What exactly does it mean? GM i.e., Grand Master is the highest norm awarded by Chess Federation viz. FIDE. Typically, top GMs battle for the most elite chess tournaments, coveted title and the most important one – World Chess Championship.
Sr.No. | Name | GM(Age) | 1st apperance at World Chess Championship (Age) | World Chess Champion (Age) | GM to Appear in World Chess Championship (years) | GM to World Chess Champion (years) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Carlsen | 13 | 22 | 22 | 9 | 9 |
2 | Anand | 18 | 25 | 30 | 7 | 12 |
3 | Kramnik | 17 | 25 | 25 | 8 | 8 |
4 | Kasparov | 17 | 21 | 22 | 4 | 5 |
5 | Karpov | 19 | 24 | 24 | 5 | 5 |
6 | Fischer | 15 | 29 | 29 | 14 | 14 |
7 | Spassky | 18 | 28 | 28 | 10 | 10 |
8 | Petrosian | 23 | 34 | 34 | 11 | 11 |
9 | Tal | 21 | 24 | 24 | 3 | 3 |
Just for reference, Tal & Petrosian is the era of the 1960s & from there right up to Carlsen who is World Champion from 2013 till now.
- If we observe the age of these legends becoming GM has seen sharp movement from 20+ years old to 15+ years age and in the current time frame 2020 and onwards it’s becoming 12-13 years
- Carlsen when appeared for the world championship match against Anand in 2013 was GM for already for 9 years. Does this enable a player ready for a match?
- Anand against Kasparov in 1993 was 7 years from the GM title and with a limited chess circuit then, many experts believed the world championship match came too early for Anand then!
- Fischer was GM very early, did dominate the chess world during 1965-1972 ruthlessly, but interestingly, he became world champion 14 years after becoming GM
- Perhaps world championship cycles also play a role here?
- Becoming GM early does give more exposure and preparedness for a chess player to crack the world championship title?
- How much role mental readiness has for a GM to go for a world title?
- Perhaps, the age of 13 to 20 where children just focus on school and college graduation is the most important phase for a chess player to reach at the top of the game?
- If you don’t get a crack at a world championship match early on in your career, does it create a block in a chess player’s mind?
Just think about it, there can be so many such perspectives that can come up. Many are becoming GM at an early age, say between 13 to 15 years, the next 5-7 years are vital to stamp yourself on the world chess map!
I leave you with quote by Vishy Anand himself on current times & Chess.
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- We are thrilled to share some wonderful news with you! Recently Dainik Bhaskar (one of leading Hindi newspapers) has mentioned Victorious Chess Academy as one among the top most chess academies.
- One of our brightest students, Bhavanya Panchumathi from Kuwait recently did something illustrious in the chess world.
- Victorious Chess Academy conducted its 21st Internal Tournament on 31st October 2021.
Not only the students but also their parents actively participated in the tournament. - Congratulations to dear Gargi Sane ma’am for achieving the respectable title of National Instructor (NI) from World Chess Federation – FIDE
- One of our brightest students, Sharvari Saharkar from the UK, has won the British Junior Chess Championship which happened on 13th and 14th of November. She stood first in the category of Under 8 Girls Rapid.
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