The world is moving fast, and our attention spans are shrinking because of short-form content. Most people are chasing dreams and want success as quickly as possible.
We see businesses chasing VC funding and trying to become unicorns overnight, and sometimes people try to apply that same mindset to chess.
But in reality, chess is a skill-based game. It takes an enormous amount of time and effort to improve even by 1%.
Whenever I get a new coaching inquiry, I always ask one simple question: What are your goals in chess?
And honestly, many times I end up laughing — not because I want to insult anyone, but because their goals are so unrealistic.
A lot of people say things like, “I want to gain 400–500 rating points in a year.”
Recently, I got an inquiry from an adult improver with a 2100 FIDE rating who said he wanted to become an International Master in two years.
This kind of mindset often comes from the “nothing is impossible” culture and constant exposure to motivational content. People start chess with huge ambitions, don’t see fast results, get disappointed, and eventually quit.
That is the real problem.
Everyone Is Not the Same
One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming that everyone has the same path.
Recently, I saw an interview where someone was crying a lot about not getting sponsorship. These days, many people try to use the language of “equality” only when it benefits them.
At the same time, there are thousands of disabled players competing on equal terms while facing very real, unsolvable problems. Everyone has their own struggles and advantages, but many people create unnecessary drama around their situation.
At the top level, most players have invested a huge amount of money into chess. Either their parents are wealthy, or they received the right sponsorship at the right time. On top of that, they usually have one or two dedicated people helping them with travel, preparation, and career decisions.
Talent alone is not enough to reach the top 1%.
It may be possible to reach the top 20% with hard work and discipline, but the top 1% is a completely different world.
And comparison is the thief of joy. We keep looking at the top players and start dreaming about being there without understanding the full reality behind their journey.
Understand What You Have
It is extremely important to understand your own situation.
For example, in India, if a player cannot afford to travel abroad, it becomes very difficult — in many cases almost impossible — to reach the IM level because of the lack of enough strong international tournaments.
Then consider many Southeast Asian countries. Even if a player has high talent, they may not have enough quality tournaments nearby.
On the other hand, an average European player may reach 2300–2400 much more easily simply because they are surrounded by strong events and better opportunities. Many European countries organize excellent tournaments regularly.
This does not mean European players are not working hard. It simply means that environment matters a lot.
Hard Work Is Not the Only Factor
People love saying, “Just work hard and you can achieve anything.”
That sounds nice, but it is not completely true in chess.
You cannot become a top-level or world-class player just by putting in endless hours. There are many chess players who spend thousands of hours on chess and still never cross 2000–2100 rating. There can be many reasons for that — talent, environment, training quality, psychology, finances, opportunities, and timing.
I have an 11-year-old student who clearly has talent. He definitely works less than I did at that age, but I can already see that he may outplay me quite easily in the next 1–2 years.
That is not unfair — that is simply reality.
My point is: you must understand your own level honestly.
One of my good friends makes very wise decisions. He became a full-time chess coach after becoming an IM. He openly says that becoming a GM is impossible for him, and he tells me the same about my own situation. And honestly, I understand that becoming a GM is probably impossible for me too.
But many people still try to sell fake motivation. They say things like, “Nothing is impossible,” or “Just believe in yourself.”
Sometimes that is motivation. Sometimes it is denial.
There Are Sellers Everywhere in the Chess World
When you go to a chess coach or academy, how many of them will honestly assess you and tell you the truth?
Most coaches can understand very quickly whether a student is truly built for competitive chess at a high level. But very few will say it openly.
Why would they? Everyone needs to earn money.
A coach or academy usually has no reason to reject a student. The same thing happens with chess courses. You see hundreds of courses online and get overwhelmed. Most of them are businesses first.
That does not mean every coach or course is bad. But you have to understand that many people in the chess world are selling dreams.
At the end of the day, you are the one who has to decide what is actually working and what is not.
Rating Can Be Misleading
Ratings are one of the most misleading ways to judge progress.
Every year we see changes in rating regulations, inflation debates, and systems like K=40 affecting how quickly ratings move.
Many times, a player feels like they are on top of the world after reaching a certain rating — and then loses 150 or 200 points in the very next tournament.
The same thing happens in coaching.
There are many excellent 2000-rated coaches, but people still prefer to contact IMs or GMs and are willing to pay much more. They assume titled players are magical coaches. But that is not always true.
For many players, especially those on a budget, an IM or GM coach is not necessary at all.
I also know many coaches who stopped playing competitive chess just because they are afraid of losing rating.
My current rating is 2394. If someone is 2401, they are considered a “2400 player,” while I am considered a “2300 player.” That tiny difference changes people’s perception completely, even though the actual playing strength may be almost the same.
That mindset is hard to change.
Associating Winning and Losing with Self-Worth Creates Trauma
Sports is one of the hardest fields because results are so visible and brutal.
Many players and parents judge progress only by results. I have seen parents beat children after they lost a game. I know many players who completely stopped playing because they could not handle losing.
The truth is simple: you will not win every time.
Not everyone is superhuman like Magnus Carlsen or Bobby Fischer. And even they have lost games to unexpected opponents.
So you have to understand exactly why you are playing chess and what you truly need from it.
Spending Money on Chess: Be Careful
In one interview, Gukesh’s father said that they quit their jobs and started traveling with him. At one point, they even borrowed money from friends.
That sounds like a great success story, right?
But there is another side.
We only hear the successful stories. News channels do not cover the depressing stories where families spend thousands of dollars on chess and the player still does not succeed.
That is why one of the first things I tell my students is: spend wisely.
Set a fixed budget. Do not get overexcited.
I know many coaches and academies that sell unrealistic packages. The biggest problem comes when parents spend lakhs of rupees on chess, but the child does not get the expected results. After that, the child may not get another chance to rebuild or pursue another offbeat field, because the family has already exhausted its resources.
Of course, if someone is already wealthy, this may not matter much. But for most families, it matters a lot.
Grandmaster or Mind Master?
Chess gives many benefits in life.
It improves mathematical thinking, decision-making, focus, discipline, and problem-solving. It is an excellent way to train the brain.
But you must realize that not everyone is meant to become a world champion, grandmaster, or even international master.
Maybe a player can become excellent in studies.
Maybe chess can become a lifelong hobby.
Maybe it can build a sharper mind and a stronger personality.
And that is still valuable.
If you understand this early, life becomes much easier. Then you can play chess for enjoyment, learning, and mental growth — not for trauma.
How to Build a Slow Growth Mindset in Chess
Here are a few things that can help:
1. Understand your “why”
Why are you playing chess? Is it for fun, competition, titles, brain development, or something else?
2. Write down realistic goals
Be honest with yourself. Write down what you truly want to achieve in chess and what is realistically possible.
3. Figure out your finances
Keep a clear budget in mind. Chess can become expensive very quickly.
4. Fix your time commitment
Decide how many hours you can realistically invest in chess. Do not blindly chase “10,000 hours.” Build a plan according to your real goals and life situation.
5. Play for fun and improvement
Enjoy the game. Focus on improving. Try to identify what is not working, and slowly make changes.
So true, this article gives a very real and honest perspective on chess beyond just the glamour.
Very insightful information—this will be really helpful for many chess enthusiasts. ♟️