So I got introduced to chess around 2 months ago, played for a week and felt disappointed by not being as good as I thought in my first 20-30 games(lol), so I went on with life. After a month or so (1 month ago), it just reignited inside me and I went back to playing, this time studying a couple openings and now I play casual rapid games and I beat a lot of relatively high rated players (1750-1900). I really would love to achieve at least 2400 rating in the future, maybe even more, I don’t know if I should aim for a FIDE title because I’m not that young, I’m 17 years old. What I want to know is, am I good enough to play professionally? Is it possible for me to achieve a FIDE title in the future?
- Should you aim for a Fide title?
Short answer: No.
--> If you fall in love with the game and are intrinsically motivated to put in the work to eventually get a title (2200+ OTB Elo), that is great! However, given that you are 17 and just starting to take the game more seriously, the odds are against you and I think it is not fair for anyone to tell you different. You will find virtually no real-life examples of people following that timeline and becoming titled players. Ending up as a semi-professional because of a failed project to become "great" at something is a nice way into depression.
- Should you start playing chess seriously?
Short answer: Sure, why not?
--> As long as you are not destroying yourself over the idea of becoming a late-bloomer GM, there are only benefits from spending some serious thought on the game. It keeps you mentally sharp and is a great way of improving logical thinking process, no matter your age. It surely helps you to get professional in other areas where you are still considered very young.
Short answer: No.
--> If you fall in love with the game and are intrinsically motivated to put in the work to eventually get a title (2200+ OTB Elo), that is great! However, given that you are 17 and just starting to take the game more seriously, the odds are against you and I think it is not fair for anyone to tell you different. You will find virtually no real-life examples of people following that timeline and becoming titled players. Ending up as a semi-professional because of a failed project to become "great" at something is a nice way into depression.
- Should you start playing chess seriously?
Short answer: Sure, why not?
--> As long as you are not destroying yourself over the idea of becoming a late-bloomer GM, there are only benefits from spending some serious thought on the game. It keeps you mentally sharp and is a great way of improving logical thinking process, no matter your age. It surely helps you to get professional in other areas where you are still considered very young.
It is possible considering you went from 0-1400 in two months. Some players take years to reach your level ;) However, if you are serious about getting a title then you have to be prepared to invest a huge amount of time into chess and consider whether becoming a professional chess player is really your ultimate goal in life.
'I'm not that young, I'm 17 years old' - My question is 'Do you get enough free time to practice chess assuming that you also have to do school work'
'I'm not that young, I'm 17 years old' - My question is 'Do you get enough free time to practice chess assuming that you also have to do school work'
No, you're not good enough to play professionally obviously. If a 2000 FIDE played you 1000 times, the 2000 FIDE would win 1000 times.
But everyone starts out bad. Getting good is nothing to do with talent and more to do with spamming loads of games and analysing them after. So you can get 2400 if you put in the effort.
But everyone starts out bad. Getting good is nothing to do with talent and more to do with spamming loads of games and analysing them after. So you can get 2400 if you put in the effort.
@MyRatingIs1900 @M7MDAW
>> You will find virtually no real-life examples of people following that timeline and becoming titled players.
At age of 17 it is perfectly fine to go CM or FM or even IM title. GM title might be difficult but there are more than a few players who get a FIDE title at old age.
Here an article :
"Today, young kids are becoming very strong very early and some even become grandmasters at the age of twelve and thirteen. They take to chess like a fledgling bird learning to fly. But can you start a serious chess career at the ripe old age of seventeen? Yes, you can, says one player, who managed just that. Let Shivananda tell you how this worked. Maybe you can do the same?!"
en dot chessbase dot com/post/start-chess-in-your-late-teens-and-become-a-grandmaster
And a few years ago there was a chess player, from the UK or AU I believe, who got his IM title at age of about 60 years, if I remember correctly. Can't find the details now but has been in the chess news broadly.
To the OP : Playing for such a short time and then setting such a high goal as 2400+ is maybe too ambitious.
First aiming for say 2200+ and CM title is an idea.
It might make sense to share your chess games with several people and ask what they think about it.
And do you have a chess coach or are you going to have one ?
GL & have chess fun !
>> You will find virtually no real-life examples of people following that timeline and becoming titled players.
At age of 17 it is perfectly fine to go CM or FM or even IM title. GM title might be difficult but there are more than a few players who get a FIDE title at old age.
Here an article :
"Today, young kids are becoming very strong very early and some even become grandmasters at the age of twelve and thirteen. They take to chess like a fledgling bird learning to fly. But can you start a serious chess career at the ripe old age of seventeen? Yes, you can, says one player, who managed just that. Let Shivananda tell you how this worked. Maybe you can do the same?!"
en dot chessbase dot com/post/start-chess-in-your-late-teens-and-become-a-grandmaster
And a few years ago there was a chess player, from the UK or AU I believe, who got his IM title at age of about 60 years, if I remember correctly. Can't find the details now but has been in the chess news broadly.
To the OP : Playing for such a short time and then setting such a high goal as 2400+ is maybe too ambitious.
First aiming for say 2200+ and CM title is an idea.
It might make sense to share your chess games with several people and ask what they think about it.
And do you have a chess coach or are you going to have one ?
GL & have chess fun !
@achja
The fact that this story is making the news just proves the point of there being "virtually no real-life examples". Sure, you can become a GM when starting to play chess at 17. It is also technically possible for me to marry Margot Robbie. The question is whether you should put a considerable amount of time into pursuing that goal.
I stand by my advice: Do it as long as you feel intrinsically motivated! Once you start forcing yourself, be aware of what is realistically possible, given the circumstances!
The fact that this story is making the news just proves the point of there being "virtually no real-life examples". Sure, you can become a GM when starting to play chess at 17. It is also technically possible for me to marry Margot Robbie. The question is whether you should put a considerable amount of time into pursuing that goal.
I stand by my advice: Do it as long as you feel intrinsically motivated! Once you start forcing yourself, be aware of what is realistically possible, given the circumstances!
I think you guys are being trolled... He plays like a club novice that makes positional decisions with lackluster tactics... I've never seen a young and gifted beginner who's also tactically weak.
@mediocrecapablanca He only started 2 months ago tho....
@Tae7 don't you normally see promising beginners have abnormally good tactics for a beginner? Especially the younger ones... They're usually tactically sharp e4 players who have to learn positional chess, not the other way around.
Maybe I'm just very wrong.
Maybe I'm just very wrong.
If you really expect to get that good, it will take years and years. And starting off by asking a bunch of random people online what they think your chances are is not making too good of a first impression.
This topic has been archived and can no longer be replied to.