Is chess a sport? Ending the debate

It requires physical skill to play fighting game like Street Fighter as well

I believe video games would be considered a sport.  They are pushing the lower limits of the definition, but at the same time, video games require physical abilities(hand/finger skill, and hand eye cordination), and at the higher level gaming tournaments and such, the gamers are HIGHLY talented.  High level competitive video gaming requires seriously Honed physical skills.

The only way chess could be 'defined' as a sport is if the way you moved the chess pieces with your hand were part of the win.  Or maybe the way you sit in your chair.
Chess is not a sport by definition. 

Most words have a definition, and the definition of the word 'sport' disqualifies the game of chess from partaking.

Yes definitely chess is not a sport.

Why am I still getting updates on this thread? It's clear that chess is a sport. End of conversation.

Now you have undeniably convinced us ILF, we can't argue with that logic.

ps, it all depends on the definitions, which no one cares about.

This thread >(

It`s quite entertaining to read this

Chess is not a sport 'cuz I said so....howz that ?

Are fighting games a sport?

There are many arguments for why chess is a sport, including:

The International Olympic Comittee, quite possibly the most 'official' sports authority in the world, considers it so.

It bears almost all the characteristics of games that are definitely sports, such as basketball, baseball etc. Physicality is the ONLY thing missing.

And even that idea can be challenged, becuase tournament chess clearly requieres a lot of stamina.

Meanwhile, the ONLY argument I've ever heard from the naysayers of the idea that chess is a sport is "But it's not physical (enough)!"

The thing that they don't realise is, THERE IS MORE THAN ONE DEFINITION OF THE WORD 'SPORT'. There is no 'official' or 'objective' definition. Many defintions include chess, while others do not. None of the definitions are more correct than the others.

The two different sides don't really disagree on anything chess related, only on the definition of a word. So, I present to you, the objective truth on the matter: it depends on what definition of 'sport' you go by, and they're all equally correct. By the definition I go by, chess is a sport. But ultimately, the debate doesn't even matter. Because there IS NO ANSWER. Neither side is 'right'. And a debate of the merits of different definitions would be absurd and almost impossible to reasonably conduct.

Argument over. Forever.

One of the reasons that most people, especially people who do not play chess do not recognize chess as a sport is the idea that Chess requires a decent knowledge of the game to actually understand the tension that exist in a position. This is what separates chess from sports such as soccer and tennis, the general public can easily interpret what is going on in soccer or tennis, as the physical beauty are easy to acknowledge. Chess on the other hand demands deep knowledge to truly master, and the people who do not recognize it as sport clearly have no understanding for chess.

If altitude doesn't affect performance it's not a sport

Chess might not be a sport but u need to have an unique ability to play it well. Certainly, it is not a sport.

You guys can end the debate now

A lot more things fall under "games" than "sports" . This is why the Olympics are called The Games.

Chess is everything - Art, Science, Sport.

I repeat, A lot more things fall under "games" than "sports" . This is why the Olympics are called The Games. Since all sports are at the core, games, I think the game of chess will never be anything other than the game of all games. That should be enough for all of us. It doesn't need any other title.