Should chess be considered a sport?

Recently in one of my chess groups our group members have been having a bit of talk about the question: Should chess be considered a sport? I want to ask people on this site their opinions (I think chess should be considered a sport).

It is an activity.

Why do ESPN masturbators cum over the "sport" issue?

What do you mean?

I reckon it really shouldn't be. Its like calling poker or bridge a sport.

chess is a game.

I agree with what bb_gum said, but I think there's something to be said here about connotation. People take sports seriously, sports are hard, sports are cool. People play games for fun, games don't take effort, games are for those without anything else to do.

When people refer to chess as a game, it's easy to assume they mean chess isn't serious. Chess is supposed to simply be played for fun. But for those of us that take the game seriously, it's so much more than that. Chess helps us socialize, chess hones our mental states, a lot of us take chess seriously.

I think that those who wish chess to be called a sport, don't do so because they actually reckon chess is a sport; rather, because they want chess seen in the same light that sports are. But, I think there's a really good silver-lining to the whole ordeal.

The fact that chess isn't as popular as football, or say, soccer, should go to show that if you find more enjoyment from chess than from those things, there's something really special about the way you think. We aren't the common class of humans, I'm not saying we're better by any means, but the minority thinkers always seem to have more fun. Anyways, to make a long story short, no, chess shouldn't be called a sport. Then we'd be no different than other jocks. 

It's 100% mental (unless you count speed of moving pieces in a 1 minute game!) so no. Even snooker, which is commonly ridiculed for "not being a sport" involves immense physical skill.

But it doesn't belittle chess not to be a sport.

is the brain physical ?

If it is, I guess you could call it a sport.

Nope.

I think to some degree it does require physical effort (or at least influences it) because many people I know told me they have to stay fit for the tournament. check here 

Ok I think I see why chessplayers don't want chess to be a sport.

They don't recognize the brain as being a physical organ.

Always wondered! thanks guys!

If you are willing to call bridge,backgammon and poker sports,then sure,no objection.However,I should hasten to add that chessboxing is indeed a sport.Perhaps the next step will be backgammonsumo,(definitely a sport too)who knows?

The problem is that language is flexible, not rigid. Chess is a game, but so are basketball and soccer. Archery is a sport, but certainly not in the same league--physically--as a triathlon. The question isn't whether chess is a sport; it is rather what you are willing to let language do for you.

Chess certainly has elements of sport: competetiveness, training, win/lose/draw results, overtime, post-game analysis. But it also lacks many other elements: locker rooms, weightlifting, flexibility, agility.

If you want to call it a sport based on what it shares with football, go ahead. But if you want to get it included in the Olympics, you're wasting your time.

Chess is structured like a sport. The way matches, tournaments and leagues are organized is similar to sport. I'm not saying chess is a sport, but there are numurous similarities. It's a bit like asking "Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable?"

I agree with waht you're saying here. But it's too bad. Chess would be an awesome addition to the Olympics. It would be exciting - at least for chess enthusiasts. And I think there are more chess enthusiasts in the world than shockput enthusiasts. In fact, I bet chess would generate more interest from average people than many of the other "games" included in the Olympic Games.

backgammonsumo might be popular. they really should have gone for chesskickboxing on a really large board so you can duck for cover behind the pieces.

It is a sport.

Of course it is a sport. Those who deny its physical aspects obviously have not attempted to compete on a high level.

Not the same thing. Getting tired will affect you but it's still not using physical skill i.e. muscles. Mental effort/fitness is a massive part of top-level sport of every type by contrast.