@Iam-aHappy_Guy said in #1:
> Hello Everyone, I’m a professional chess player with a fide rating of around 1500.....I’m currently in 9th grade/standard, and my 10th is gonna start very soon.....So I would like to ask that should I drop the next year (stay in 9th class) so that I can focus more on chess and reach 1800 or 2000 fide rating by the end of next year and then promote to 10th ?
> I’m asking this also because If I started 10th then most probably I would have to take a break from chess, (Because of my boards I’d have to pay more attention to my studies.)
> Plz give some opinions so that I can decide what to do and how that decision can/will affect my future life......
> Thnx :)
Everything depend of what you really want.
If it is possible for you to adapt your school to chess, do it. Besides, do you plan to pursue higher education after school or not? If you have the means and the motivation to become a real pro, don't miss out on such an opportunity. However, be aware that it is more difficult to become a GM or IM than a professional: you can work calmly until you reach a CM or FM title and start working as an author of chess books or a coach, once you have a stable situation, you can think about progressing and going further: it is entirely possible to become an IM at 25 or 30 years old. let's imagine the following case: if you are 16 - 17 years old, you work with sufficient means and with a little luck, you become CM around 21 - 22 years old (because it's probably 5 years that you will need given that there are tournaments and travel to do). then you can start looking for work while continuing your career in parallel and with a little luck, at 35 you will be IM, with an economic situation not very high but stable if you know how to earn and manage your money. GM is difficult because there are almost only child prodigies now. but you can go pro. and if you don't have higher education or university plans, then this is a good option
