| Photo: Deboushnik's FIDE ProfileReaching 2430 Elo and securing two International Master norms was not a single magical moment. Fast-forward to January 2026: my rating is 2430, I have two IM norms, and a completely different understanding of competitive chess. Planning the trip: Strategy off the boardOne of the most underrated aspects of increasing rating and earning norms is logistics and planning. Across these three tournaments, I gained around 234 rating points, pushing my rating to 2272. Looking aheadAs of January 2026, with two IM norms and a peak rating of 2430, this feels like a checkpoint, not the destination.