@ Scottrf : You assumed that the opponent will remain at 2700 level, so the maximum a player can achieve is 3400. But opponent's rating can increase too by defeating other 2700s. So, technically there's no end.
Suppose, 2 top players never play each other. They play all the rest of the super GMs in the 2700s and defeat them in each and every match, they can get their ratings to 3400 each. And now if both the 3400 players play continuously vs each other and one keeps on winning, he cn reach 3600 or more. And I just assumed 2 players. So it goes on an on.
No. I just realised how many games it will take and that there aren't enough 2700 players to defeat.
I was looking at a realistic answer.
I think to be even remotely "realistic," the scenario has to assume a more or less normal distribution, i.e., a bell curve.
Given such a reality, the idea that one player could approach 3400 while his closest competitors remained around 2700 is so unlikely as to require a leap into the realm of science fiction.
Well, provide an interesting answer yourself then...
Infinity is clearly not what he was looking for and a google search would have given that answer.
He said, and I quote, "Is there any limit?"
The only correct answer to that is that no, there isn't any limit. If you don't find the correct answer particularly interesting, I have no idea how to address that. But it does appear to be the answer he was looking for.
OP: would you rather we just make something up for you, or did you want an actual answer? Like, theoretically speaking, there may be no limit, but the rules of the Mystical Order of the Eight by Eight Brotherhood prophesy that on the day man first reaches 5000 ELO, the remaining chess Grandmasters are doomed to have to stalk and behead each other, Highlander-style, until only one remains, whose rating will then be set back to 1, where it will remain for eternity in perfect binary juxtaposition to the zeros bestowed upon all others irrespective of ability.
would that be fair under todays rules or even tomorrows rules. by putting a implant in our heads.. I think that our ratings will only rise as we live longer. more time to play and more people playing. and the size of the group of so call GM. IM. WM. and so forth. will get larger. so therefore the there is a better chance of getting bigger rating.