Answers.Body: <p>Napoleon put it succinctly: 
  <a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/n/napoleonbo108401.html">A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon.</a> </p>
  
  <p>Just a couple of points:</p>
  
  <p>It is the same reason that students love getting "gold stars," and why there are so many badges on StackExchange itself. There have been volumes written on the power of peer recognition.</p>
  
  <p>In particular, chess titles (for the most part) are a direct result of chess achievement. FM, IM and GM titles are all well-earned. No matter how much we might not care for a person, we know that if they have a chess title, they earned it. A GM title is the highest formal title, and it serves to inform your peers (and often yourself) that a certain level of expertise was attained.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-01-14T00:06:44.887Z
Answers.Text: +1 for accomplishment, and proof, of expertise. OP, keep in mind that's not something money can buy.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Nikana Reklawyks
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-01-14T05:59:39.247Z
Answers.Text: I think a major reason is, people think putting brains in chess in turn would help them to sharpen their wits at their practical work, but alas most of them end up neglecting the later and giving more effort in their chess development only.
Answers.UserDisplayName: RajSanpui
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-01-13T23:06:02.897Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-01-13T23:06:02.897Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ram Narasimhan
Answers.Body: <p>The answer has to do with our human psychology. There is a book written by Daniel Pink, titled <strong><em>"Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us"</em></strong>, where he finds that people are <strong>NOT</strong> motivated by these things:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Rewards</li>
  <li>Avoiding punishments</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>And he concludes that people <strong>ARE</strong> motivated by these things:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><strong>Autonomy</strong> - Being able to do what you want</li>
  <li><strong>Mastery</strong> - Getting better at stuff, it's satisfying!</li>
  <li><strong>Purpose</strong> - Making a difference in the world</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>He says the research shows that for physical tasks, rewards and punishments can be effective. However, for tasks that require even a small amount of mental effort, <strong>bigger rewards actually lead to worse results</strong>.</p>
  
  <p>The reason people spend huge amounts of time studying chess, and huge amounts of money on chess, with no hope of ever making any money from chess, is the same reason that people play musical instruments for fun: Because <strong>mastery is satisfying</strong>. That's it.</p>
  
  <p>Here is a 10-minute video of the author's explanation:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc</a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-07T09:18:26.507Z
Answers.Text: +1 for the general point of view, broader than chess alone!
Answers.UserDisplayName: Maxwell86
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-03-24T06:29:23.647Z
Answers.Text: Doesn't Autonomy rely on (money) Rewards, to a large extent? Unrelated here, as for chess it is Mastery.
Answers.UserDisplayName: jf328
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-03-24T03:58:34.020Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-03-24T03:58:34.020Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: user1594322
Answers.Body: <p>Just to expand Ram's point a little bit, and speculate as to why there is such a craze now as opposed to the past.</p>
  
  <p>I suspect the modern craze is in part a result of Elo ratings, and pseudo Elo ratings online.</p>
  
  <p>Modern computer game design is very carefully constructed to ensure that:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>At any point the game is challenging, but not too hard</li>
  <li>The player gets instant feedback on their success and progress</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Such ideas are now spreading into other areas, and it is often referred to as "gamification", such as on stack exchange getting immediate feedback from votes etc.</p>
  
  <p>Chess is already a game, but the Elo system makes learning chess a game in itself.  You can always play someone very close to you in ability, and you can always see the tiny steps of progress towards grand master.</p>
  
  <p>I suspect many who make GM did not set out to become GM, but simply to become better chess players, to reach the next rung and see how good they can get...  If a learning curve is pitched just right it can be extremely addictive.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-03-18T08:56:55.650Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-03-18T17:27:12.783Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2015-03-18T17:27:12.783Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Corvus
Answers.Body: <p>Isn't there a lot of ego involved in this, the desire for prestige and to show others that you're their superior?  It can't be for the money, since even now with the big reward tournaments only a small percentage can live well on their earnings.  The others will also have to teach or publish, and for the time, effort and expense one has to put into reaching that level, assuming they have sufficient talent to do so, the tangible rewards hardly seem worth the effort.  </p>
  
