Can I get a title at age 26?

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mrsandface

Hey guys, started around 2 months ago, and ever since addicted. Given my age, is it too late to get a title? (not talking about GM, just one of the titles).

thaynethomas

posible but likely will take 10 years of study and active play.

EagerOtter

I knew a guy who started playing in college and in a couple years he made master. Anything is possible.

mgx9600

Not for you.

mrsandface

@mgx9600 why not? meh.png

mgx9600

Because you are 26 and still need to ask this question.

EagerOtter

Either way OP, title or not, it's a great game and there is always room for improvement. Enjoy it for what it is and dont approach the game as a means to an end.

mrsandface

@EagerOtter Yeah, I will make the best out of it, thanks!

mrsandface

@woollensock thanks dude! happy.png

FrightenedGiant

mrsandface wrote:

Hey guys, started around 2 months ago, and ever since addicted. Given my age, is it too late to get a title? (not talking about GM, just one of the titles).

you can get a doctor title if you complete medical school

mrsandface

@FrightenedGiantDaarnet hey man, I meant chess titles tongue.png

mrsandface

@DamonevicSmithlov I gonna try, it's a long road

Ziryab

You can probably get a title in 8-12 months if you are willing to play two FIDE rated tournaments per month and study endgames three hours per day. I don't have a title because I don't have the self-discipline (I'd rather play bullet than study), but the method is clear and straightforward. 

mrsandface

@Ziryab if it's that easy everyone would do it surprise.png

Ziryab

Who do you know that plays that many tournaments and studies endgames three hours per day? I'm willing to bet that all of them are titled.

PhishMaster

You are not too old at all. I started playing when I was 18 (almost 58 now), and made USCF Master in 5 years. It will certainly be your main focus, and probably the only thing you do in life besides work, but your mind is still plenty young enough to manage it.

As you can tell by the ages I mentioned above, I started a long time ago, which was before PCs and the Internet. The only tools were books really. You have that part of the game a lot easier now with databases, engines, and access to better competition here on chess.com. Also, I mentioned books, and as an avid chess-book collector, I can tell you that the books today are also so much better for teaching than in the past.

Good luck!

PhishMaster
Ziryab wrote:

You can probably get a title in 8-12 months if you are willing to play two FIDE rated tournaments per month and study endgames three hours per day. I don't have a title because I don't have the self-discipline (I'd rather play bullet than study), but the method is clear and straightforward. 


Pretty unrealistic to do it in that amount of time.

mrsandface

@PhishMaster Thanks for your input! But on te other hand, the new tools are accessible to everyone, meaning you still have to be relatively better than other people to get a title, right?

PhishMaster
mrsandface wrote:

@PhishMaster Thanks for your input! But on te other hand, the new tools are accessible to everyone, meaning you still have to be relatively better than other people to get a title, right?

 

Yes, and no. Of course, the tools are available to everyone; however, there are still plenty of players in any rating category to play, and move up by playing. 

Yes, the argument can be made that all players have gotten stronger, but that remains to be seen. Definitely at the higher levels, IM and GM, they are better now than when I started, but I am not sure that holds at all levels. 

Ziryab
PhishMaster wrote:
Ziryab wrote:

You can probably get a title in 8-12 months if you are willing to play two FIDE rated tournaments per month and study endgames three hours per day. I don't have a title because I don't have the self-discipline (I'd rather play bullet than study), but the method is clear and straightforward. 


Pretty unrealistic to do it in that amount of time.

 

Maybe too much time on chess makes you oblivious to obvious satire.

PhishMaster wrote:

 It will certainly be your main focus, and probably the only thing you do in life besides work, ...