user8985: Decades ago, there was a young man who joined the Rochester chess club where he had the frequent opportunity to play against USCF Life Master Dr. Eric W. Marchand if my memory is correct.
Who was that late starter?  He became a GM in a relatively short time.
Many chess players who go on to become GM's have started out in the first few years of their lives.
Which late starters have been able to become grandmasters?
Please note that this question is the opposite of the more general "how young..." category of questions.
edit:
Dr. Marchand was not a GM, my error, he was a USCF Life Master.
My point is having strong competition can help one's chess development.
Also, it's fair to consider a late starter as someone who is perhaps age 20 and up.
end edit.

user7604: I'm not aware of the person you're referring to, but GM Ye Jiangchuan of China started playing at around 17, as far as I remember from what I read about him. That's relatively quite late for Chess GMs. You can find more about him here: Ye Jiangchuan (Wikipedia) 

user5653: 
Oscar Shapiro was the oldest player to become a master. He did it at the age of 74.
Wilhelm Steinitz was the oldest world chess champion. He won the title from Zuckertort in 1886 at the age of 50 and held it until he was defeated by Lasker in 1894 at the age of 58 years and 10 days.

Source

8985: <p>Decades ago, there was a young man who joined the Rochester chess club where he had the frequent opportunity to play against USCF Life Master <a href="http://tartajubow.blogspot.ca/2015/02/dr-erich-w-marchand.html" rel="noreferrer">Dr. Eric W. Marchand</a> if my memory is correct.</p>

<p>Who was that late starter?  He became a GM in a relatively short time.</p>

<p>Many chess players who go on to become GM's have started out in the first few years of their lives.</p>

<p>Which late starters have been able to become grandmasters?</p>

<p>Please note that this question is the opposite of the more general "how young..." category of questions.</p>

<p><strong>edit</strong>:<br>
Dr. Marchand was not a GM, my error, he was a USCF Life Master.<br>
My point is having strong competition can help one's chess development.</p>

<p>Also, it's fair to consider a late starter as someone who is perhaps age 20 and up.<br>
<strong>end edit</strong>.</p>
 7604: <p>I'm not aware of the person you're referring to, but GM Ye Jiangchuan of China started playing at around 17, as far as I remember from what I read about him. That's relatively quite late for Chess GMs. You can find more about him here: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ye_Jiangchuan" rel="nofollow">Ye Jiangchuan (Wikipedia)</a>  </p>
 5653: <ul>
<li><p><em>Oscar Shapiro was the oldest player to become a master. He did it at the age of 74.</em></p></li>
<li><p><em>Wilhelm Steinitz was the oldest world chess champion. He won the title from Zuckertort in 1886 at the age of 50 and held it until he was defeated by Lasker in 1894 at the age of 58 years and 10 days.</em></p></li>
</ul>

<p><a href="http://en.chessbase.com/post/some-thoughts-on-aging" rel="noreferrer">Source</a></p>
