With the advent Chess databases such as Chessbase and Chess Assistant, anybody can do some really serious background checks on a player to check out his or her playing style, likes and dislikes, opening preference etc. Chess preparation is a must if you want to gain that slight edge in today’s world of competitive chess.
As computers have hooked more contenders and augmented their skills, preparation time has increased. There’s never been much money in full-time chess playing, and now the commitment needed to keep up with the game makes it harder to moonlight in a different profession. One of Edwards’s star students reluctantly gave up his promising pro career to attend law school. And some highly rated amateurs quit, too, as Cossette did in 2001. “It isn’t a sport anymore,” he observes. “It isn’t a game. It’s a research project.” For him and many other professionals, it’s too much like work.
Full article :- Rook Dreams (Edward Tenner)
One of the sad facts is that he mentions there is not much money in it for the full time professional which is probably true (unless you are in the World’s top 100).
Being a Chess Professionals today is tough. 
. Less so, you are from countries such as Philippines, India, China or Vietnam where there is an insane (gila?) support for chess.
But one interesting thing to note is that since chess is now becoming “researched-based”, it’s probably well suited to university/college students where studies are more geared to doing research and finding out facts for themselves.
That’s why it’s nice to see real GMs studying in universities like the 2 GMs currently playing in the GACC. Let’s hope we can see more GMs participating in next year’s GACC.
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Malaysian : 04 December 2008 at 11:47 am
Here is some food for thought…
I read in the papers today of the demise of Datuk Ho Koh Chye, one of Malaysia’s former all time great hockey player. He was the goallie in Malaysia’s team which emerged 4th in the 1975 World Cup in KL.
It was reported that he was known to stop shots with his forehead!! Mind you, this is hockey and not chess. How many chess players are willing to go that extra mile to achieve success in the game? In 1975, there was also little money in hockey, but great players think differently. Now we have excuses that Olympiad players travelling too long to put up a good performance. Ask them to risk their life for their game and I am sure there will be no takers.
Man : 04 December 2008 at 7:46 pm
Sorry to interrupt, but you got your facts wrong there again mister! Our goalie during the 1975 World Cup was Khairuddin Zainal.
Malaysian : 04 December 2008 at 11:22 pm
Thanks for the correction. I got the earliest e-news and since they have been updated throughout the day, I am unable to quote/recheck the source. Perhaps the reporter got it wrong.Maybe I read it wrong.
Congrats for doing some deep research on what I said. But I think you missed the point of what I wrote. It wasn’t about who Ho Koh Chye was. Frankly, I know little about hockey anyway. The point I was emphasising was the spirit of the man and his dedication to his chosen sport. The things he was willing to do to excel … that is something we all can learn from him if we are to emerge as a good sportsman. So stop complaining about irrelevant things like not enough rest etc. Whose fault is it anyway that you do not get enough rest? Surely not your opponent’s, is it?
GilaChess : 08 December 2008 at 3:35 am
Stopping the ball with your head is taking dedication/patriotism to insane levels.
Malaysian : 09 December 2008 at 9:41 am
Footballers regularly break all parts of their bodies for their sport. If you want to be good you cannot hold back.
GilaChess : 09 December 2008 at 9:47 am
I get what you mean. But perhaps the hockey example is not a good one. You probably can heal properly from broken bones but head injury is something else.
GiLoCatur : 27 June 2009 at 1:10 am
the time has changed. most of us parents nowadays spoil our children. we limit their time for outings. even we are afraid if they are outside home. we prefer them to be at home playing playstation, video games, game boys, watching 24/7 cable tv as long they are safe at home. as a result, nowadays generation is lacking the motivation and creativity, and having easy life. furthermore, most parents nowadays pressure their kids for tuition and academic excellence. parents do not encourage for sports and co-curriculum. we stop the sports culture. so how?