@Perfume It is interesting to compare performance in games like chess between generations, but I think it’s crucial to consider technology and education. Chess computers and AIs are an amazing way to learn chess and learn it faster. But with more knowledge there’s more to learn. So you (a) learn faster but (b) have to learn more theory. This can explain why the best players are now better. As ELO is a competitive score I’m surprised though people don’t take longer to reach their peak.

@Perfume Here education and community might become more important. I sometimes get the feeling that chess theory (basically learning the “best play” deeper into the game) is also very trend-like. Like paper-rock-scissors you need the right strategy to counter the strength of the approach du-jure, having a slightly weaker but surprising strategy might be good. Are younger players deeper into the zeitgeist whereas older papers get stuck in their ways?