  <p>I had the desire to become really good when I started playing, but it became hard work and took all of the joy out of it. I ultimately decided it wasn't worth it, so now I just play for fun with less stress and probably just as good results.  But I no longer agonize over possibly losing.  It is after all just a game.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-07T03:38:29.117Z
Answers.Text: Maybe you'll want to format the answer. I can't really read the current format. Also, who said it?
Answers.UserDisplayName: SmallChess
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-08T13:15:17.517Z
Answers.Text: Not sure what you mean by formatting or how to do it.  Have just started posting on his site. I didn't use anyone else's quotes, just my own thoughts based on my 65 year involvement with chess..
Answers.UserDisplayName: CConero
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-09T00:57:02.390Z
Answers.Text: Well, if you look at your own answer, can you see it without scrolling the text left and right? If you need scrolling, I also need to scroll. It makes me harder to read and understand what you wanted to say. People usually only highlight the text like what you did when it was a quote.
Answers.UserDisplayName: SmallChess
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-09T01:48:03.440Z
Answers.Text: I asked you how to avoid the scrolling and all you did was just criticize me and cost me credits.  How about being helpful and  telling me how to get out of the scrolling instead, since I obviously don't know how to do it myself.  I tried to do so on another answer too and wasn't able to.  Is there a tutorial for that on here somewhere?   And I don't know how one highlights text either.  I didn't do that on purpose.  Can't you see that I'm new at using this and need help doing so.  Criticizing me isn't helping. .
Answers.UserDisplayName: CConero
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-09T01:50:08.100Z
Answers.Text: I didn't down-vote you. It wasn't me who did that. I was simply helping you by giving you a feedback. @ETD has already edited the post it for you. Please take a look how he did it.
Answers.UserDisplayName: SmallChess
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-09T02:06:23.330Z
Answers.Text: Well, I'm glad to see that since I thought it was pretty insensitive, penalizing me for my lack of knowledge. I'm 78 and haven't kept pace with technology, although I know a lot about chess, having played at the USCF club in Newburgh in the '80's against some strong competition, including simuls against Petrosian, Bisguier, Dlugy and Larsen, and would be happy to impart my knowledge. I see from your profile that our philosophies are similar about playing for art/science/beauty rather than competitive results. Thanks for your response. Maybe EDT could reconsider his unfair penalty.
Answers.UserDisplayName: CConero
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-09T02:26:42.190Z
Answers.Text: @CConero, welcome to the site. I did *not* downvote your post (and I don't know who did); to the contrary, +1. All I did was edit it for readability; for your future reference, whenever you indent by four spaces or more, this site will think you're looking to typeset something like source code, and so will present whatever text that follows with exactly the spacing/whitespace that appears in the editor. That's all that was going on with your initial post, where you had indented your paragraphs with several spaces.
Answers.UserDisplayName: ETD
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-09T02:29:20.827Z
Answers.Text: (And by the way, that bit about art/science/beauty of the game you quote is actually from my profile. Glad to meet a kindred spirit.)
Answers.UserDisplayName: ETD
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-09T02:36:39.723Z
Answers.Text: Thanks, ETD, for your welcome (and sorry for getting your acronym backward). I'm still indenting like I did when I was using a typewriter back in the 1960's.  Will eliminate that.  I don't know how I got into the scrolling mode but will certainly try to avoid it henceforth.  I enjoy writing about chess and produce a monthly newsletter for the local chess club I direct in in Durham (www.DurhamChessClub.com).  I had a Class A rating when I was playing seriously in the Newburgh club in the '80's and will try to give thoughtful, knowledgeable answers to the questions I find on here.
Answers.UserDisplayName: CConero
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-09T12:51:14.993Z
Answers.Text: ETD, since you also appreciate the artistry and beauty of chess, I thought I'd share an esthetically pleasing miniature I ironically just played against the computer yesterday (after it had previously destroyed me twice tactically), ending with a Philidor's Legacy smothered mate.  Sicilian Defense, 7/8/15, Conrad Conero vs Shredder Medium Level, 1.e4, c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4; 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nf3 Bb4+; 6.c3, Be7; 7.Bc4 Nf6; 8.Bg5 Nxe4; 9.Qd5, Nxg5; 10.Nxg5 0-0; 11.Nxf7, Qb6? (giving up the Exchange is the only salvation now); 12.Nh6+ Kh8 13.Qg8+ Rxg8; 14.Nf7#
Answers.UserDisplayName: CConero
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-07T02:11:54.717Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-07-09T01:27:26.410Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2015-07-09T01:27:26.410Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: CConero
Answers.Body: <p>It's the cachet of a title, and what it represents. You see it in many different ways, each with their own implications and desires. In every case, it gives an implication of elitism and exclusivity.</p>
  
