lichess.org
Donate

Do you really have to start chess at 5 years old to become a GM?

#21
@Cyncko-3000 said in #1:
> Hey everyone! Why is 5 the golden number? Is even a few years ahead bad?

Titled players don’t make a living by playing. It’s either a side hustle or you teach to make a living. The fact that people left the Saint Lewis Chess Club to create their own YouTube channels show that even GM’s have to teach for a living.
#22
Those who can, do. Those who can do even better, teach. Those who can do best, are very rare.
#23
@Cyncko-3000 said in #1:
> Hey everyone! Why is 5 the golden number? Is even a few years ahead bad?
Not everyone says but one needs to start relatively young anyway
But become GM is pretty unrealistic in for just about anyone. USCF estimated that about 1% player who participate tournaments achieve NM - good part lichess players do not qualify even that basic set on participating tournaments so say about 0.5% of players here could achieve level of play of NM. about half of the NM that titled player can achieve FM title so we are down to 0.5% again half these players can achieve IM title so about 0.25%. Again halving for GM to 0.125% of active tournament players can be GM - estimate based that on active GMs number is about half of IMs. Same for IM to GM. then just gessing NM - FM being about the same.

Not just skill and determination is needes. Attending top tournamens also take quite bit of money.

So being 5yo puttin all extra time on chess is unlikely to result on GM title.
#24
No it's not necessary to start at 5 or never even think about it, there's no age to pursue your dream. You can start at any age, it just needs a little bit of more hardwork.
#25
You basically need to start before about 21 to get a good chance at improving. After that, your brain stops a lot of its growth and is in what is considered its “mature” stage. If you start before that however, you have a much higher chance of improving your chess skills dramatically.
#28
Listen:: let titles worry about themselves.

FACT: If you want to be a 2500+ player OTB you will have to understand how much of your free time and travel and money that requires.
There are thousands of people out there putting in crazy hours to be a GM.

You won't get there on 5hrs a week and 20 tournament games a year.

If you want to continuously play better but be obsessed and waste your life and money then GOOD.... just focus on improving. Don't just play 2000 online games.... play training games... train complex positions over and over again. Endless tactics puzzles.

You want to be authentic FIDE GM?
Understand that sacrifice and commitment.
Ask yourself is it worth it?

Or do you just want to be that old man in the park that slowly improves his position and all the wild youth throwing pieces at him can never defeat him??

This topic has been archived and can no longer be replied to.