Who knows. If you choose to convert a couple of tens of thousands hours into chess knowledge you will know the answer for sure. One thing is for sure, it will take a long time to get there, if it is possible that is.
My advice, play games and see if you want to seriously pursue something like that, or you just want to play and learn more casually.
Possible to become Chess master starting at 20
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Nov 3, 2020
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#2
Nov 4, 2020
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#4
The short answer is yes... if you've got enough talent and enough determination.
Epiloque schreef:
GoOilers20 wrote:
Good evening everybody,
Im a 20 yo philosophy student and i like playing chess (a lot). I have never really played any chess, only once or twice a year with a family member when i was little.
Since a couple of weeks I play occasionally against a friend who is ranked +-1750 and I manage to beat him about 1/3 of the games we play. I have never studied any chess openings, endgames, tactics,... I play solely on instinct and for fun. Now I wonder if it is possible to become really good at chess when you start at my age. I am talking about Master level (at max).
If not, be honest. I can take it xD
Anyway, have a good week!
Greetings
Play 10/0 games over the course of a few days to see what your strength is at. Back when my chess club was opened I had a ~1300 rapid friend beat a ~1700 in blitz 1/3 of the times. ~1300 is not enough to justify leaving philosophy to play chess. I could lie to you and say "Yes you can do it just follow your dreams!" but that would be lying. It takes years of hard work to become a master, and most masters start when they are children. Adding on to that it takes lots of money, we are talking thousands of dollars at the minimum. So even if you could become a master (max as you said is grandmaster), it would take you several years (probably at least 10-15 for a gm), which means that while you are in the pursuit of that you will not be earning any money. So decide, but I would recommend you either continue your philosophy degree, or drop out and start working a job, because I don't know what kind of jobs you could get with a philosophy major. If you have a specific job planned out that requires a philosophy degree, ignore that last sentence. And also take all of what I have said with a grain of salt, because I am still in high school.
No worries, im not going to drop out of college! I don't have ambitions to play chess for money or to become a GM or something like that. Im talking about Candidate Master (or FM tops), because i know anything higher would definitely not be possible (as a late starter, not enough time to practice,...).
My question should be: Is getting an elo of 2000+ still possible.
Thanks for all the answers btw!
Nov 4, 2020
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#6
Rubinstein learned chess at 18, Blackburne at 14. They became two of the greatest players of all time. So, yeah, you could become a master. You’ll have to work like a dog to do it.
yes u can nothing is impossible age doesnt matter in chess thank you
Nov 4, 2020
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#8
The answer is possible, but increasingly improbable as you climb the through increasingly difficult titles to attain. None of us can assess your level if talent and dedication from a forum post and if you really want to find out you should visit a club and speak with a coach.
Starting at the age of 20, the GM and IM titles are pretty much out of the picture. Sorry, but it's just not going to happen.
CM for sure.
NM for sure.
FM with enough time and effort I would think yes.
Nov 4, 2020
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#10
My thoughts are that it is possible to become an NM or something with enough dedication. Of course unlikely, but not so unlikely it seems like a stupid goal
Epiloque wrote:
aeroescacs wrote:
yes u can nothing is impossible age doesnt matter in chess thank you
So since nothing is impossible why don't you fly up to the sun for me.
And while you're at it, don't get run over by the stampede of 70-year old guys picking up their GM title
But seriously, starting chess at 20 and achieving a National Master title is possible. Unlikely, but possible
Good evening everybody,
Im a 20 yo philosophy student and i like playing chess (a lot). I have never really played any chess, only once or twice a year with a family member when i was little.
Since a couple of weeks I play occasionally against a friend who is ranked +-1750 and I manage to beat him about 1/3 of the games we play. I have never studied any chess openings, endgames, tactics,... I play solely on instinct and for fun. Now I wonder if it is possible to become really good at chess when you start at my age. I am talking about Master level (at max).
If not, be honest. I can take it xD
Anyway, have a good week!
Greetings