  <p>I have a black belt rank, and it is much the same, in that people see it as a pinnacle of achievement, only attained by a select few. Most of the time if it comes up, I hear "Oh, I took {insert art here} when I was a kid". This is designed to imply that they too, belong to "the club".</p>
  
  <p>For every person that makes to a desired position, there are 1000 or more that started and gave up.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-08-26T20:43:10.030Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-08-26T20:43:10.030Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: JohnP
Answers.Body: <p>I would question that there is a craze of becoming a GM (or other titled player). </p>
  
  <p>Do you have any proof of this claim? </p>
  
  <p>True there are lots of people playing online, but in general people are doing all kinds of useless activities online. Chess is perfectly suited for playing online as it does not require many resources (no huge graphics as in other games) and has reasonable time scales (if you play blitz). Also it is interesting/difficult enough to have all kinds of coaching/courses online as well.</p>
  
  <p>In the old days in order for many people to become good at chess you needed a certain environment (good coaches, books, but also social recognition). That's what made players from the Soviet Union that strong for a long time. With the internet and appearance of strong chess engines, chess (at the highest levels) is now available to many more people than before. That's why you might see more GM now. Also rating inflation might have an effect on having more rated players now.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-12-08T11:49:12.030Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-12-08T11:49:12.030Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: user1583209
Answers.Body: <blockquote>
    <p>What do i really get out of that - a high paid job? NO - a green card to US? - NO - free sponsorship? PROBABLY NO - huge money? - NO (because once you become GM you have to compete with others similar to you)"</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>There is a craze of becoming GRANDMASTER because:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>You can get a highly paid job.</li>
  <li>You can get a green card to the USA.</li>
  <li>You get free and good sponsorship.
  4.You can also earn a lot of money through coaching, prize winnings, appearance fees, etc. (really).</li>
  </ol>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-07-04T04:37:03.740Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-12-08T11:57:43.807Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2016-12-08T11:57:43.807Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: parach
Answers.Body: <p>I think it has to do with just having the title "Grand Master".  Would I like to be a Grand Master? YES, but it probably would never happen in a million years.  Unless you are probably in the top 10, you probably won't make a living out of it.  I would suspect that those who don't make a living out of it, but still highly rated and play in international tournaments might have secondary jobs, but in the end, it is not about the money, it is about having fun.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-07-14T15:08:04.647Z
Answers.Text: Are you serious when you say only the top ten can make money off chess ? I thought the top 100 or so were covered because chess is so popular in so many countries, and I see Grand Masters lecturing a lot on YouTube and writing books.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Saikat
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-07-28T00:05:57.967Z
Answers.Text: @user230452 - I guess I should have been more clear.  It seems as you can make a comfortable living soley on chess if you are in the top ten.  I am sure more make money, but I am just guessing they have other means of income such as making youtube videos, etc.  Hope this is clear.
Answers.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-07-28T00:32:39.203Z
Answers.Text: @xaisoft Hmm ... Also, most of the top(10-20) guys would have spent their entire childhood, studying chess when they weren't  playing. So, I don't think they'd have too many desires that require money. They'd probably just want enough money so that their livelihood doesn't distract them from chess. Also, preparing for chess is such a time taking activity, I doubt they'll have much time for other things in their schedules.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Saikat
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-03-27T03:13:59.770Z
Answers.Text: https://en.chessbase.com/post/anand-on-che-as-a-profeion-and-on-computers "Nowadays it is not automatic after getting your grandmaster title, but as I said, at 2650 you have a good chance of supporting yourself." 2650 is high, but not top 10.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Allure
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-01-14T05:54:22.470Z
Answers.Text: kudos to you for this: ` it is not about the money, it is about having fun.` upvote to you. But the strange thing is, people put so much effort just to have fun? Memorizing openings, reading books, spending hours analyzing, wasting money etc. If the same effort would have been spent elsewhere, i guess they would have raised their standard of living for sure.
Answers.UserDisplayName: RajSanpui
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-01-14T10:36:46.097Z
Answers.Text: @kingsmasher1, "If the same effort would have been spent elsewhere, i guess they would have raised their standard of living for sure." I think many feel that the effort involved in chess is rewarding enough in itself for it to have raised their standard of living in another sense entirely. You could say of *any* hobby or pastime (or vacation, or sleeping, or parents playing with their kids) that one's time could have instead been spent working on making more money. To each his own.
Answers.UserDisplayName: ETD
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-01-14T11:44:43.463Z
Answers.Text: @EdDean: "any hobby or pastime (or vacation, or sleeping, or parents playing with their kids)" no doubt these are hobby and good pastime too, but these just takes couple of hours or a month at max for a vacation, but does not take prolonged practice, concentration or study as chess. For people who are not into much of brain related work like clerks, or store-workers chess may help to keep sharpen their wits, but for people who are into software jobs, they should look at alternate hobbies which may relax their minds rather than strain, again it is individual choice and opinions can differ.
Answers.UserDisplayName: RajSanpui
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-01-14T22:32:12.130Z
Answers.Text: @kingsmasher1, my point wasn't actually about any *one* of the things I mentioned. My point was that one could just as easily say what you're saying about chess, about *any* use of one's free time, and so about the *sum total* of one's free time. That is, the point you seem to be trying to make about chess would just as well extend to all the rest of one's leisure activities that take time, leading to the conclusion that any use of free time in a way that doesn't have a direct impact on one's job skills is somehow strange or perplexing. But it's not, of course, and the same goes for chess.
Answers.UserDisplayName: ETD
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-07-08T17:58:24.280Z
Answers.Text: @kingsmasher1 I totally agree that chess seems a waste of time, sometime, but for me, I'd rather waste my time in chess rather than fb or xbox or tv :) it's just like defeating someone in counter strike or red alert, difference is, chess is better for your brain. But I do agree with every point you made
Answers.UserDisplayName: Lynob
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-01-13T15:46:00.377Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-01-14T05:49:16.543Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2013-01-14T05:49:16.543Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
Body: <p>Go to any online chess server, there are thousands playing and trying their best. These days there are even online coaches and titled players and people are ready to shed huge bucks for getting couple of hours sessions.</p>
  
