There are now 29 chess players rated over 2700

Here is the story and list.  Achieving a chess rating of over 2700 is very hard to do.  This is a reflection of either: a) just how much talent and sponsorship the modern world has, or b) just how narrowly restricted some people’s talents are.  In an age where a socially non-adept person still can earn good money in hi-tech, I lean more toward a) than b).  The boom in womens’ chess — not generally foreseen twenty years ago — I find especially puzzling and it’s not all driven by the Chinese government wanting to win medals.