To encourage new entrants globally to take up the sport of memory, the World Memory Sports Council has decided at their plenary session during the 21st World Memory Championships in London, December 2012 to introduce a new title recognising significant achievement.
Commencing at WMC2013, the WMSC will introduce a new title of International Master of Memory (IMM) and redefine qualification criteria for the title of Grandmaster of Memory (GMM).
The title of World Memory Champion (WMC), contested annually, remains the supreme means of recognition of Memory Athletes.
The changes have been introduced for two reasons:
- To maintain the prestige of GMM as the ultimate permanent accolade in memory.
- To grant recognition for achievement at a lower level than GMM but still outstanding.
International Master of Memory (IMM) will follow the previous GMM Criteria and must be achieved in WMSC approved, 10 discipline tournaments. Competitors do not have to achieve all 3 norms in a single tournament.
*1000 digits in one hour.
*10 decks of cards in one hour.
*One deck of cards in 2 minutes or less.
Competitors who wish to attain their International Master of Memory qualifications at a World Memory Championships must ensure that they compete in all 10 disciplines at a reasonable level i.e. not solely focusing on the International Master Events.
Grandmaster of Memory (GMM) can only be awarded at the World Memory Championship. GMM titles will be awarded to the top 5 placed competitors that are not already GMMs who have achieved a total of 5000 or more cumulative points in that year.
Any competitor who already has a full GMM title will maintain their title for life.
Any competitor with one or two current GM Norms may use these to contribute to the new IMM title. The above criteria supersede and replace all previous GMM qualification criteria.
International Grandmaster of Memory (IGM)
A new title of International Grandmaster of Memory (IGM) is awarded to everyone who has achieved more than 6,000 points according to current millennium standards (as of January 2013) at a World Memory Championship and to all former World Champions of Memory.
(From "The Competitor’s and Arbiter’s Handbook)