he is the reason i played chess for the first time although im 31 and no fischer or josh. have spent alot of time studying his games. and the ? is always in my head had he just peeked as far as he could go?
i know he has reasons lost love for game and all but would like some opinions as to wether he just couldnt go further.
Josh seemed to be attracted by other interests, especially martial arts. The difficulty of earning a good living as a GM probably had an effect, but many of our young rising stars end up seeking careers elsewhere.
Of the Samford Fellows, how many are still playing actively?
If you really love the game, play. Heroes come and go. Bobby Fischer ripped the hearts out of his American fans, but those who love chess carry on. There are always new players rising, like Nakamura, to inspire us.
In the end, it’s the game that is important. The players can add to it, can make their mark, but if they walk away there will always be another opponent ready to sit down across the table.
You should read his book, Art of Learning.