I remember reading a few interviews of players like Kasparov and Kramnik. It seems if you're in a good environment (coaches, strong tournaments) and young and talented it seems to take at least two years.
If you're an adult and have a job, family, and no coach, then it may take 20 years to get to 1600 
Ya I don't think it's possible for me but I'm interested to see people's success stories.
Yeah, I'm interested too. That's just my impression from hearing their stories.
Of course I've heard some say they made it in 1 year... but you have to ask them specific questions. When did they learn the rules, when was their first tournament, book, or coach, etc. Often the story is "yes, I played for a few years, but it wasn't serious, so I didn't count those years. After I was serious it took one year."
Ya I started playing live harcore about 4 months ago and I'm getting descent, I have a 1400 blitz but I can't see it getting to 2000 anytime soon haha.
Of course there then those who tell lies !
Wafflemaster how did you get so good, your stats are incredible? bullet/blitz congrats man
Wafflemaster how did you get so good, your stats are incredible? bullet/blitz congrats man
Thank you very much :)
If you stick around though, you'll notice people who are much more impressive than me who frequent the forums. Very strong amateurs and titled players too.
I got better at chess primarily by reading books, playing in tournaments, and talking to stronger players after I play a game with them.
Yeah, I'm interested too. That's just my impression from hearing their stories.
Of course I've heard some say they made it in 1 year... but you have to ask them specific questions. When did they learn the rules, when was their first tournament, book, or coach, etc. Often the story is "yes, I played for a few years, but it wasn't serious, so I didn't count those years. After I was serious it took one year."
I played a couple times a year at a 600 level for years, never studying anything or learning any openings, and never really playing more than one game a month. I don't count those years, I didn't even know that competitive chess existed, and didn't play any tournaments.
Yeah, I'm interested too. That's just my impression from hearing their stories.
Of course I've heard some say they made it in 1 year... but you have to ask them specific questions. When did they learn the rules, when was their first tournament, book, or coach, etc. Often the story is "yes, I played for a few years, but it wasn't serious, so I didn't count those years. After I was serious it took one year."
I played a couple times a year at a 600 level for years, never studying anything or learning any openings, and never really playing more than one game a month. I don't count those years, I didn't even know that competitive chess existed, and didn't play any tournaments.
There are years I don't count for myself too. I learned the rules around 7 years old I think, but played less than once a year, never reading a book or playing in a tournament or anything like that.
It's people with sneaky stories like they'd never been to a tournament... but they leave out their FM friend who they played all through highschool and college and so more or less got private lessons for 8 years
Of course there then those who tell lies !
That's true. Many players boasts of not having read any book as if a natural chess player. "Never studied openings" , all learned through experience playing. I had visited one of these liars and discovered he have a mini-chess library.
When I first read the title I thought it might mean how long for a new member on chess.com to reach 2000 with turn base. For a reasonably strong player (1800+ elo) I'd reckon about a month. They'd need to start a whole bunch of games and play quickly.
i am currently 14, no private lessons, my FIDE rating as of July 2013 is 1538.
I do not believe I will reach 2K any time soon :D
Of course there then those who tell lies !
That's true. Many players boasts of not having read any book as if a natural chess player. "Never studied openings" , all learned through experience playing. I had visited one of these liars and discovered he have a mini-chess library.
That depends on what you mean by having read a book. I have a few chess books (10-20 I would guess), but have only finished 1 complete book so far (I've read about half of most of them).
Ive been playing for around 2 years (a little under) and once FIDE ratings are updated I should be mid 1900s. Though ive only played a few tournaments, I know my playing strength is >2000.
I could break 2000 bricks by a hand blow quicker than I coulod get a 2000 otb rating
It took me some 6 years to reach 2000 since I started playing chess. So long (some of my friends did that in 2-3 years) because I had no coach and had very inappropriate opening repertoire at the beginning. After switching to openings which suite better my style I finally got to 2000.
My highest FIDE rating was 2138 (in 2004/5) but it degraded because I had 7 years break from chess - no playing or studying at all and my last tournaments were simply weak.
Of course there then those who tell lies !
That's true. Many players boasts of not having read any book as if a natural chess player. "Never studied openings" , all learned through experience playing. I had visited one of these liars and discovered he have a mini-chess library.
I know of a 2650+ player that has always said that he never studied openings.
Later he recognized: "but sometimes I check the Informator"
I played my first ever tournament in 1996, 5 rounds, and started with a rating of 1177. I then started playing regularly in March of 1997 (didn't play any tournaments between June 1996 and March 1997). I first hit 2000 in August 2001, so 4 1/2 years.
Of course, if it weren't for college and then work, I might have gotten there quicker. Then progress really slowed down, as it was then just under 12 years, May 2013, when I first hit 2100.
Hey guys so how fast can someone do this? Just curious, I read somewhere some guy became a master in 5 years. Any tips or personal stories of meteoric uprises; thanks.