some say i am exceptional others say i am average. I want to become a professional chess player but i dont think i am good enough.
The only category you have a rating in is blitz so I will base it off that -- Since 20% of chess players have a higher blitz rating than you in the past week, and >100k people play blitz, that is at least 20,000 people who could consistently smoke you in a 5 minute game. Of course online blitz doesn't directly translate to classical, but here's the thing about pro chess players. All the pro players are easily in the top 1% of players. All of the hard work is for differentiating between only the top 1% -- i.e. "No I'm top 0.1%, nooo I'm top 0.05%", and so on. If you are barely at the top 20% of players, it's not looking good for a competitive future, because you will always have thousands of people willing to step in and destroy you in your own game. That is not a good standing point to construct an ego, because as a competitor, you likely want to Win, and you likely want to dominate the competition -- but at the 20% level and honestly even the 1% level, you won't be able to consistently do either of those against other professional opponents. This applies to more than just chess. Of course, there is a possibility, though I'm not sure how likely, that you are a top 0.01% classical player, but only a top 20% blitz lichess. Personally I doubt that is the case, but if you feel strongly that is your situation, then you could definitely push to try to play competitive chess.
"... Many aspiring young chess players dream of one day becoming a grandmaster and a professional. ... But ... a profession must bring in at least a certain regular income even if one is not too demanding. ... The usual prize money in Open tournaments is meagre. ... The higher the prizes, the greater the competition. ... With a possibly not very high and irregular income for several decades the amount of money one can save for old age remains really modest. ... Anyone who wants to reach his maximum must concentrate totally on chess. That involves important compromises with or giving up on his education. ... it is a question of personal life planning and when deciding it is necessary to be fully conscious of the various possibilities, limitations and risks. ... a future professional must really love chess and ... be prepared to work very hard for it. ... It is all too frequent that a wrong evaluation is made of what a talented player can achieve. ... Most players have the potential for a certain level; once they have reached it they can only make further progress with a great effort. ... anyone who is unlikely to attain a high playing strength should on no account turn professional. ... Anyone who does not meet these top criteria can only try to earn his living with public appearances, chess publishing or activity as a trainer. But there is a lack of offers and these are not particularly well paid. For jobs which involve appearing in public, moreover, certain non-chess qualities are required. ... a relevant 'stage presence' and required sociability. ... All these jobs and existences, moreover, have hanging above them the sword of Damocles of general economic conditions. ... around [age] 40 chess players ... find that their performances are noticeably tailing off. ..." - from a 12 page chapter on becoming a chess professional in the book, Luther's Chess Reformation by GM Thomas Luther (2016)
www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/LuthersChessReformation-excerpt.pdf
www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/LuthersChessReformation-excerpt.pdf
be motivated to get there, I believe you can get there, but work and have fun! Here are some tips:
1) buy a few chess books and some that tell you about this subject (how to become a master) I recommend Jacob Aagaard's books, they are very good!
2) work regularly, efficiently and play a lot, it is not by playing 10 games of blitz one day and 100 the next that you will progress, play 20 games per day every day.
3) analyze your most interesting games, no need to only analyze your defeats, you must analyze your most interesting defeats and victories!
4) puzzle and other things are welcome, go as much as you want!
5) hire a coach because pro or future pro are never working alone, but while waiting to have reached 2200/2300 on Lichess, you can work alone or with one or more friends.
6) if your rating does not go up or go down, do not panic and tell yourself that you are capable of getting there, be calm, defeat is what it is, victory is earned and merit is obtained through work and motivation.
7) play a lot in tournaments, if you play in tournaments, you will have more chance of facing pros or players stronger than you, this will give you experience and responsibilities (especially if you play team tournaments because you will sometimes be able to be decisive and that you will have more responsibilities on the chessboard which will influence your choices and your decision-making)
Be motivated and enjoy the game, no one is bad, no one is perfect, it's a phrase full of meaning that we often forget. the rating is just a number and the more you stop thinking about the number, the happier you will be and you will care more about the quality of your game!
you can succeed, I believe in your success, so go for it! and good Luck have fun!
greeting
1) buy a few chess books and some that tell you about this subject (how to become a master) I recommend Jacob Aagaard's books, they are very good!
2) work regularly, efficiently and play a lot, it is not by playing 10 games of blitz one day and 100 the next that you will progress, play 20 games per day every day.
3) analyze your most interesting games, no need to only analyze your defeats, you must analyze your most interesting defeats and victories!
4) puzzle and other things are welcome, go as much as you want!
5) hire a coach because pro or future pro are never working alone, but while waiting to have reached 2200/2300 on Lichess, you can work alone or with one or more friends.
6) if your rating does not go up or go down, do not panic and tell yourself that you are capable of getting there, be calm, defeat is what it is, victory is earned and merit is obtained through work and motivation.
