How long does it take to become a titled player, assuming you have what it take?

If a person decided, having never played tournament OTB before, beginning on the road to a title, how long would it take them?

Forget ability, study, talent....I am only talking about time taken in terms of otb games / tournaments.

From the moment he / she sits at their first otb game in their first otb tournament, to the moment they achieve a title.

Can a player achieve a title in just one tournament if the competition is highly enough rated?

Do you start your otb career with a rating like 1200 (as you do here) where large jumps are possible if you start winning against highly rated players immediately? or, Does it take longer to establish a rating in otb?

Are we talking weeks, months, years? One tournament or ten?

Genuinely curious. I could google I suppose but there are so many knowledgable people here with experience of working their way to titles that I thought it as good a place as any to ask.

Wouldn't it also take time before someone received their provisional rating even after having played 25+ games?

Thanks pelik, great answer. I suppose I was too literal when I said 'time' though. I didn't need the breakdown in minutes :P, very thorough though.

Ok, so 25 games for your provisional rating. Didn't know that.

Sure, if it's enough rounds.

No.  You start with no rating.  Not zero, just "provisional"

Yes.  I think if you win every game in your first tourney your rating begins at 400 points higher than your highest rated opponent IIRC.

Well as pellik shows just a few hours.  But realistically it would take at least a few months given tournaments with many rounds in an area that offers large monthly tournaments.

Everyone will vary....I made it through detemination. I got an early start in chess, but a late start in rated play

Age 5 learned chess

Age 9 read first chess book, continued every year.

Age 12 First chess club, scholastic

Age 17 first rated tournament games, starting at 1465

Age 26, (nearly 27)  broke 2200 and got my NM title. Now, I'm almost 58 years of age.

I believe anyone can do it too, if they will put the work in. My free online course, linked in my profile, has YouTube videos that teach you to teach yourself to duplicate how I did it.

He's asking if you're already as strong as a master how long will it take to earn your title if you've never played in a tournament.

No he isn't, he is asking how long it takes from when you play your first rated tournament. If one is already master strength from study and online play it shouldn't take long. Most people are not master strength when they start rated play.

Sorry, I could have been a bit more clear in my first post.

I am referring to someone who has the ability already, taking training, talent or anything elswe out of the equation. Assuming they take no losses along the way.

Still, very useful responses, thankyou.

aww-rats, thanks for the advice. I'll give your youtube videos a watch.

You're wrong. 

[edit, I see Genghiskhant has "clarified"]