Here's a question, if you were in an accident, or had some neurological disease, or for some other reason got brain damage so that you were only able to play chess at a tiny fraction of the skill you played at before, and the brain damage was getting worse so that no matter how much you practiced you know that you're just going to get worse, would you still play chess?

   What if the moon is really made of green cheese?

I would still want to come here to see you flippin idiots.

I think it's an interesting question, because it asks do you play for your rating or do you play because you love chess?

And do you love chess enough that if you knew you were only going to get worse at it, would you still play it even then?

    What's this IF  crap?   Half the people here HAVE brain damage.

   How about: "If someone drilled a large hole through your brain, would you still want to play chess?"

Duh. I fink. Doe. I twy it

please sticky this thread, mods

This isn't outside the realm of possibility to happen. I'm sure out of all the chess players in the world there are some good players right now who are dealing with a situation like this, where perhaps they have a brain tumour or some other health issue affecting their nervous system.

If I got any worse, my rating would be nonexistant!

Look at my games. If you looked at them alone, you might think I already have brain damage.

      kleelof;  Did you hear what The Pope said today??  He said he'd rather have pizza than be Pope. No lie!, Google the news.

You think it's an interesting question, eh?    I run into a few interesting questions now and then so take it from me, your question does not qualify.  At least not in the sense you think it does.  Art Linkletter used to host a show called, "Kids say the funniest things".     But that's not what we need to talk about.

The question you ask suggests that you are in fact asking for very personal reasons.  If it is too painful to discuss how you incurred the brain damage you are trying veil behind your non-chalant question then I apologize.  

By "tiny fraction" do you mean a condition so bad you can't control your bowels, bladder, and mostly mumble or what?   I'm thinking if most of my brain is out for repairs chess will not be the way I amuse myself between diaper changes.

"I would like ... to go out one day, without being recognized, and go to a pizzeria for a pizza," he said.

lol

That was a poor translation because of the google monster.  They've corrected what he said (Spanish Catholic Latin is hard to translate) to the real thing he said.  He said he'd rather eat pizza than poop (pizza).

Sorry for any misunderstanding I was going to post something about it sooner but did really expect the subject to come up.

Just thought of this: 

You should combine your...ahem...interesting question with this question...

is it too late to become a GM or at least a IM

Or to simplify, would a gaping headwound prevent me from becoming an IM or better?

You could go on to explain that before the gaping headwound  you were already playing chess like the smallest dwarf in a land of giants just to make the question even more...you know - inneresting.

i've met several players (and a few formerly masters+) with this situation, and they still play although not at the same level they used to play.  chess is good exercise for the mind for people of advanced age (or of any age) although in moderation.

IM Colin Crouch had a massive stroke leaving him with only partial vision in one eye and brain damage.  He's been able to play up to his pre-stroke form.

It would depend on the severity of the disability. Chess may well indeed be beneficial.