  <p>But given all this, I sometimes think: Why do people want to become a chess grandmaster or a titled player? <strong>What do I really get out of that? A high paid job? NO. A green card to the US? NO. Free sponsorship? PROBABLY NOT. A lot of money? NO (because once you become GM you have to compete with others similar to you).</strong></p>
  
  <p>Then why? Why is there a craze to become a chess grandmaster, or a titled player?</p>
  
  <p>If anyone has a good answer and a accurate ones, please reply with good points.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2013-01-14T00:05:55.917Z
Comments.Text: Voting to leave open : it describes a psychological phenomenon common to chess players. I'm not saying the answer has anything to do with chess, I'm saying 1. there is an answer and 2. it's interesting to chess players.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Nikana Reklawyks
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-07-08T17:49:41.043Z
Comments.Text: +1 for asking a question I always wanted to ask  but didn't, I thought they might vote it down  and close it :)
Comments.UserDisplayName: Lynob
Tags: <learning><grandmaster>
Title: Why is there a craze of becoming chess grandmaster?
ThreadText: # Why is there a craze of becoming chess grandmaster?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2013-01-13)
  
  Go to any online chess server, there are thousands playing and trying their best. These days there are even online coaches and titled players and people are ready to shed huge bucks for getting couple of hours sessions.
  
  But given all this, I sometimes think: Why do people want to become a chess grandmaster or a titled player? **What do I really get out of that? A high paid job? NO. A green card to the US? NO. Free sponsorship? PROBABLY NOT. A lot of money? NO (because once you become GM you have to compete with others similar to you).**
  
  Then why? Why is there a craze to become a chess grandmaster, or a titled player?
  
  If anyone has a good answer and a accurate ones, please reply with good points.
  
