Chess Now Refuted?!
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Nethinim wrote:
True GMs don't use coaches. It's natural.
I'm sure alot of pre GM players had coaches at some point during their life. Even Fischer had a coach (at a fairly early age). I saw some training between Carlsen and Kasparov when Carlsen was fairly young, they were discussing a game between Carlsen and Shirov.
On the issue of becoming a GM at a late age, I looked at the list of current GMs and found this man:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algimantas_Butnorius
He was born in 1946 and didnt become an IM until he was 37. Then he became a GM at age 61.
Maybe it is remote to become a GM after 40, but the reason more do not achieve this has probably more to do with priorities than potential. Having said that, however, its not my goal to even ever be a master. (So my point here isnt that I am hoping to do this). I'd love to be class A but beyond that I wouldn't even attempt it. (I am 45).
Someone else, however, could do it if they were smart enough, and devoted the time to it over several years.
Oct 23, 2011
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#25
Well I must say this seems to be a interesting thread. If I follow the Logic here then it would seem that allmost everyone here on this little planet is wasting their time. The theory seems to be that anyone who plays Chess for a long time and does not become a GM only wasted their time. To take this theory further I guess one would have to say that all of the people spending years playing Golf and not catching up to Tiger Woods are wasting their time. Furthermore anyone working for Ford or IBM or BNSF Railway etc, and does not become president of the company is wasting their time. Anyone who has ever played Little League Baseball and never made it to the Majors wasted their time ( one could keep this train of thought going forever lol ). Some people might say that the effort to try to succeed is a noble thing in itself or doing a enjoyable activity is of some use to the person doing it. " To enjoy or not to enjoy that is the question etc etc etc ".
You've heard of the American Dream, cabadenwurt? Well, this is the American Pipe Dream. 
Oct 23, 2011
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#27
Oh I nearly forgot: any one who ever learned a musical instrument and never got a gold record ( wasting time ). Anyone who ever studied with a voice coach but never got a television special ( wasting time ). Boy these negative people are no fun at all. So I say let us go forth and learn a NEW SKILL !!! ( even if all of the naysayers laugh at us --- onwards and upwards ! ).
Well mike that this post got some action good rant though
who loves ya baby.
Getting back to the idea of learning chess as an adult seriously limits your potential - but what about Joseph Blackburne? Didn't learn chess when he was 19 ? I'd say he was the genius exception.