Chess is a Sport.

Partly, I agree, which was the point.

Nonetheless, in most threads on this topic, someone brings up Ben Finegold as evidence that chess cannot be a sport. I merely note that if such an argument holds any water, then Trump’s golfing prowess should be held against golf.

You are dreaming. A tennis racket is no defense against a well struck golf ball. Ever seen a saguaro cactus on a golf course pierced by golf balls?

And now you are talking about close quarter combat?? How many people have been killed by a tennis racket? Now, how many people have been killed by a golf club?

I think the reason you would bet on the tennis player is because you prefer to be habitually wrong.

Yes. They do. Most injuries and some deaths from golf balls are from them "hitting back". It's because they come off the club face so fast it's almost impossible to see it. So when they bounce back from an object the victim never sees it coming.

That's not to say all deaths or injuries from golf are from the golfballs. Some are from the club itself. There have been instances where the club breaks in half and the remaining part pierces the neck, and the victim lost too much blood. Again the victim simply has no time to react to what's coming at him. Tennis doesn't have these dangers.

Which has absolutely nothing to do with tennis and golf both being sports. And also nothing to do with chess being a board game, not a sport.

Sports do not require an opponent that moves. Bowling, pool, darts, skiing, swimming, most track and field events, golf, etc do not have opponents that move.

I don't know anything about combat, but years ago I did make an acquaintance with a man who was a sniper in Vietnam. His opponents were stationary.

Have you read this thead?

At the professional level golfers have much more experience climbing trees. It always makes for good television to watch a high level tournament and see a golfer up in a tree trying to hit a ball that's lodged up there. It happens more than most people realize. I've yet to see a tennis player in a world class tournament hit a tennis ball from high up in a tree.

But Iron has a great point, trees ARE a great defense against golf balls. Hiding behind trees when the other player is about to hit is a very, very common practice.

That is true

Please Google satire and learn to read.

For instance, I told you that you are correct about the logic.

Chess is a sport

Maybe

Golf is not particularly athletic, it's only about 5 miles of walking to play 18 holes. It's the physical skill that makes golf so difficult. Professional golfers have to have an extremely wide range of abilities to perform well. From the explosive power of a 160mph swing that generates a 350 yard drive to minutes later the delicate feel of a slippery 8 foot putt. And then the uniqueness of rough and sand shots and how they compare to ordinary fairway shots. Some golfers will practice thousands of shots to hone in those physical skills.

Chess has no such requirement. There are no physical skill requirements in chess. There isn't even a physical requirement, let alone skill. In chess, the physical aspects can be completely removed and a person can still play the game exactly the same. In sports, if the physical aspect is removed the game becomes impossible to play.

Chess is a mind sport

What does that mean? If you mean someone has to use their mind to be competitive or participate in the activity, then all sports are "mind sports". If you mean chess is a leisure activity that puts the majority of performance on thinking, and not physical skill, then yes, I agree. That's exactly why it's not a sport.

Nope, you got it wrong. Chess is a sport. I find it ridiculous that a game of darts can even come to chess as a sport, 100+ countries have recognized chess is a sport, ask yourself why.

First you say it's a "mind sport" now you say it's a sport. Which is it? Are you saying they are the same thing?

BTW, countries lie. Have the people of these alleged countries recognized chess as a sport, or has some other organization done it? Which 100 countries, specifically, are you referring to?

chess is a recognized sport. This international Olympic committee recognizes chess as a sport.

That's nice. Our YMCA recognizes chess as not a sport. Are you sure either one is authorized to determine what a sport is? If so, who granted the authority?

I wouldn't be too quick to use the IOC as any sort of excuse to call chess a sport. They have a history of corruption and lying that's pretty impressive. Saying the IOC recognizes chess as a sport is like saying Bernie Madoff says investing in his ACME widgets is a good idea.

Well ... not exactly.

The IOC recognizes FIDE as the official governing body of chess. To be recognized as a federation, you have to meet certain requirements (memberships, tournaments, prizes, anti-cheating/doping procedures, etc ...).

The IOC also recognizes the World Bridge Federation in a similar manner, for similar reasons. For those who don't know: Bridge is a card game.

Technically, you could start your own Tic-Tac-Toe organization and, if you get enough members, arrange tournaments, and employ anti-cheating/doping procedures, you could get your Tic-Tac-Toe organization recognized as an official sports federation by the IOC, too. Hooray!

It's confusing because the IOC is able to "officially recognize" sports federations, due to them meeting certain criteria, while simultaneously saying "No thanks!" when those same federations request to actually participate in the Olympic Games ...

It's like the pretty girl telling you, "Any girl would be lucky to date you!" But when you ask her out, she says, "Oh sorry, I'm ... uh ... busy that day!"

i will personally still believe chess is a sport but i see all of your arguments and understand why you would think that it is not. it is really a matter of opinion.