Why is Jovanka Houska introduced as a WGM when she holds the more prestigious IM title? I've been watching the Champions Chess Tour and find it strange that Jovanka Houska is always (at least whenever I am watching) introduced as a woman grandmaster. Now I have absolutely no problem with her holding that title, but according to Wikipedia she also holds the more prestigious international master title (in addition to being the highest-rated active British womans player). Why do they not introduce her by also mentioning her higher achievements?
I think an important aspect to consider is the audience of the show. For the Champions Chess Tour, chess24 has two English language shows; one with Houska and David Howell targeted to a more casual audience, the other with Tania Sachdev and Peter Leko that is aimed towards an audience that is more familiar with chess terminology and concepts.
I think a decision was made that the title of &quot;international master&quot; is too unfamiliar to a casual audience. Everybody knows a grandmaster is &quot;someone who is great at chess&quot;, but only people who know chess lingo know what an IM is. I think either the producers of the show or Houska herself decided to go with the easier to understand &quot;Woman Grandmaster&quot; title because the viewers would better understand it to mean &quot;a lady who is great at chess&quot;.
It is interesting to note that Tania Sachdev, herself also both an IM and WGM, is introduced as an IM on the show targeted to the more technical audience.