Is chess a sport or not?

[ztormtrooper]

the international Olympic committee recognizes chess as a sport and i really don't

[pervepic]

I don't know all the semantics behind this, but as far as I know, chess is commonly acknowledged as an "intellectual sport" inside the chess community and sometimes (quite often actually) outside it. Also checkers belongs to this category; even some tournament poker players would like to call their game "a sport".

I guess that despite of it's "intellectual" character", a tournament chess is pretty much also a physical effort, that's why good chess players are nowadays often in good physical shape. Long games just worn you out. Surely poker also worns you out in the long run, but the intellectual efford (that affects you also physically) you could put in poker (or almost in any other similar game) can't be compared with chess. Beside, the element of luck is far too big in poker-like games. That's why I wouldn't call poker a sport; but overall that doesn't matter much, it's a matter of the meaning of the word. Perhaps bridge is even more sport-like game.

Brain is a physical organ and playing chess well requires training of this organ to think this way that chess requires. It's an endless task. There is a difference with many other games: if you learn to play Elements or any other just-for fun game well, then at some point you can't develop yourself much more in this game, because all is pretty much already known. Chess is different - it still remains mysterious even to the best players because of all its endless variations. Therefore this is a challangeing game all the time; learning this is a unfinishable task. I guess this could be a common trait with the other (physical) sports - you can always  do (at least in principle) better.

Takeing chess just as a fun game and playing it competitively in high level is a difference like between going for a walk and running a marathon. First activity is not a sport, second one is. Therefore, the definition os sports depends a bit on motivation, but of course the game or activity itself should allow itself first to be called a sport if this is taken seriously enough. I guess that chess allows that kind of developments and efforts that is required from other sports activities. There is no doubt that intellectual sport is a bit different from other sports, because the activity of the brain is not so directly observable (like hand or foot); besides chess could involve that kind of creativity (or even elements of art) that other sports usually don't have. But haveing additional characteristic's shouldn't impede chess being a sport.

[BluePriest]

Interesting Question. Is NASCAR a sport? I would say it is more compare able to a video game than chess is. Unless im overlooking something.

[Jaxly]

"Brain is a physical organ"
What do you mean by this?

[Sir Valimont]

This is an easy question that doesn't need pages of discussion.

Definition #1. If you define a sport as a physical activity, then chess is not a sport.

Definition #2. If you define a sport as a competition, then chess is a sport.

I think chess is a wonderful, complex, fascinating game. But I would never call it a sport because my definition for sport is definition #1.

[Jappert]

This is an easy question that doesn't need pages of discussion.

Definition #1. If you define a sport as a physical activity, then chess is not a sport.

Definition #2. If you define a sport as a competition, then chess is a sport.

I think chess is a wonderful, complex, fascinating game. But I would never call it a sport because my definition for sport is definition #1.

This. Chess is certainly not a sport in my eyes.

[BluePriest]

This is an easy question that doesn't need pages of discussion.

Definition #1. If you define a sport as a physical activity, then chess is not a sport.

Definition #2. If you define a sport as a competition, then chess is a sport.

I think chess is a wonderful, complex, fascinating game. But I would never call it a sport because my definition for sport is definition #1.

This. Chess is certainly not a sport in my eyes.

Previous discussino has shown that many people claim it is very physically intesive due to the amount of stress you are putting on your brain. Not saying its my view, but Im just saying you shouldnt write it off that fast and simple.

[Time_lord_victorius]

anything that can be played in a potential competitive format is a sport IMHO. therefore, elements is a sport thanks to war!

[nerd1]

chess is a sport, as how else are we supposed to exercise our hair pulling muscles?

[Thiefboy109]

Chess is a sport. IDK why, it just seems like a sport to me.

[Neopergoss]

Chess is different - it still remains mysterious even to the best players because of all its endless variations. Therefore this is a challangeing game all the time; learning this is a unfinishable task.

One day, I believe computers will solve chess.

[Uppercut]

Most people who say no haven't been to an actual competitive chess event. 8 hours of almost non-stop chess play is fatiguing.