Can you be a pro?

[Shentar]

No, I have never actually thought I could go pro. However, I will maintain the stubborn delusion of being able to reach pro strength for the rest of my life.

[nami]

No, I have never actually thought I could go pro. However, I will maintain the stubborn delusion of being able to reach pro strength for the rest of my life.

this is no delusion ; )

I think most of people could go for pro level, if they really wanted to.

What's the difference between a strong player and a weak one if it's not age / years already played ?

I think it's the personal effort/dedication
You get as strong as you want to get.

[Magicwand]

No, I have never actually thought I could go pro. However, I will maintain the stubborn delusion of being able to reach pro strength for the rest of my life.

this is no delusion ; )

I think most of people could go for pro level, if they really wanted to.

What's the difference between a strong player and a weak one if it's not age / years already played ?

I think it's the personal effort/dedication
You get as strong as you want to get.

anybody can reach very strong KGS 6 dan or even 7 dan.
but to be a pro you must start when you are young.
there are very few people (non that i know of) who reached that level when they learn the game after 20 years old.

[nami]

but to be a pro you must start when you are young.

i don't think so. I just think many people think like that and never try.
"I am too old" is just a self-justification for "i am too lazy to try" or "i don't want to spent my freetime with Go" which would be much more honest

but of course if you say: to get a pro (title 1p) you have to be young, thats correct. I think for the pro exams you have to be under 30 ?

[oren]

but of course if you say: to get a pro (title 1p) you have to be young, thats correct. I think for the pro exams you have to be under 30 ?

22 years old in Japan. Less in others.

[Dante31]

but of course if you say: to get a pro (title 1p) you have to be young, thats correct. I think for the pro exams you have to be under 30 ?

22 years old in Japan. Less in others.

If I recall correctly Japan changed it to 23 in 2009 from 26. But there were cases where a pro rank was given to a players who was over the age limit

[Kirby]

About pro ages, I spoke with an ex-insei in Japan, and he said that both the insei and pro age limits are adjusted sometimes for Westerners, because they want to promote the popularity of go in western countries. I believe that James Kerwin was pretty old when he became a pro.

But basically for such a special circumstance to occur, you have to be really good at go - at a level that is far above most of us here.

So the point is not about worry about what age limit you can become pro at, I think... It's about reaching that level of expertise.

[oren]

About pro ages, I spoke with an ex-insei in Japan, and he said that both the insei and pro age limits are adjusted sometimes for Westerners, because they want to promote the popularity of go in western countries. I believe that James Kerwin was pretty old when he became a pro.

Money is a lot tighter in the go world right now. There have been a loss of sponsorships and tightening of budgets. There would have to be a pretty good reason to allow someone to join that is outside the current rules.

[Kirby]

About pro ages, I spoke with an ex-insei in Japan, and he said that both the insei and pro age limits are adjusted sometimes for Westerners, because they want to promote the popularity of go in western countries. I believe that James Kerwin was pretty old when he became a pro.

Money is a lot tighter in the go world right now. There have been a loss of sponsorships and tightening of budgets. There would have to be a pretty good reason to allow someone to join that is outside the current rules.

Point is still the same: we have to be a lot stronger for it to even matter to talk about it.

[Tommie]

I was almost 18 when I learned about Go
and didn't know more than 5 people playing it.

What did I know about professionals, their strenghts, possibilities to become one?

Nothing !

[Hagios]

When I get into something, I jump in headfirst. I never had delusions about becoming pro, but I wanted (and indeed do still want) to be as strong as possible. To this end, I spend a few hours a day studying and struggling to become better. No matter how hard I work and how far I climb, I won't be satisfied.

The question is perhaps a little clumsy, since it only asks if we want to/think we can attain a title. I know that's impossible, but I want to work hard to reach for that level of proficiency.