Whether or not chess is a sport

chess is a sport, but it is not a physical sport. it's more of a mental sport.

There have been countless reasons listed why chess is not a sport. And there have been a couple reasons listed why some people believe chess is a sport (almost always related to competition, personal belief, or biased recognition by a non-neutral party).

There haven't been any new reasons why chess could be a sport, but every once in a while a new reason comes up why it isn't. I was playing a game a few days ago and we were talking about pieces (we are going to make an outdoor board and need giant pieces). So the pieces need to be high quality, so they don't weather in the rain and snow and sun. 

Which then led to the topic of what happens if they do wear out. Will they still work? In sports, it seems like the equipment often is very precise, and if it wears out, the performance in the sport is jeopardized. In golf if the ball has a big crack in it, in tennis if the strings are faulty, in soccer if the ball is deflated, etc. In sports sub optimal equipment leads to sub optimal performance. 

But it seems to me in chess, and checkers and many other board games, condition of equipment has no bearing on performance. 

Some people like to say that the IOC claims chess could be a sport. But what IOC sport does NOT rely on high quality equipment for optimal performance? If chess is the only one, maybe that's a pretty big hint that chess shouldn't be included 

The biggest fan of "chess is a sport" realized chess is not a a sport, so he decided to stop with that nonsense. Hopefully he's playing chess (or at least something productive) irl. 

It's like we're talking about cybersports, I mean the problem is linguistic in relation to when we advise children or teenagers to do sports activities.

Doing sports activities in the context is not playing chess, go game or video games but doing combat sports, swimming, athletics etc. 

After the rest we don't care,

there are some who waste their time debating whether or not ping pong is a sport because it wouldn't be physical enough compared to a combat sport... yes it is in a sense a sport but not necessarily a sport that fulfills your needs.

Chess in a sense is a sport, an intellectual sport but of course it won't help you develop physical skills like in combat sports.    

Chess is a sport, if sport is exercise (fitness) of a part of the body. Here is the proof.

(1) Sport is exercise (fitness) of a part of the body.

(2) Chess exercises the brain.

(3) The brain is a part of the body.

(4) Hence, chess is a sport. q.e.d.

At least, (3) is the case for my body. And that's the rule for most any people. If for anybody here in the forum or elsewhere the brain is not a part of her/his body, then for this very special person, chess is no sport.

Of course, my brain is physical. I haven't looked into my skull yet, but I am pretty sure it is within.

Which means any mental activity, like thinking about how to grow rhubarb is a sport. Not growing rhubarb mind you, THINKING about growing rhubarb. Because, as you said, the brain is physical. I think most "chess is a sport" people abandoned that approach long ago, because it didn't make sense to label every single human activity (mental or physical) a sport. 

„Which means any mental activity, like thinking about how to grow rhubarb is a sport.“

No. It is no exercise. Likewise not any walk of two meters is a sport.

„it didn't make sense to label every single human activity (mental or physical) a sport.“

I agree. I wanted to have short premises. You almost never include all conditions. So, if you will, premise (1) is

„(1a) Sport is exercise (fitness) of a part of the body in a competitive manner.“

When you assure „Water boils at 100 degree Celsius“ you also don't mention all other necessary requirements.

That's your opinion. I disagree.

lfPatriotGames - So you're basically saying sport is physical?  How much physical? 100, 70, 60, or even just 1% physical?

All physical sports are mental to a degree obviously.  But what about precision sports that actually have little physical involvement?  Imagine marksmanship (i.e., shooting a target at 1200 yards).  Sure, you have to hold the gun and pull the trigger, but the true skill is the incredible velocity calculations and understanding the effects of the environment on your projectile.

But because elite marksmen spend massive amounts on the gun in their "game of choice," plus regulating their breath and shot - marksmanship is a sport?  Because honestly, it's 99% mind and 1% physical.  Are darts a sport?  Professional marbles?  Washers?  Quilting competitions?

To me then, that is evidence (not proof) of chess being a sport.  Whether it be a serious game of chess, designing a power plant on a timeline, or even budgeting down to a penny, I feel it - in my bones.  It hurts.  It has a physical toll.

If you really want to be a sport, don't bother people with this nonsense again.

I think you've not read the first post of this thread.  My point - it is irrelevant if chess is a sport.  Doesn't matter, and is relatively unprovable - especially when considering a global society.

Interesting question though - why are feelings mixed on this topic?  No one really disagrees about arachnids.  Spiders, ticks, and scorpions - all arachnids.  Besides a handful of professional and amateur arachnologists, I assume there is little debate about one or the other belonging.  Why?  Does anyone doubt the Sun is a ball of hot plasma in a constant state of nuclear fusion?

In a word... Yes

I did read the OP. It's dumb and superfluous. 

How about Blitz using VERY heavily weighted pieces? Like... fifty kilograms each.

Is THAT a sport?

Dumb and superfluous?

I must say, you have a keen judgment not to be overlooked.

I guess some of us get tired of discussing thermodynamics, politics, and finances 24/7.  God forgive me for taking a few minutes every week to dabble in the unimportant.

However, enough of that.  If I ever decide to finish my book "The Editorial Review Process for the 3rd Grader," I'd love for you to proofread it.  You're certainly on that wavelength.  Until then, how about you pull your lip over your head and swallow?