{"id":2238,"date":"2022-09-28T08:58:48","date_gmt":"2022-09-28T06:58:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chessily.com\/?p=2238"},"modified":"2022-09-28T13:23:05","modified_gmt":"2022-09-28T11:23:05","slug":"is-chess-a-sport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chessily.com\/blog\/is-chess-a-sport\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Chess a Sport?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is Chess a Sport?<\/h1>\n

While chess is a recreational activity for most, whether chess constitutes as a sport or not has been the subject of many debates in recent years. While it might seem like a useless discussion at first, it actually has real-world implications for chess players and the game as a whole \u2014 p<\/span>ublic funding being the most important. So, let’s find out together if you can safely call yourself a chess athlete<\/em> if you play the occasional tournament.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What Exactly Makes a Sport a Sport?<\/h1>\n

While there is no set-in-stone definition for sport, most sources agree that it is\u00a0“an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment”<\/em>. Some definitions also include a set of rules as a characteristic of sports.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, in order for chess to be considered a sport, it has to meet the following criteria:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Chess has to be played according to a strict ruleset.<\/li>\n
  2. Chess has to require skill.<\/li>\n
  3. Chess has to be played by an individual against others.<\/li>\n
  4. Chess has to require physical extertion.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    We can all agree that chess easily meets the first three requirements for being considered a sport. However, the main argument critics raise is that chess does not require physical extertion. Is that really true? Let’s investigate.<\/p>\n

    Arguments For Chess Being a Sport<\/h1>\n

    Being chess players, we obviously have to take the stance that chess is in fact a sport<\/strong>! So, let’s look at some convincing arguments.<\/p>\n

    Chess Does Require Physical Extertion<\/h2>\n

    When<\/span> most<\/span> people<\/span> think<\/span> of<\/span> sports<\/span>,<\/span> they<\/span> think<\/span> of<\/span> activities<\/span> like<\/span> basketball<\/span>,<\/span> football<\/span>,<\/span> and<\/span> soccer<\/span> which<\/span> all<\/span> require<\/span> a<\/span> certain<\/span> level<\/span> of<\/span> physical<\/span> ex<\/span>ter<\/span>tion<\/span>.<\/span> What<\/span> many<\/span> people<\/span> don<\/span>\u2019<\/span>t<\/span> realize<\/span> is<\/span> that<\/span> some<\/span> games<\/span> which<\/span> are<\/span> not<\/span> traditionally<\/span> thought<\/span> of<\/span> as<\/span> sports<\/span> can<\/span> still<\/span> require<\/span> a<\/span> fair<\/span> amount<\/span> of<\/span> physical<\/span> activity<\/span>.<\/span> One such game is chess<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    While there is no doubt that the mental effort is greater than the physical effort in a chess match, the<\/span> physical<\/span> demands<\/span> of<\/span> chess<\/span> are<\/span> often<\/span>\u00a0underestimated<\/span>.<\/span> Obviously we’re going to disregard the hand-eye-coordination of moving pieces across the board, as that hardly classifies as physical effort. However, a<\/span>\u00a0chess<\/span> match<\/span> can<\/span> last<\/span> for<\/span> hours<\/span>,<\/span> and<\/span> during<\/span> that<\/span> time<\/span>,<\/span> players<\/span> are<\/span> required<\/span> to<\/span> maintain<\/span> a<\/span> high<\/span> level<\/span> of<\/span> concentration<\/span> and<\/span> focus<\/span>.<\/span> This<\/span> can<\/span> be<\/span> extremely<\/span> taxing<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> body<\/span>,<\/span> and<\/span> can<\/span> lead<\/span> to<\/span> physical<\/span> fatigue<\/span>, as the mental exterion carries over to your whole body.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Chess Is Competitive in Nature<\/h2>\n

    Another crucial characteristic of sports is their competitive nature. Comp<\/span>etition<\/span> is<\/span> a<\/span> fundamental<\/span> aspect<\/span> of<\/span> human<\/span> nature<\/span>.<\/span> It<\/span> drives<\/span> us<\/span> to<\/span> be<\/span> better<\/span>,<\/span> to<\/span> push<\/span> ourselves<\/span> harder<\/span>,<\/span> and<\/span> to<\/span> continually<\/span> strive<\/span> for<\/span> improvement<\/span>.<\/span> And<\/span> nowhere<\/span> is<\/span> this<\/span> more<\/span> apparent<\/span> than<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> game<\/span> of<\/span> chess<\/span>.<\/span> It<\/span> is<\/span> a<\/span> game<\/span> of<\/span> pure<\/span> skill<\/span>.<\/span> There<\/span> is<\/span> no<\/span> luck<\/span> involved<\/span>.<\/span> The<\/span> outcome<\/span> of<\/span> a<\/span> chess<\/span> game<\/span> is<\/span> determined<\/span> entirely<\/span> by<\/span> the<\/span> abilities<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> two<\/span> players<\/span>.<\/span> This<\/span> makes<\/span> it<\/span> a<\/span> very<\/span> fair<\/span> game<\/span>,<\/span> and<\/span> one<\/span> that<\/span> is<\/span> highly<\/span> respected<\/span> by<\/span> those<\/span> who<\/span> enjoy<\/span> competition<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    This is also the reason why chess is often played in a competitive envoirnment, such as tournaments or various forms of championships. There is no denying that chess is a competitive game!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The IOC Classifies Chess as a Sport<\/h2>\n

    You might know that chess is currently not a discipline in the Olympic Games<\/strong>. However, the governing body of the Olympics \u2014 called the International Olympic Committee \u2014 does actually classify chess as a sport. Meaning, chess could very well become an olympic sport in the future! But besides that very enticing possibility, it shows that even official organizations see chess as\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Arguments Against Chess Being a Sport<\/h1>\n

    To create a fair and balanced discussion, let’s look at some arguments critics of recognizing chess as a sport bring up. Unfortunately we can only really find one argument that is brought up whenever the question of chess being a sport is raised. If you have another one, please feel free to send it in: mail@chessily.com<\/a>. Still, let’s have a look!<\/p>\n

    Chess is Not as Physical as Most Sports<\/h2>\n

    While we’ve established that chess does infact require physical fitness at the highest level, it is obvious that chess is not a particularly<\/span> stren<\/span>uous<\/span> activity compared to soccer, martial arts or basketball. But taking that thought further does raise an interesting question: How physical does an activity have to be, in order to be classified as a sport?\u00a0<\/em>I raised this concern a while ago in a comment on John Foley’s article on the same issue<\/a>. There are quite a few other examples of games that are not really physically demanding, but widely considered a sport \u2014 Darts being a popular example.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Ultimately, it comes down to an issue of definition<\/strong>. There is no hard line in terms of physical extertion that a game has to cross in order to qualify as a sport<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    Conclusion: Chess is a Sport!<\/h1>\n

    Unsurprisingly, we come to the conclusion that chess does in fact qualify as a proper sport. While it definitely isn’t as physical as most other sports, there is physical extertion involved \u2014 especially in longer time controls and higher levels of play.\u00a0<\/span>Still, it is important to remember that there is not one single governing body that can decide whether a given game is a sport or not.<\/p>\n

    So, in the end it is up to the individual to decide whether they want to recognize chess as a proper sport or just a fun past-time activity.<\/p>\n

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