  **Tags:** learning, grandmaster
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Voting to leave open : it describes a psychological phenomenon common to chess players. I'm not saying the answer has anything to do with chess, I'm saying 1. there is an answer and 2. it's interesting to chess players.  
  > **username_2**: +1 for asking a question I always wanted to ask  but didn't, I thought they might vote it down  and close it :)  
  
  ---
  
  ## 8 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_14 on 2013-01-13. Score: 19 | Accepted answer
  
  I think it has to do with just having the title "Grand Master". Would I like to be a Grand Master? YES, but it probably would never happen in a million years. Unless you are probably in the top 10, you probably won't make a living out of it. I would suspect that those who don't make a living out of it, but still highly rated and play in international tournaments might have secondary jobs, but in the end, it is not about the money, it is about having fun.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: kudos to you for this: ` it is not about the money, it is about having fun.` upvote to you. But the strange thing is, people put so much effort just to have fun? Memorizing openings, reading books, spending hours analyzing, wasting money etc. If the same effort would have been spent elsewhere, i guess they would have raised their standard of living for sure.  
  > **username_10**: @kingsmasher1, "If the same effort would have been spent elsewhere, i guess they would have raised their standard of living for sure." I think many feel that the effort involved in chess is rewarding enough in itself for it to have raised their standard of living in another sense entirely. You could say of *any* hobby or pastime (or vacation, or sleeping, or parents playing with their kids) that one's time could have instead been spent working on making more money. To each his own.  
  > **username_0**: @EdDean: "any hobby or pastime (or vacation, or sleeping, or parents playing with their kids)" no doubt these are hobby and good pastime too, but these just takes couple of hours or a month at max for a vacation, but does not take prolonged practice, concentration or study as chess. For people who are not into much of brain related work like clerks, or store-workers chess may help to keep sharpen their wits, but for people who are into software jobs, they should look at alternate hobbies which may relax their minds rather than strain, again it is individual choice and opinions can differ.  
  > **username_10**: @kingsmasher1, my point wasn't actually about any *one* of the things I mentioned. My point was that one could just as easily say what you're saying about chess, about *any* use of one's free time, and so about the *sum total* of one's free time. That is, the point you seem to be trying to make about chess would just as well extend to all the rest of one's leisure activities that take time, leading to the conclusion that any use of free time in a way that doesn't have a direct impact on one's job skills is somehow strange or perplexing. But it's not, of course, and the same goes for chess.  
  > **username_2**: @kingsmasher1 I totally agree that chess seems a waste of time, sometime, but for me, I'd rather waste my time in chess rather than fb or xbox or tv :) it's just like defeating someone in counter strike or red alert, difference is, chess is better for your brain. But I do agree with every point you made  
  > **username_15**: Are you serious when you say only the top ten can make money off chess ? I thought the top 100 or so were covered because chess is so popular in so many countries, and I see Grand Masters lecturing a lot on YouTube and writing books.  
  > **username_14**: @user230452 - I guess I should have been more clear.  It seems as you can make a comfortable living soley on chess if you are in the top ten.  I am sure more make money, but I am just guessing they have other means of income such as making youtube videos, etc.  Hope this is clear.  
  > **username_15**: @username_14 Hmm ... Also, most of the top(10-20) guys would have spent their entire childhood, studying chess when they weren't  playing. So, I don't think they'd have too many desires that require money. They'd probably just want enough money so that their livelihood doesn't distract them from chess. Also, preparing for chess is such a time taking activity, I doubt they'll have much time for other things in their schedules.  
  > **username_16**: https://en.chessbase.com/post/anand-on-che-as-a-profeion-and-on-computers "Nowadays it is not automatic after getting your grandmaster title, but as I said, at 2650 you have a good chance of supporting yourself." 2650 is high, but not top 10.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2013-01-13. Score: 33
  
  Napoleon put it succinctly:
  [A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon.](http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/n/napoleonbo108401.html)
  
  Just a couple of points:
  
  It is the same reason that students love getting "gold stars," and why there are so many badges on StackExchange itself. There have been volumes written on the power of peer recognition.
  
