Is chess a sport?

I've never heard chess referred to as a sport, but this is the definition of what a sport is:

"An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment."

I don't really mind either way - I'm just curious as to what other people think about this. Maybe chess would be taken more seriously if it was referred to as a sport?

Chess is a game, not a sport. All sports are games, but not all games are sports.

As an analogy: flipping a coin is also a game, but it's not a sport.

As to the last question: does it matter how many people take it seriously? Soccer, for instance, lacks the popular support here in the States, compared to the rest of the world - it's not taken seriously here. Does this in any way impacts your enjoyment of soccer? (Assuming you like soccer...)

It doesn't matter how many people take it seriously - as I said, I don't mind either way.

But apart from the "physical exertion" aspect, I can't see why chess isn't considered a sport. It certainly can be mentally exhausting!

I say football because I'm English, but call it soccer if you want. I don't mind.

I used to think that chess was a game and not a sport. Now I think it's both. Athletes compete by pitting their bodily strength against each other. Chess players at a certain level need their "brain power" and stamina for long matches and tournaments. Just like bodily competition, time also takes it's toll on mental competition. We can learn more about the game as we get older - but concentration might diminish.

The top chess players will give attention to keeping fit and following decent nutrition.

My own realisation has come through observe the fatigue that sets in during a weekend tournament or a marathon 4NCL game. Competitive chess drains the body, of which the brain is a part.

Chess is a mind sport

If one starts picking apart every word and phrase in the definition of "sport", then every activity could technically qualify as sport: eating takes physical effort, so does sleeping...life itself could be defined as sport - it takes "physical exertion" to live.

The "physical exertion" in the definition refers to strenuous, sweat-inducing, extreme energy-burning, deliberate effort to accomplish a goal. Generally speaking, any game that could be played (and competed over) by sitting in a chair does not qualify as "sport". Think of games like poker, blackjack, or any other casino game - they are not "sports", even though latent talent, training, and some luck, of course, do play a role.

That some games don't qualify to be called "sports" does not in any way diminish the accomplishments of those players who chose to play these games. A sausage is not a steak, although both items are made largely of the same substance, mainly meat protein, and both items are enjoyable. There's no need to reclassify sausage as steak in order to enjoy a nice grilled frankfurter.

And let's consider the scenario if chess does become classified as sport. How many kids would forgo football, basketball, soccer, etc. to learn to play chess? It's not the lack of "sport" classification that keeps chess largely as a niche activity - it's the actual game play.

This "physical exertion" is an evolutionary phenomena. Our arms swing wildly in just about every direction - something we can use when playing football. The same cannot be said about chess game dynamic. Does a player really need to swing his arms or legs in any wild or rhythmic fashion to play? We are not built to be stationary. Our physical characteristics skew significantly towards mobility. A game like chess has eons of evolution as opposition to overcome.

Even with the ascent of electronic games, physical sports have enjoyed a steady growth in popularity, whether measured in economic terms or simple participation rates. In other words: we can't fight evolution.

Yes indeed, this is the right term.

Many chess players are bad sports.

Ziggy_Zugzwang نوشته: I used to think that chess was a game and not a sport. Now I think it's both. Athletes compete by pitting their bodily strength against each other. Chess players at a certain level need their "brain power" and stamina for long matches and tournaments. Just like bodily competition, time also takes it's toll on mental competition. We can learn more about the game as we get older - but concentration might diminish.The top chess players will give attention to keeping fit and following decent nutrition.My own realisation has come through observe the fatigue that sets in during a weekend tournament or a marathon 4NCL game. Competitive chess drains the body, of which the brain is a part.

Chess is only a game.

No sport is played in a suit.

No sport is injury free.

No sport is played using 12 book moves at the start.

No sport waits 45min for the other team to make a move.

Sport involves cheering, wearing outfits and cheer leaders.

You are willing to get up at 3 AM to watch sport.

Sport involves more than 10 people making a decent living out of it.

If there are no steroids involved it is not a sport.

To Americans it isnt . 

not many good sports playing the sport of chess

One must practice sportsmanship whilst playing games, but the only games that are sports are athletic?

Do you want to know the difference between (European) football and soccer? No violence, threats and insults by the public in the latter one.

yes

soccer is King's english 

football is broken legs.

chess has been declared a sport

I'm

yes it is an Art and a Science and Sport and a Therapy and a tool for culture and education , tool defined as the way to struggle for life.

Duck hunting is prohibited on CC, just for sauvages not kulturny, moujiks.

Chess can fullfill your life, life without chess may be empty.

I think so.

You play about 200 or 300 1 0 games in a row and your worn out for real. Your head and eyeballs hurts then you get mouse finger and chess elbow.