I was considered a good player at a coffee shop next to my university where many people played with clocks and portable sets. I was a tournament player at the time and had played for decades already but was at best a C level player. A guy I played and won against easily told me about his partner in a construction business who works in flooring and tile. "He's pretty good I think," the guy told me, "he beats me and I wonder how he would do against you." A meeting was arranged between us. This guy had never seen a chess clock or read a chess book or gone to a club or tournament. He played me and actually gave me a good challenge, but I won two out of two. Eventually we became friends and then roommates. Then this new friend of mine started going to chess clubs whenever possible and playing strong players. He started winning games against me and within months he was beating masters and it became inevitable that I would lose every game we played. I could hardly believe that in a few months he was already ready to play tournaments. At his first tournament, he achieved a provisional rating higher than any rating I have ever achieved in my decades of tournament play. Within two years he was over 2100 Elo and his rating went up with every tournament he played. Eventually it dawned on me that he had developed as a player more in a few months than I had in over 15 years of experience and structured study. My friend never owned or studied a single chess book. He used to encourage me to play tournaments with him because he wanted me to share in the fun, but it was embarrassing having played for decades yet often coming in last place at club tournaments. This experience has convinced me that chess is all about talent. I'm not talented at chess.
What a weird case. I don't know how to even think of this properly. I think it is just tactics and calculation, that's what kills people below 2000. But you also should have been more than a class c player. If you put in the hours there is no way you don't improve in the long term.
I played in tournaments for several years, studied books, and went to chess clubs and yet I could never get past 1450 USCF rating. I met people in chess tournaments who had been playing for decades who were in the same boat. Anyone who tells you the only reason you aren't a strong player is because you simply don't try is either lying or ignorant. Magnus Carlsen, Bobby Fischer, Capablanca, Kasparov, etc were very gifted at chess and no amount of practice and hard work will allow anyone to become an elite player without that talent. It isn't even worth arguing with someone over any more than arguing that the sun comes up every morning. I might also add that includes Judit Polgar.
maybe they should get better instead