  In particular, chess titles (for the most part) are a direct result of chess achievement. FM, IM and GM titles are all well-earned. No matter how much we might not care for a person, we know that if they have a chess title, they earned it. A GM title is the highest formal title, and it serves to inform your peers (and often yourself) that a certain level of expertise was attained.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: +1 for accomplishment, and proof, of expertise. OP, keep in mind that's not something money can buy.  
  > **username_0**: I think a major reason is, people think putting brains in chess in turn would help them to sharpen their wits at their practical work, but alas most of them end up neglecting the later and giving more effort in their chess development only.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2015-03-24. Score: 18
  
  The answer has to do with our human psychology. There is a book written by Daniel Pink, titled ***"Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us"***, where he finds that people are **NOT** motivated by these things:
  
  1. Rewards
  2. Avoiding punishments
  
  And he concludes that people **ARE** motivated by these things:
  
  1. **Autonomy** - Being able to do what you want
  2. **Mastery** - Getting better at stuff, it's satisfying!
  3. **Purpose** - Making a difference in the world
  
  He says the research shows that for physical tasks, rewards and punishments can be effective. However, for tasks that require even a small amount of mental effort, **bigger rewards actually lead to worse results**.
  
  The reason people spend huge amounts of time studying chess, and huge amounts of money on chess, with no hope of ever making any money from chess, is the same reason that people play musical instruments for fun: Because **mastery is satisfying**. That's it.
  
  Here is a 10-minute video of the author's explanation:
  
  <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc>
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_5**: +1 for the general point of view, broader than chess alone!  
  > **username_6**: Doesn't Autonomy rely on (money) Rewards, to a large extent? Unrelated here, as for chess it is Mastery.  
  
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  ### Answer by username_7 on 2015-03-18. Score: 6
  
  Just to expand Ram's point a little bit, and speculate as to why there is such a craze now as opposed to the past.
  
  I suspect the modern craze is in part a result of Elo ratings, and pseudo Elo ratings online.
  
  Modern computer game design is very carefully constructed to ensure that:
  
  * At any point the game is challenging, but not too hard
  * The player gets instant feedback on their success and progress
  
  Such ideas are now spreading into other areas, and it is often referred to as "gamification", such as on stack exchange getting immediate feedback from votes etc.
  
  Chess is already a game, but the Elo system makes learning chess a game in itself. You can always play someone very close to you in ability, and you can always see the tiny steps of progress towards grand master.
  
  I suspect many who make GM did not set out to become GM, but simply to become better chess players, to reach the next rung and see how good they can get... If a learning curve is pitched just right it can be extremely addictive.
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_8 on 2015-07-07. Score: 5
  
  Isn't there a lot of ego involved in this, the desire for prestige and to show others that you're their superior? It can't be for the money, since even now with the big reward tournaments only a small percentage can live well on their earnings. The others will also have to teach or publish, and for the time, effort and expense one has to put into reaching that level, assuming they have sufficient talent to do so, the tangible rewards hardly seem worth the effort.
  