7) play a lot in tournaments, if you play in tournaments, you will have more chance of facing pros or players stronger than you, this will give you experience and responsibilities (especially if you play team tournaments because you will sometimes be able to be decisive and that you will have more responsibilities on the chessboard which will influence your choices and your decision-making)
Be motivated and enjoy the game, no one is bad, no one is perfect, it's a phrase full of meaning that we often forget. the rating is just a number and the more you stop thinking about the number, the happier you will be and you will care more about the quality of your game!
you can succeed, I believe in your success, so go for it! and good Luck have fun!
greeting
@snared said in #2:
> The only category you have a rating in is blitz so I will base it off that -- Since 20% of chess players have a higher blitz rating than you in the past week, and >100k people play blitz, that is at least 20,000 people who could consistently smoke you in a 5 minute game. Of course online blitz doesn't directly translate to classical, but here's the thing about pro chess players. All the pro players are easily in the top 1% of players. All of the hard work is for differentiating between only the top 1% -- i.e. "No I'm top 0.1%, nooo I'm top 0.05%", and so on. If you are barely at the top 20% of players, it's not looking good for a competitive future, because you will always have thousands of people willing to step in and destroy you in your own game. That is not a good standing point to construct an ego, because as a competitor, you likely want to Win, and you likely want to dominate the competition -- but at the 20% level and honestly even the 1% level, you won't be able to consistently do either of those against other professional opponents. This applies to more than just chess. Of course, there is a possibility, though I'm not sure how likely, that you are a top 0.01% classical player, but only a top 20% blitz lichess. Personally I doubt that is the case, but if you feel strongly that is your situation, then you could definitely push to try to play competitive chess.
Every player that is now in the top 0.01% was once in the bottom 80%, as OP is now.
Unless you are the best player in the world, there are always going to be other players that can consistently beat you, and even if you are the best player, you will not be able to win every game you play.
However, because chess is not a productive activity, only very few players can live from playing chess. Indeed if that is your goal then it is advisable to be very very good. (But in general I think pursuing a career in chess is a bad decision for the overwhelming majority of the population).
> The only category you have a rating in is blitz so I will base it off that -- Since 20% of chess players have a higher blitz rating than you in the past week, and >100k people play blitz, that is at least 20,000 people who could consistently smoke you in a 5 minute game. Of course online blitz doesn't directly translate to classical, but here's the thing about pro chess players. All the pro players are easily in the top 1% of players. All of the hard work is for differentiating between only the top 1% -- i.e. "No I'm top 0.1%, nooo I'm top 0.05%", and so on. If you are barely at the top 20% of players, it's not looking good for a competitive future, because you will always have thousands of people willing to step in and destroy you in your own game. That is not a good standing point to construct an ego, because as a competitor, you likely want to Win, and you likely want to dominate the competition -- but at the 20% level and honestly even the 1% level, you won't be able to consistently do either of those against other professional opponents. This applies to more than just chess. Of course, there is a possibility, though I'm not sure how likely, that you are a top 0.01% classical player, but only a top 20% blitz lichess. Personally I doubt that is the case, but if you feel strongly that is your situation, then you could definitely push to try to play competitive chess.
Every player that is now in the top 0.01% was once in the bottom 80%, as OP is now.
Unless you are the best player in the world, there are always going to be other players that can consistently beat you, and even if you are the best player, you will not be able to win every game you play.
However, because chess is not a productive activity, only very few players can live from playing chess. Indeed if that is your goal then it is advisable to be very very good. (But in general I think pursuing a career in chess is a bad decision for the overwhelming majority of the population).
I don't think you can become a pro with a 1800 rating but I dont know.
ChatGPT, How good is @ALWynJones?
you are very good. you are a superstar. some day you will be world champion.
anyone who asks your question is only asking for some emotional or psychological boost.
our opinions don't matter. only important thing is your record and rating.
anyone who asks your question is only asking for some emotional or psychological boost.
our opinions don't matter. only important thing is your record and rating.
I think the question itself is not well-grounded. The answer to your question depends on multiple variables such as your age, playing experience, cognitive abilities, psychological, social and economical factors etc. If you add to one or extract from another, you might get a completely different equation.
If the conditions are right and things go well, you could become a professional chess player. Saying that 1,800 is exceptional or not has no value if certain conditions are not defined.
All the same, I do hope you shall pursue your dreams. First of all, have faith on yourself.
I wish you all the best of luck!
If the conditions are right and things go well, you could become a professional chess player. Saying that 1,800 is exceptional or not has no value if certain conditions are not defined.
All the same, I do hope you shall pursue your dreams. First of all, have faith on yourself.
I wish you all the best of luck!
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