Possibly of interest:
https://www.chess.com/article/view/can-anyone-be-an-im-or-gm
What It Takes to Become a Chess Master by Andrew Soltis
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093409/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review857.pdf
100 Chess Master Trade Secrets by Andrew Soltis
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708094523/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review916.pdf
Reaching the Top?! by Peter Kurzdorfer
http://www.thechessmind.net/blog/2015/11/16/book-notice-kurzdorfers-reaching-the-top.html
http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Reaching-the-Top-77p3905.htm
What It Takes to Become a Grandmaster by GM Andrew Soltis
https://www.chess.com/article/view/don-t-worry-about-your-rating
https://www.chess.com/article/view/am-i-too-old-for-chess
https://www.chess.com/blog/smurfo/book-review-insanity-passion-and-addiction
http://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/26/books/books-of-the-times-when-the-child-chess-genius-becomes-the-pawn.html
Guy starts chess at age of 20, is there the possibility he will ever achieve GM?
Offcourse it's possible, but it depends if you've the talent and are willing to put in the work. If Fischer started playing chess at 20, he would still be a GM.
So, if you think you're good with spatial intelligence/ calculation ability and can put in the work. Start right NOW.
I'm a 1700-1800 player, 1900 on lichess. Never once in my life did I read a chess book or study opening theory. Just learned all by playing and I play it recreationally. That's it.
WHEN IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE?
Well let's just say I slightly exaggerated for OP to boost his morale. But I would say it's possible if he has the talent and is willing to put in WORK. It's like Fischer said, there are a lot of talented players in US, but most of them just give up.
The question is - why would anyone want to dedicate their life on chess at the age of 20? 99% will give up due to lack of incentive. Hence you won't see anyone becoming GM.
They are working on implants for the brain to help disabled people move robotic arms. So just build in a chess engine interface and Bob's your uncle. A 20 year old disabled man who has never played before but who plays chess like a Grandmaster. Oh but that would be cheating!😀.
I have to go with zac... if it has never been done before, the chances are remote at best.
Depends whether you're using a pedantic definition of 'impossible' (by which almost nothing is impossible) or a real-life definition.
If you start at 22 and break 2000 you've done well.
GM is really tough, starting late. Some say IM is doable "at any age" but most guys who do it in their 40's or 50's where 1800+ when they were 20.
I think there is a reasonable chance that someone learning the moves at age 20 might become a grandmaster.
The reason is there is so much to learn but there are also a myriad of ways to learn with today's technology.
To give an example from poker. I used to be a good internet poker player until Black Friday caused me to stop.
However in the past few years there has been a myriad of poker lessons and advanced play on you tube. So even as a septuagenarian and years of not playing -- I was able to greatly improve my results and play. [now playing at casinos]
I guess we're unlikely to find out, since if you are the kind of person who is going to love chess enough (and have the resources) to become a GM, you'll probably discover it a lot earlier.
I think the answer is yes. anyone can become gm if the person puts effort.
I think there is a reasonable chance that someone learning the moves at age 20 might become a grandmaster.
The reason is there is so much to learn but there are also a myriad of ways to learn with today's technology.
To give an example from poker. I used to be a good internet poker player until Black Friday caused me to stop.
However in the past few years there has been a myriad of poker lessons and advanced play on you tube. So even as a septuagenarian and years of not playing -- I was able to greatly improve my results and play. [now playing at casinos]
why black friday
Well I just started chess at the age of 37 and for sure their is not a lot of time to devote to learning and playing often enough to see a significant change in a year or two. But I suppose if one could devote a lot of time to chess one could reach gm status in about 5-10 years a lot of time and I mean day in and day out chess chess chess.
Possibly of interest:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2017/05/05/making-a-living-in-chess-is-tough-but-the-internet-is-making-it-easier/#4284e4814850
https://www.chess.com/news/view/is-there-good-money-in-chess-1838
"... Many aspiring young chess players dream of one day becoming a grandmaster and a professional. ... But ... a profession must bring in at least a certain regular income even if one is not too demanding. ... The usual prize money in Open tournaments is meagre. ... The higher the prizes, the greater the competition. ... With a possibly not very high and irregular income for several decades the amount of money one can save for old age remains really modest. ... Anyone who wants to reach his maximum must concentrate totally on chess. That involves important compromises with or giving up on his education. ... it is a question of personal life planning and when deciding it is necessary to be fully conscious of the various possibilities, limitations and risks. ... a future professional must really love chess and ... be prepared to work very hard for it. ... It is all too frequent that a wrong evaluation is made of what a talented player can achieve. ... Most players have the potential for a certain level; once they have reached it they can only make further progress with a great effort. ... anyone who is unlikely to attain a high playing strength should on no account turn professional. ... Anyone who does not meet these top criteria can only try to earn his living with public appearances, chess publishing or activity as a trainer. But there is a lack of offers and these are not particularly well paid. For jobs which involve appearing in public, moreover, certain non-chess qualities are required. ... a relevant 'stage presence' and required sociability. ... All these jobs and existences, moreover, have hanging above them the sword of Damocles of general economic conditions. ... around [age] 40 chess players ... find that their performances are noticeably tailing off. ..." - from a 12 page chapter on becoming a chess professional in the book, Luther's Chess Reformation by GM Thomas Luther (2016)
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/LuthersChessReformation-excerpt.pdf
Is it possible? Yes. Anything is possible, including winning the lotto, but you probably have a better chance of winning the powerball than having someone becoming a chess GM after learning the game after 20. 2200-2300 is definitely possible though.
I know of a 74 year old man who could find the solution to a chess puzzle which the strongest chess engines could not find. It took him 6 minutes.
So, it certainly is possible for a 20 year old who just learned chess to become a grandmaster. Not likely but possible.
The thing is--very very few people who learn chess at age 20 want to spend the time and effort to become a grandmaster.
I'm 62 years old, never had a pilot's license, but it's still possible that I could become an astronaut and command the first manned mission to Mars. I know I've got the right stuff, but the clock is against me now.
Asking if a 20 year old who just started chess can become a GM is like asking if a 30 year old random Joe who just started working out can become an Olympic gold medallist at gymnastics.
Perhaps; to become a GM takes more than just practice and experience, you need a natural ability. Any truly dedicated player can reach a high standard just from practice and studying and can achieve a high rating and level of play. To move beyond this into GM territory requires more. There's no reason why a player who has been playing for a short time cannot become a GM, regardless of age, but someone who has been active for a few years and is still at the same level must surely know their limit by now. In short, if you're 30 and you start this game then there's no telling what your limit is but if you're 30 and you've been at it for a while... maybe you're at your peak
No, his brain is already developed at that age and thus, it will be extremely unlikely... but nothing is impossible.