  I had the desire to become really good when I started playing, but it became hard work and took all of the joy out of it. I ultimately decided it wasn't worth it, so now I just play for fun with less stress and probably just as good results. But I no longer agonize over possibly losing. It is after all just a game.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_9**: Maybe you'll want to format the answer. I can't really read the current format. Also, who said it?  
  > **username_8**: Not sure what you mean by formatting or how to do it.  Have just started posting on his site. I didn't use anyone else's quotes, just my own thoughts based on my 65 year involvement with chess..  
  > **username_9**: Well, if you look at your own answer, can you see it without scrolling the text left and right? If you need scrolling, I also need to scroll. It makes me harder to read and understand what you wanted to say. People usually only highlight the text like what you did when it was a quote.  
  > **username_8**: I asked you how to avoid the scrolling and all you did was just criticize me and cost me credits.  How about being helpful and  telling me how to get out of the scrolling instead, since I obviously don't know how to do it myself.  I tried to do so on another answer too and wasn't able to.  Is there a tutorial for that on here somewhere?   And I don't know how one highlights text either.  I didn't do that on purpose.  Can't you see that I'm new at using this and need help doing so.  Criticizing me isn't helping. .  
  > **username_9**: I didn't down-vote you. It wasn't me who did that. I was simply helping you by giving you a feedback. @username_10 has already edited the post it for you. Please take a look how he did it.  
  > **username_8**: Well, I'm glad to see that since I thought it was pretty insensitive, penalizing me for my lack of knowledge. I'm 78 and haven't kept pace with technology, although I know a lot about chess, having played at the USCF club in Newburgh in the '80's against some strong competition, including simuls against Petrosian, Bisguier, Dlugy and Larsen, and would be happy to impart my knowledge. I see from your profile that our philosophies are similar about playing for art/science/beauty rather than competitive results. Thanks for your response. Maybe EDT could reconsider his unfair penalty.  
  > **username_10**: @username_8, welcome to the site. I did *not* downvote your post (and I don't know who did); to the contrary, +1. All I did was edit it for readability; for your future reference, whenever you indent by four spaces or more, this site will think you're looking to typeset something like source code, and so will present whatever text that follows with exactly the spacing/whitespace that appears in the editor. That's all that was going on with your initial post, where you had indented your paragraphs with several spaces.  
  > **username_10**: (And by the way, that bit about art/science/beauty of the game you quote is actually from my profile. Glad to meet a kindred spirit.)  
  > **username_8**: Thanks, ETD, for your welcome (and sorry for getting your acronym backward). I'm still indenting like I did when I was using a typewriter back in the 1960's.  Will eliminate that.  I don't know how I got into the scrolling mode but will certainly try to avoid it henceforth.  I enjoy writing about chess and produce a monthly newsletter for the local chess club I direct in in Durham (www.DurhamChessClub.com).  I had a Class A rating when I was playing seriously in the Newburgh club in the '80's and will try to give thoughtful, knowledgeable answers to the questions I find on here.  
  > **username_8**: ETD, since you also appreciate the artistry and beauty of chess, I thought I'd share an esthetically pleasing miniature I ironically just played against the computer yesterday (after it had previously destroyed me twice tactically), ending with a Philidor's Legacy smothered mate.  Sicilian Defense, 7/8/15, Conrad Conero vs Shredder Medium Level, 1.e4, c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4; 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nf3 Bb4+; 6.c3, Be7; 7.Bc4 Nf6; 8.Bg5 Nxe4; 9.Qd5, Nxg5; 10.Nxg5 0-0; 11.Nxf7, Qb6? (giving up the Exchange is the only salvation now); 12.Nh6+ Kh8 13.Qg8+ Rxg8; 14.Nf7#  
  
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  ### Answer by username_11 on 2015-08-26. Score: 2
  
  It's the cachet of a title, and what it represents. You see it in many different ways, each with their own implications and desires. In every case, it gives an implication of elitism and exclusivity.
  
  I have a black belt rank, and it is much the same, in that people see it as a pinnacle of achievement, only attained by a select few. Most of the time if it comes up, I hear "Oh, I took {insert art here} when I was a kid". This is designed to imply that they too, belong to "the club".
  
  For every person that makes to a desired position, there are 1000 or more that started and gave up.
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_12 on 2016-12-08. Score: 0
  
  I would question that there is a craze of becoming a GM (or other titled player).
  
  Do you have any proof of this claim?
  
  True there are lots of people playing online, but in general people are doing all kinds of useless activities online. Chess is perfectly suited for playing online as it does not require many resources (no huge graphics as in other games) and has reasonable time scales (if you play blitz). Also it is interesting/difficult enough to have all kinds of coaching/courses online as well.
  
  In the old days in order for many people to become good at chess you needed a certain environment (good coaches, books, but also social recognition). That's what made players from the Soviet Union that strong for a long time. With the internet and appearance of strong chess engines, chess (at the highest levels) is now available to many more people than before. That's why you might see more GM now. Also rating inflation might have an effect on having more rated players now.
  
  
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  ### Answer by username_13 on 2014-07-04. Score: -2
  
  > What do i really get out of that - a high paid job? NO - a green card to US? - NO - free sponsorship? PROBABLY NO - huge money? - NO (because once you become GM you have to compete with others similar to you)"
  
  There is a craze of becoming GRANDMASTER because:
  
  1. You can get a highly paid job.
  2. You can get a green card to the USA.
  3. You get free and good sponsorship.
     4.You can also earn a lot of money through coaching, prize winnings, appearance fees, etc. (really).
  
  
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