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Life of a Chess Professional
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Zero
Oct 16, 2012, 1:51:52 PM10/16/12
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What is it like being a professional chess player? Is the lifestyle easy and do you make a good living. I was wondering why some people decide to become GMs while other decide to give after getting to a certain level of chess ability.
Do you think it is a good idea for someone to spend 4 years and go to college and get a college degree or is it better to devote 4 years to studying and playing chess and try to become a GM.
After you become a GM, is it a nice lifestyle? I saw that the top 10 players make good money and if you play in the world championship then you could become a millionaire. I guess it must be like a tennis player? Chess players go to open tournaments or invitational events and then get paid to play or get endorsement deals? I don't see much media exposure for chess in the USA. But I heard that in Europe that people get paid thousands or euros just to play a couple rounds in the Bundensliga league. is that true?
Do you think it is a good idea for someone to spend 4 years and go to college and get a college degree or is it better to devote 4 years to studying and playing chess and try to become a GM.
After you become a GM, is it a nice lifestyle? I saw that the top 10 players make good money and if you play in the world championship then you could become a millionaire. I guess it must be like a tennis player? Chess players go to open tournaments or invitational events and then get paid to play or get endorsement deals? I don't see much media exposure for chess in the USA. But I heard that in Europe that people get paid thousands or euros just to play a couple rounds in the Bundensliga league. is that true?
Martin Brown
Oct 16, 2012, 5:15:30 PM10/16/12
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On 16/10/2012 18:51, Zero wrote:
> What is it like being a professional chess player? Is the lifestyle easy and do you make a good living. I was wondering why some people decide to become GMs while other decide to give after getting to a certain level of chess ability.
Dunno. Of all the people that I have ever played I think only 5 were or
> What is it like being a professional chess player? Is the lifestyle easy and do you make a good living. I was wondering why some people decide to become GMs while other decide to give after getting to a certain level of chess ability.
went on to become professional players at IM standard or higher.
One of them went on to play Kasparov for the world title - so I expect
he does OK on the circuit. He was already a full GM aged 19.
Everyone else found that something else paid better and plays chess for
a hobby. I don't know what the statistics are like now but unless you
are pushing a rating of 2400+ at U20 you probably cannot earn a living
doing it unless you also write about chess as well.
>
> Do you think it is a good idea for someone to spend 4 years and go to college and get a college degree or is it better to devote 4 years to studying and playing chess and try to become a GM.
How good are you really? I have known one chess prodigy.
> Do you think it is a good idea for someone to spend 4 years and go to college and get a college degree or is it better to devote 4 years to studying and playing chess and try to become a GM.
>
> After you become a GM, is it a nice lifestyle? I saw that the top 10 players make good money and if you play in the world championship then you could become a millionaire. I guess it must be like a tennis player? Chess players go to open tournaments or invitational events and then get paid to play or get endorsement deals? I don't see much media exposure for chess in the USA. But I heard that in Europe that people get paid thousands or euros just to play a couple rounds in the Bundensliga league. is that true?
Probably a rumour. A handful of top ranked GMs command appearence fees.
> After you become a GM, is it a nice lifestyle? I saw that the top 10 players make good money and if you play in the world championship then you could become a millionaire. I guess it must be like a tennis player? Chess players go to open tournaments or invitational events and then get paid to play or get endorsement deals? I don't see much media exposure for chess in the USA. But I heard that in Europe that people get paid thousands or euros just to play a couple rounds in the Bundensliga league. is that true?
--
Regards,
Martin Brown
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