>Difference between 1st, 2nd, and 10th comes down to talent and a bit of luck. In a sufficiently competitive field, the difference between 1st and 10,000th com

>Difference between 1st, 2nd, and 10th comes down to talent and a bit of luck. In a sufficiently competitive field, the difference between 1st and 10,000th comes down to talent and luck. Chess is incredibly instructive in this respect. Some players soar through the rankings in their teens with remarkably little effort; some battle on for years with little to show for it. Some very promising players just run out of talent and hit a hard ceiling on their rank, while others keep finding room for improvement. I agree with the broad thrust of the linked article - there's a real cruelty to the 10,000 hour rule.