Hello,

I've now come to terms with the fact that I'll never be a great chess player, , but I'd like to know what I'm missing out on, so: how do really, really good chess players (FM level and up) make money? Is it purely through teaching and winning the occasional tournament, or do they receive "turn up" fees that is sufficient to keep them going through the year?

We regularly read about basketball and football contracts, I'm just wondering how professional chess players get by.

Cheers

They go round hussling people in bars.

most professional chess players are pickpockets as well. They'd be like "my knight captures your rook with check" and you'd never notice you were down a wallet.

And that ain't no joke.

Of course not. People on forums do not engage in joking. That is reserved for bars, OTB chess tournaments and professional chess players.

Lol.

 chess is not a big money business. I guess they can make a million in the top 10, but a doctor can make a million too, so it's better to pursue chess because you like it and not for the money. I guess that's true in every career tho

        If you still want to be a master level player and have the time to put into playing and training,  then NEVER stop believing that you can do it.     You can do it.   Try focusing on the game more while not playing.  Spend time thinking about what you know and learning more.  I think the key is focus.  Be like the martial artist for example,  pursuing excellence at his/her  discipline!   A serious student like that is focused like a laser beam on their discipline and on all the things that are essential to achieving  excellence.  Its a way of life.  Once you get on the journey to excellence,  all that matters is progress.   Keep moving foward. Always know the truth that you can reach the goal. Just because you haven't does not mean you can not do it. Even if you don't make it, its not because you couldn't do it. It only means that there were hindrances and/or you stopped pursuing excellence. Never stop!   Keep pressing foward and NEVER give up!    As long as your on the journey, nothing else matters, not even the achieving of the goal,   the desire to do that should only motivate you,   to keeping pressing on towards the goal. I don't even care if hindrances prevent me from achieving my goal,  because NOTHING can stop me from staying on the journey of pursuing the goal .   Even if physical hindrances get too bad,  it doesn't matter ,  because I'll never give up believing in my mind.  While on the journey to excellence, always know and believe that you can master the discipline of chess.  All you have to do is keep pressing foward,   playing(long games not blitz), hitting the books ,  and talking to like minded people.   

Now go do it with passion!

Cue "eye of the tiger"

Even non-titled players make a (small) living on teaching chess. Teaching, writing, and working for chess websites. Not enough money in tournaments.

 HotFlow also posted; ...

They go around hustling people in bars.

LOL!  HotFlow, you are a funny guy!

Two inspirational chess books you may wish to consider:

- Petrosian's Eye of the Tiger (Don't let go of the Tal)

- Maxe Euwe's classic: Euwe can do it! (if you really want).

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/community/who-is-player-x

Their all male-whores.

Even the women?

that's too punny!!