Is chess a sport like, say, horseshoes? That's the question posed in "More than Footware" by the blogger of Chess Skills.

I rather suspect he wants some comments and debate.

sport is most often defined as an activity involving physical exertion and competition.  i am sure there could be lots of debate about the defintion of sport but if you take this version then i think chess qualifies.  there is no question that it is an "activity" involving competition.  Most naysayers would probably focus on the physical exertion aspect of the definition.  My argument is that chess meets this criteria.  To me, physical exertion may be interpreted broadly to include not just use of large muscle groups in coordination to attain some certain goal like, putting a ball in a goal, but also to include heavy use of the brain manifesting in the physical act of moving a chess piece.  This is still a physical process or "physical exertion" that results in both mental and physical exhaustion, as anyone who has played an all day multi-round chess tournament can tell you.  of course, i bet some people would argue that "physical exertion" means an activity that tests muscular coordination and/or fatigue limits.  we could split hairs all day on this issue lol

gotta bet back to work just thought i would try to kick start some discussion...

Thanks

Chess is game, sport, science and art in one. But it's not a lot like horseshoes.

I don't know. After six hours of online blitz, my right arm feels about the way it does after two hours of horseshoes.