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So basically same as becoming a hardcore nerd-level software engineer :-)

• edgyquant 5y ago
  I’d say it’s easier to make money as an engineer. Hikaru is an amazing player but he has to stream to make good money
  • agarden 5y ago
    Hikaru was making six figures before he ever took up streaming. He was sponsored by Red Bull back then.
• PeterisP 5y ago
  Well, no - if you'd become a "#100 ranked in the world" quality software engineer, you'd be making bank, and if you'd be in the top 10%, you'd still be very comfortable. If you'd be a #100 chess player, you might support yourself with chess somehow (e.g. coaching), but you have to really be at the top and win tournaments to get any meaningful money just by playing; and if you're top 10% then you're likely spending money to play chess and need a different profession to afford that. So unlike software engineers, you have to be among the few very best in order to make it your profession, that's a big difference.