Preliminary Results of FIDE Chess Survey
By Robert Howard
Players learned the moves at a median age of eight years old (masters about
two years younger). The median age of starting serious play and taking part
in the first rated tournament is 14, 12 for masters. Most players have had coaching.
Players average around five or six hours of chess study a week, but the range
is huge (0 to 60 hours). Number of hours of study of chess material is a factor
in expertise level but only a relatively minor one.
Most players firmly believe in natural talent for chess and most believe that
top ten players have some special traits, that few really can reach that level.
However, many believe that a lot of study and practice can take a player a long
way. Some believe that almost everyone can get to FIDE master with enough practice
and study.
Views on what natural talent for chess consists of vary, but some common ideas
are good spatial ability, high IQ, good memory, creativity, high motivation,
a strong will to win, control over emotions, and psychological hardiness.
Eventual grandmasters take a median 390 FIDE-rated games from rating list entry
to gain the title. Most players do not play anywhere near enough rated games
in their careers to have a realistic chance of becoming a grandmaster. About
two thirds of those who do play over 900 games actually succeed in becoming a grandmaster. However, those who play over 740 games without becoming a grandmaster on average seem to strike an impassable barrier at around 2400 level.
Analysis of rating data of players who played over 900 FIDE-rated games show
that eventual top ten players indeed are identifiable from list entry. They
get on the rating list much younger on average, get the grandmaster title much
younger and much faster, and rise in the ratings much faster than other grandmasters.
Most believe that playing rated games and studying are equally important in
developing skill.
