 2039 5 cheekymbk
Marek Reniers TTM* POL
6 1 7 4th, 2008 Ger. Open 14 2009 9th, 2008 Hun. Open 14 2054 10th, 2008 Ned. Open 16 2044 30-Sep-08 TBA* 4 1kornik21
Heli Niemi TTM FIN
5 2 7 7th, 2004 Brit. Open 15 2003 3rd, 2004 Swe. Open 14 2023 1st, 2005 Ger. Open 17 1994 28-Feb-05 1960 4 Helly
László Szobonya TTM* HUN
6 6 1st, 2005 Brit. Open 15 2055 2nd, 2005 Hun. Open 14 2038 4th, 2006 Hun. Open 13 2051 31-Aug-06 1991 3 SiRPi
Zoltán Németh TTM* HUN
5 1 6 1st, 2005 Swe. Open 13 2220 5th, 2006 Ger. Open 18 2002 2nd, 2006 Brit. Open 16 2096 31-Mar-06 2056 3 Zormac
Niklas Andersson TTM SWE
5 1 6 2nd, 2004 Brit. Open 14 2072 5th, 2005 Brit. Open 16 1999 2nd, 2005 Swe. Open 13 2161 30-Sep-05 2050 3 NiklasA
Rick Yagodich TTM GBR
5 1 6 7th, 2006 Hun. Open 14 2004 6th, 2007 Brit. Open 17 2021 5th, 2007 Pol. Open 15 2016 31-Aug-07 1935 3 Rick
Tamás Gombkötő TGM* HUN
5 5 3rd, 2005 Brit. Open 15 2084 3rd, 2006 Hun. Open 14 2123 4th, 2007 Brit. Open 17 2042 31-Mar-07 2059 2 TommG
Susi Rieger TTM GER
4 4 1st, 2005 Hun. Open 14 2028 2nd, 2006 Ger. Open 18 2039 1st, 2008 NZ Open 16 2109 31-Mar-08 1994 1 bikey
Ben Polman TTM* NED
4 4 1st, 2003 Brit. Open 14 2005 1st, 2007 Ned. Open 13 2098 4th, 2008 Hun. Open 14 2022 31-Aug-08 TBA* 1 benopi
Péter Kovács TTM HUN
3 3 10th, 2007 Hun. Open 17 2088 2nd, 2008 Hun. Open 14 2126 3rd, 2009 Ger. Open 17 2021 28-Feb-09 TBA* mizo
Péter Petrecz TTM* HUN
3 3 9th, 2005 Brit. Open 15 2015 4th, 2006 Ger. Open 18 2037 5th, 2007 Hun. Open 17 2049 30-Sep-07 2041 Pepe
Matt Peek TGM* NZL
2 1 3 1st, 2004 NZ Open 21 2125 4th, 2007 Hun. Open 17 2051 3rd, 2008 NZ Open 16 2011 31-Mar-08 2018 Pekko
Jason Oliver TTM* NZL
2 1 3 1st, 2005 NZ Open 21 2034 1st, 2007 NZ Open 18 2060 2nd, 2008 NZ Open 16 2041 31-Mar-08 1989 Zorpolotta
* = to be confirmed, but certain to have exceeded 1900 at this date  
Mike McManaway ITM NZL
1 2 3 2nd, 2004 NZ Open 20 2026 2nd, 2005 NZ Open 21 2011 check 1 mikem
Laurence Pacull FRA
2 2 5th, 2006 Fre. Open 14 2067 5th, 2006 Hun. Open 14 1997 lorene
Neil Jenner TGM GBR
2 2 2nd, 2008 Swe. Open 15 2066 5th, 2009 World Open 16 2038 Typo
Rémy Goyon FRA
1 1 2 1st, 2005 Fre. Open 11 2028 1st, 2007 Fre Open 16 2000 flacky
Galina Ryvchin ISR
0 2 2 2nd, 2007 Isr. Open 8 2020 1 galca
Michal Abaffy SVK
1 1 2nd, 2007 Hun. Open 17 2131 jasterica
Angharad Taylor GBR
1 1 1st, 2006 Fre Open 14 2110 Angy
Zsófia Salát HUN
1 1 1st, 2006 Hun. Open 13 2108 kissali
Michael Collison GBR
1 1 7th, 2009 World Open 16 2089 colly89
Tibor Kapu HUN
1 1 2nd, 2006 Hun. Open 14 2068 Alfie
Hendri Adriaens NED
1 1 6th, 2006 Hun. Open 14 2044 Smile
Chris Essex GBR
1 1 4th, 2009 World Open 17 2041 tizz88
Monica Palmer SWE
1 1 4th, 2008 Swe. Open 15 2032 Pellepen
Eva Radix NED
1 1 3rd, 2007 Ned. Open 13 2027 fafa
Matthias Neumeister ITM GER
1 1 3rd, 2007 Ger. Open 16 2025 voogel
Simon Wright ITM GBR
1 1 3rd, 2009 World Open 17 2012 shunter
Deborah Husmann NED
1 1 10th, 2009 World Open 16 2006 Snuitje
Robert Mitchell GBR
1 1 16th, 2009 World Open 17 2001 Snowy
Ben Thomas GBR
1 1 21st, 2009 World Open 17 1991 Retro
Lewis Palmer SWE
1 1 19th, 2009 World Open 16 1991 Luigi
Lennart Aspelin SWE
1 1 6th, 2005 Brit. Open 15 1991 Pellepen
Kevin Scott GBR
1 1 11th, 2004 Brit. Open 14 1987 Cuthbert
Vincent Auger FRA
1 1 5th, 2006 Brit. Open 16 1984 Syagrius
Tom McCoy   GBR
0 1 1 1st, 2002 Brit. Open 8 2091 LittleTom
Jungle Payne NZL
0 1 1 1st, 2007 Aus. Open 20 2064 Jungle
Christopher Eck FRA
0 1 1 1st, 2009 Fre. Open 16 2063 Jip
Yoseph Phillips ITM ISR
0 1 1 1st, 2007 Isr. Open 8 2062 yoseph
Brad Kast AUS
0 1 1 2nd, 2007 Aus. Open 20 2055 kasty
Arnon Chor ISR
0 1 1 1st, 2008 Isr. Open 10 2042 Tantrixman
Hamish Watt   NZL
0 1 1 2nd, 2007 NZ Open 18 2002 Metallor
Xavier Segura ESP
0 1 1 2nd, 2009 Spa. Open 9 1997 jasermar
Daniella Tidman AUS
0 1 1 2nd, 2007 Aus. Open 20 1984 DanT
TTM* = also an ITM; TGM* = a TGM as well as a TTM

