Do you consider Chess a sport?

[Sharon]

The official definition of a sport is: "an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment."

Some would argue that because chess has a set of rules, requires movement, strategy and can be scored that it is a sport while others would say it isn't because it's not a competition that is played in a court or field.

What is your opinion?

 

[Guardian]

A game of skill, yes, but not a sport.

I require some physical exertion to be considered as such. I can't say that happens in Chess.

 

[hafiz93]

Some would argue that because chess has a set of rules, requires movement, strategy and can be scored that it is a sport while others would say it isn't because it's not a competition that is played in a court or field.

I don't think sports should be measures by the arena, either it's court or field. If that's the case then bowling is not a sport.

Personally, I do think chess is a sport, but I don't think the players can be called an athlete. It's the same argument with e-sports really, whether or not it's a sports. Both of them can be considered as sports in my book.

 

[Poser]

In our school, we consider it as a sport. But to be technical in the definition of sport, I'd say it does not totally meet the criteria to be called as a sport. I remember our students who were sport varsities told me that whenever there are regional meets, and there were parades that would require players to be under the heat of the sun or get wet in the rain, the chess players just stay inside the van or in the library (where our chess tournaments are usually conducted), and just chill or think of strategies.

 

[Claraviolet]

I don't consider chess a sport as it doesn't require much physical movement and it depends on the logical skill rather than the physical skill, attained by exercise. Even though chess does involve movement, it's nothing compared to actual sports like football, basketball, baseball etc.

If you really want to consider chess as a sport, then you will have to think about caroms, and other games too, as they have similar moment, skill and other such things.