Why Chess may be a Sport

So i was looking at something interesting today.. and i found out what makes a sport, and what does not make a sport. I will post my conclusion..

What Makes A Sport (A check means chess meets the criteria):

1. rules - check

2. outcome is in doubt before played - check

3. strategy is involved - check

4. there is a vigorous form of exertion - not checked

5. it may or may not be competitive - check

6. numerical scores are kept - check

7. some level of skills is involed - check

8. a person usually must train or practice for it - check

9. the goal is usually winning - check

10. it is pursued for the pleasure of the competition - check

So as we see here.. Chess scores a 9/10 for the what makes a sport.. I strongly see why chess can be viewed as a sport.

Now we will look at what does not make a sport a sport. (Check means thats why it does not make chess a sport)

1.  They are recreational activity - Check

2.  They do not require excellent physical condition - Semi Check (I believe somewhat you need to be in physical shape to be good at chess)

3. No skilled is required - Not Check

4. They are considered Artistic, not competitive - Not check

5. They are a form of survival skills - Not check

6. They involve subjective scoring - Not check

7. They are an event/Acvitivy ( ex. Track and field, meaning chess does not have to be an event in order for it to be played) - Not check

So in the second section, Chess only got 1.5/7 score for why it is not a sport, i strongly beleive chess can be viewed as a sport seeing the above scores

So my question to you is.. Is chess a sport?

Source - Health class, talking about sports.

Yes!

It is not a physical sport as most sports are, but it is a mental sport!

I love your checklist by the way. I once tried making one like that in my head, but decided that playing chess was more important than arguing about whether or not it was a sport.

 I agreed with that statment, for me I believe is both is just a game and is can view as a sport when playing it competivily.

You forgot the clock factor, most sports have some sort of time schedule to stick to.  I've always thought this was the reason some folk consider Chess a sport. 

Personally I don't think it's a sport, just a damn good board game. 

 Golf, baseball, just naming some without a clock factor.

Thats why its not 1 of the things that makes a sport a sport.

chess is not a sport--but only becasue i said so.

I think chess is an art not a sport.

Serbian, your criterion are arbritrary. You've created a science so soft as to be formless. Basically, your test is meaningless.

All sport is a test of, first and foremost, physical prowess. Chess is a test of, first and foremost, mental prowess. simple as. Stop fighting it. Just because Chess is a game doesn't mean it doesn't outshine every other game ever created by a massive margin.

It's obviously not a sport. It doesn't meet all the criteria for a sport, as the OP points out. It gets close, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades (neither of which is a sport).

Ways in which chess is not a sport:

• You need to put a word in front of 'sport' to make it a sport.
• The shoes you're wearing don't make a difference to your performance.
• Cheering for your side is not allowed.
• It doesn't require good physical condition (if you disagree with this, you haven't been to a chess tournament recently)
• Ilikeflags says it isn't one
• The opposite sex isn't impressed by your performance.
• You can do it over the internet.
• You can do it with a blindfold on.
• I can beat Michael Jordan at it.
• You can't get hurt doing it (fights don't count).
• It's never on the TV at a bar.

 Eh, yeah.... Do the same thing for snakes and ladders... same score more or less... I believe that 1.5/7 is not enough and it must be 0/7 not a sport and 7/7 a sport...

 Actually every point in the /7 section makes it not a sport.. so 0/7 being a sport and 7/7 not being a sport

 I could probably beat Michael Jordan at soccer..

 Also UFC is a sport i believe.. and they dont wear shoes, and im pretty sure in golf it doesnt matter what shoes you wear (i recall playing golf on xbox and shoes increased you "luck", making shoes not important, since in real life it doesnt give you luck)

 You can cheer at home, and i dont see people talking in golf during a shot.

 What does ilikeflags know? :P

 Im not fighting it, i was just giving my input.

 You sound like Saidh.

Chess  is a recognized sport of the International Olympic Committee. 

Hey fellas, it's a board game.  And golf?  Well, that ain't a sport, either.

 Lol.. your rating explains why you think its a "Board" game.

 And golf is a sport...

Have you moved to Canada, Rich? 

Chess is art, chess is sport. I have a question for you:

Is chess god?

This is hilarious, and I agree.  But it also proves a good point, which is that different people have different criteria - one person might think it's a sport and others might not.  It may be a subjective thing.  I happen to think it's more than a "game" but not quite a sport.  There's no physical activity, which I think of when I think "sports", but there are (usually) levels of mental activity, which make it much more than just a game.

 haha nice one.. :P, but in my case i was kidding.

 And btw, i live in Canada already..