Notes:

In keeping with the practice in many other mind games, we introduced Tournament Grand Master (TGM) titles back in 1999. Unlike your Elo rating or Lobby ranking which will rise and fall continuously, these are something you can keep to recognise really outstanding tournament play over a period of time.

The tournament master titles are intended to be very difficult to achieve and are NOT the same as the Lobby Master titles that are awarded for reaching 950 in the lobby rankings and then satisfying certain other criteria. Tournament master titles can only be achieved through playing serious timed games against human opponents who are drawn at random, i.e. you cannot choose your opponents yourself or choose how many games you play against each one as you can in normal lobby play.

We realised in 2002 that if the number of tournaments increases a lot over the next few years, the extra chances to get a norm each year may make it become a lot less difficult to reach the original ITM/TGM qualification. So, we have now decided to use both titles and make the top TGM title even harder to obtain to ensure that it remains the absolute pinnacle of Tantrix achievement for years to come.

We have also recognised that it is harder to sustain a 2000+ performance over longer tournaments than over shorter ones, so the main criterion for a norm now involves the number of games played in a tournament as well. You now need between 1950-2000+ for an ITM norm depending on the number of games and between 2000-2050+ for a TGM norm, cf. the old criterion of 2000+ whatever the length of the tournament. To be fair, this change has been applied retrospectively so some players who just missed out on ITM norms in 2000-2001 do have ITM norms now.

In 2003 some people brought up the issue that players in some countries get the chance to play in significantly more tournaments than others, giving them more chances to get norms. This is a legitimate point, so we brought in a new criterion for gaining a title which states that at least two of the three norms must come from a major tournament, i.e. the WTC, WTTC, WJTC and/or open continental and open national championships played online. Tournaments written in green in the table above, such as the Hungarian Masters and some of the early tournaments are not 'major tournaments' by this definition.

Finally, at the end of 2004, ratings for online and table tournaments were separated (since it was becoming clear that for various reasons, performance in table and online tournaments is not always as highly correlated as we might have expected) and a new Table Tournament Master (TTM) title introduced, the offline equivalent of the online ITM title. Any ITM norms that were previously gained in table tournaments were swapped for TTM norms with the exception that anyone who had qualified for the ITM title under the old system (i.e. by including a TTM norm) was allowed to retain their ITM titles.

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