How easy is it to become a GM?

I am 25 and just started playing chess. How hard was it for you guys to become Grandmasters?

I'm hoping that in a few years time I can be grandmaster if I put in about 5 hours a day of preparation. That's almost 10,000 hours. 9125 to be exact (5*365*5). From what I know, becoming a grandmaster used to be hard, but now it's easy because of computers. That's why there is so many grandmasters nowadays. So if you guys could tell me how you became grandmasters I would appreciate it. Please discuss study time, preparation, how long it took you, diet, etc.  

Thanks guys 

Just to clarify, I'm not talking about being as good as Magnus Carlsen here, I know that's impossible. I'm just talking about becoming a regular GM. 

You clearly don't understand what the GM title signifies. You can't start playing chess at 25 and become a GM. Cannot. Have fun with tournaments if you like but give up that dream and do something productive with your life.

Urk,

I don't completely agree

I've done some research myself, and it seems like 5 years is not practical. I think I should set the goal at 10 years. I'm basing this on the fact that a lot of GM's start playing at around 5 and become grandmasters at 15. Obviously, even 10 years might be pushing it, but I think 10-15 years is feasible. 

So if I play 5 hours a day for the next 10-15 years, I don't see why not. I don't think there is a point of playing chess unless you want to become a grandmaster. I would really love to see some grandmasters comment on this post to actually prove that's easier than you think. Like I said before there is a lot of grandmasters in the world and a lot of them become grandmasters at 15. 

 Because you're too old. Kids learn things faster/better. Their brains are different.

 It's the exact opposite. They would say you're too old.

These topics have happened many times in the past. No one has been able to name a player who started that late (25) and then later became a GM.

Chess requires hour after hour of hard work. Unless you have supernatural talent, which then only about 5 years will do but I'm guessing you have a job and don't have as much time to study.

If you are really up to the task, maybe around 10 years of backbreaking labor will do.

Chess is not easy, most will look for buckets of blood but you have to be strong and have right attitude and there will be a lot more things to master like psychology and how to study. Not to mention the truckload of money you have to spend.

You also have to go to norm tournaments and there are a LOT of strong people there.

So from beginner to GM might be a big of a stretch. 

Kids do learn faster, but I think that's because there is less commitment, at a later age. People simply don't have 5 hours a day to play when they get older. I've done some calculations, and if I just improve my rating by 100 every year for 15 years, I would be able to get there. 

I keep hearing this argument that 25, or 30, or lower ages is too old to start. please do not let these nay-Sayers derail you. Good luck to you; "you can do it!" 

Yes, I agree. I think the people that say this just don't have the commitment or will to achieve the level. Like I said before there is a lot of GM's so it can't be as hard as people think, especially with the help of computers. 

You'd be the first, so there's a good reason to try. Some limited fame and probably make a good amount of money on book sales.

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Yes free time and few responsibilities is part of it. Although players like Carlsen still went to public school. In general I don't think these super talents worked more than 4 hours a day on chess... although yes, they often had expensive coaches, and traveled all over Europe to play in strong tournaments.

It's not that simple. There will be many barriers along the way. I'm 1939 rated USCF and have been stuck here for a whole year. You shouldn't expect to have continuous progress. Once you get to around 1700ish, you'll hit the first plateau. 1900 is the longest. Once you overcome them, THEN you can consider going to National Master.

The Road to GM is like crossing the Atlantic with only swim trunks.

Why do you think you stopped progressing? Maybe you are not working as hard as you were before?

Your brain is not biologically wired the same as a child's to absorb the unbelievable amount of material that it takes to become a GM in the same way that a child does. That aside.. you may have done all the research in the world. I don't care. It's not going to happen. Aim for something more feasible, like being a class player, then an expert and, if you make it there, then the NM title. The questions you ask and the arguments you make show that you know next to nothing about chess. I started at 4, I'm 28 now and I'm a class A player. I broke 1800 at 16 and probably could have went on to become a NM relatively quickly, but I live in a very weak chess state in the US and didn't have access to coaches, the right materials, etc. My goal now that I've picked the game back up after 10 years of not playing much is to make expert (2000+) and, maybe one day, get a NM title. That's the best I can hope for, and that's a stretch and I know that. I know that because of my experience with the game. Sorry to sound like a naysayer, but it's simply not going to happen. Ask whoever you like.

Please let the yay-sayers name a single person who started at age 25, then later made it to a level comparable to modern day FM, IM, or GM level.

It's also hard to use computers. They just give random numbers. You need money for an actual human coach if you want progress.

I'm sorry but I think that's a bad analogy. 

I'm stuck because it's super hard to get to expert level. You'll know once you reach 1900. 

So what I'm saying is that it;s not easy.