top 10 is where any money at all is made, hence professional. it's easier now with every random international master running a youtube website getting ad money or selling some course. but they're not making any money at all from actually playing chess. it's still amateur, net-negative money, until you get way up there. as for beating kasparov, any decent 1800+ can win a game now and again from a top player. it's not like some sport where people have crazy streaks where they never lose at all. chess is about the grind, taking a few points here and there. she was never in any discussion about winning a championship.
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