There are no valid arguments for chess being a sport. All reputable dictionaries define the word sport as a game/competition/activity that requires physical exertion. Chess is obviously not a physical sport by any means.
Physical exertion in the form of calorie burning through intense concentration and a higher heart rate during the game. Estimates have shown that even in casual games, you lose around 1.67 calories per minute.
That would be through stress, not physical exertion. A sport is not defined by how stressful it is. If the stress incurred during a chess game somehow implies that's what makes it a sport, then wouldn't that same criteria apply to other activities? Doing your taxes, sitting in rush hour traffic, various tests or paperwork that needs to be filled out. All very stressful, but are they sports?
Probably a better argument for chess being a sport is the equipment. In most sports, the advancement or use of modern equipment gives the participant an advantage over his opponent. In golf, tennis, hockey, etc the latest equipment offers advantages. Even sports like running, football, or basketball the players are benefited by the latest and greatest apparel. If you want to argue that chess is a sport just point to the equipment advantages one side uses that the other side does not.
Whether it's the pieces, the clock, or the board, a true chess athlete playing in an over the board tournament will take advantage of the modern equipment that the opponent does not.
Also, I don't know how many calories are burned playing chess, but any activity that involves sitting motionless for 95% of the time is one of the most athletic activities there are. All the truly great athletes train daily by sitting motionless for hours at a time. Not only is it good for your health, it develops the physical muscle memory needed for sports. When an athlete sits motionless for many hours during the day it trains the muscles to not do anything. Which is very important not only for sports like chess but also other sports like daydreaming, watching TV, and sleeping.
Good point. I read somewhere that Roger Bannister and Jesse Owens popularised planking as a legitimate training technique in track and field.
There are no valid arguments for chess being a sport. All reputable dictionaries define the word sport as a game/competition/activity that requires physical exertion. Chess is obviously not a physical sport by any means.
Physical exertion in the form of calorie burning through intense concentration and a higher heart rate during the game. Estimates have shown that even in casual games, you lose around 1.67 calories per minute.