<Shams>

I can tell you that in 1925 the title of "Master of Soviet Sport" was created by the <All-Union Council for Physical Culture> . The Chess Section of the Council codified the rules to become Master-

1.Score 50% in a Soviet Championship

2.Win a Match from a Master

3.Draw two Matches with Masters

4.Win a tournament containing at least three Masters.

The only Masters I know of who won their title through examination are <Goglidze> , who overcame his examiner <Nenaronkov> (1930); and <Kasparyan> who overcame his examiner <Chekhover> (1936).