Chess, like music and mathematics, has its prodigies. Extraordinary chess talent, similar to mathematical and musical abilities, is demonstrated early in life, and once identified, has to be carefully cultivated. Chess grandmasters are achieving their titles at a much younger age than previously. Fischer became a grandmaster at 15, but nowadays, 13 and a few months, seems to be the magic qualifying number.
Chess is financially and culturally rewarding when a grandmaster emerges, especially from a third world, or even a second world country. Over the years, many grandmasters have become celebrities, even heroes, in their homelands. Consider India, for example. For a decade Anand was among the world’s top three players and became the first Indian to
