Looks like the "slippery slope" to me.

Tic Tac Toe is a sport for people so elementary not only haven't they solved it but break a sweat playing it (lol).

did someone up there honestly claim soccer as a SPORT!??!?!??!!?!?!?!!?!?!  SOCCER IS NOT A SPORT AS IT DOES NOT REQUIRE HAND-EYE CORDINATION (the goalie doesn't count sorry soccer players, one person useing his hands sometimes is not using hand eye cordination in a sport.)

You guys either don't know what the words "subjective" and "objective" mean, or don't know how figure skating, gymnastics, diving, and similar sports are judged.

The criteria is explicit and objective. It is observed and recorded by experts who have to rely on their observations of events in real time, and thus is subject to individual error. However, there is nothing 'subjective' about the criteria used to judge the elements it is spelled out explicitely in the judges' manual. The same is true of other similar sports.

Some sub-components of these sports ("Ice Dancing" for example) do include a subjective component for things like choreography and transitions -- but even here subjective criteria is not the sole component used to judge the competition and is balanced with required elements which have objective judging criteria.

Further, I question the notion that subjectivity is somehow bad. All sports which have referees or officials are governed by subjective interpretation of rules and regulations as might impact the play.

I see subjectivity at all as unwelcome in sports, especially because I know that judges subconsciously judge based on sexiness as well as anything else.

I don't think hand involvement is a necessary condition for the activity to be a sport.

+1

That's a joke, right?

I saw Garry Kasparov state in a panel that chess was a sport. He was there with the coach of the Stanford Football team, Tyrone Willingham, who wisely did not offer his opinion.

My opinion is that TOURNAMENT chess is a sport.

first off, if its in the olympics it doesnt necessarily classify it as a sport. many sports aren't olympic sports (football, tennis, golf to name a few), and a game shouldn't be ruled out as a sport just because its only competition is between minds. in a sense every sport is a competition between minds. when was the last time anyone won a championship without tactics and knowledge to put them over the competition? in this sense chess has competition and it has tactics and knowlegde, so the only aspect in lacks is physicality. but what physicality does it take to curl? i mean sure some arm strength, but im sure everyone and their mom could curl if the knew the damn rules. chess should be a sport. everyone can play, everyone can watch, and only with a few simple rules to know. ive never heard of anyone play once then quit, and if you have that person doesn't have a competitive bone in their body. all ages are on the same playing field because all that matters is development of your mind, which everyone has the capability to do (hopefully). women, kids, elderly, handicapped, you can move a pawn to e4 regardless. now a kings pawn opening might not be on sportscenters top plays but its still entertaining, competitive, and most of all fun

That's funny because American football is very similar to chess in terms of tactics, strategy, and "imbalances"...many more variables, (several essentially unpredictable) however for the coach, as opposed to the chess player. 

Haha - no it's not. I always say that when anything seems complicated, the TV commentators say "it's a chess match". No, it's not a chess match. They only say that because they don't know how to play chess - or more likely that the vast majority of the viewing public doesn't know how to play, just that it's hard. It's no more chess than it is rocket science.

I hear some sports commentators say "it's a stalemate" whenever there's a tight game.if they actually knew what a stalemate was they wouldn't say stuff like that lol.

I don't agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it, providing "death" is figurative. 

Football is very much like chess...at the amateur level, physical mismatches determine winners (e.g. pop warner, high school, college; kind of the way "tactics" may determine amateur chess games).  At higher levels, it comes down to proper analysis of variables and "imbalances" in order to ensure your team can penetrate the defense of the enemy and score more often.  

Check out the playbooks and see what separates the best receivers, linemen, quarterbacks, and coaches...a basic skill level and athleticism is required, but essentially what separates superstars from run-of-the-mill pro players is "knowledge of the game".  Similarly, they say Wayne Gretzky was a good as he was in hockey because of his "knowledge of the game".  It isn't all brute force and awkwardness.

Boxing is a Sport, but sometimes it is decided by 3 judge's and what they scored the fight.

yeah, without all the butt-grabbing, grunting, sweating, swearing, and injuries.  chess is MY kind of sport. 

 Chess is a Board game, but I am sure chess players at times grab their asses, grunt when the opponent makes a goodmove, sweat the clock ticking, and swear out loud when they are trapped, then injure their fists in the restroom when it's over.

From the thread title:

Chess... a SPORT?!

We understand that you consider the classification of chess as a sport to be a questionable move, but one not easily refuted?

Well, that settles it ;)

Amen!! *

* [Chess is likewise MY kind of sport with all of the poor sportsmanship, excuses (fever!), championship match-ducking (more like boxing), and inconsistent tournament/match rules throughout its rich history, compared to American football.]