Is Chess a Sport¿

[Dark Archer]

Vote here to see if chess is or is not a sport.

 

[Inter4]

Hello Dark Archer and welcome to CFC.

I think it is a sport, but it depends on how you define sport.

 

[Mega Tsunami]

I personally don't think it is, no more than Civ is a sport. They are both just games.

 

[col]

No its a game. Sport should involve some manual dexterity.

 

[prettyvacant]

Originally posted by col
No its a game. Sport should involve some manual dexterity.

but that could include darts - which imo is a game. Sports without hands - hmm there must be some, anyway isnt a reasonable level of physical fitness nedded?

 

[WickedSmurf]

Chess is a board game.

 

[col]

Originally posted by prettyvacant

but that could include darts - which imo is a game. Sports without hands - hmm there must be some, anyway isnt a reasonable level of physical fitness nedded?

Yes - I'd argue for darts being a sport. It is in the same category of sports as bowls, curling, archery, shooting and other target sports. That probably means snooker is a sport too.

I think physical skill should be involved but not necessarily physical strength.

 

[Darkness]

It all depends on your definition of sport...

 

[col]

Isnt that the point? What is your definition of sport?

 

[Darkness]

Originally posted by col
Isnt that the point? What is your definition of sport?

I thought the point was if chess was a sport?

My definition of sport:

"Competitive event, with a documented set of rules, enforced by an officail, requiring skill, talent and training to perform at a high level"

Which makes chess a sport, IMHO...

 

[Lambert Simnel]

Ah, semantic quibbling, the sport of the gods.

Or should that be....

 

[col]

Originally posted by Lambert Simnel
Ah, semantic quibbling, the sport of the gods.

Always good for heated discussion.

 

[Stapel]

Though I can agree with Darkness' defenition, I think it can be said a lot easier:

Any competitive event is sport. And thus so is the training before.

I have played football, hockey, bridge, chess and conducted in official classic rallies. I consider all of them sports.

The only exception I'd like to make, is jury sports! That is absolutely ridiculous. It should be banned (just like using the term soccer).
I have no problems with a referee that checks the behaviour of players. There will always be mistakes.
But a complete subjective jury, like in figure skating or snowboard free style.....

 

[Håkon]

Originally posted by Stapel
Though I can agree with Darkness' defenition, I think it can be said a lot easier:

Any competitive event is sport. And thus so is the training before.

I have played football, hockey, bridge, chess and conducted in official classic rallies. I consider all of them sports.

The only exception I'd like to make, is jury sports! That is absolutely ridiculous. It should be banned (just like using the term soccer).
I have no problems with a referee that checks the behaviour of players. There will always be mistakes.
But a complete subjective jury, like in figure skating or snowboard free style.....

Yeah, chess is really a sport IMO too.

However, on the jury sports, I beg to differ. Of course a jury can make mistakes, and can be bribed, but they are generally trustworthy. This is usually ascertained (for want of a better word) by removing the highest and lowest marks, or as in figure skating nowadays, by a computer picking a certain amount of judges randomly. The jury in a sport like ski jumping for example (which will mean nothing to you since you're Dutch, but never mind) consist of five judges completely separate from each other. Three of them count, but you never know which of the three, because highest and lowest marks are disregarded. And the judges are from five different nations as well (although I rarely see judges giving better marks to their athletes - not more than what should be accepted). And diving - that certainly requires great skill, that shouldn't be considered a sport? There is no other way of measuring how "good" a dive is, other by what impression it makes on other people, therefore the judges and the jury is needed.

 

[Stapel]

Originally posted by Håkon


Yeah, chess is really a sport IMO too.

However, on the jury sports, I beg to differ. Of course a jury can make mistakes, and can be bribed, but they are generally trustworthy. This is usually ascertained (for want of a better word) by removing the highest and lowest marks, or as in figure skating nowadays, by a computer picking a certain amount of judges randomly. The jury in a sport like ski jumping for example (which will mean nothing to you since you're Dutch, but never mind) consist of five judges completely separate from each other. Three of them count, but you never know which of the three, because highest and lowest marks are disregarded. And the judges are from five different nations as well (although I rarely see judges giving better marks to their athletes - not more than what should be accepted). And diving - that certainly requires great skill, that shouldn't be considered a sport? There is no other way of measuring how "good" a dive is, other by what impression it makes on other people, therefore the judges and the jury is needed.

Hey, since I can remember I watch Garmisch on january the 1st!

But, I think the jury part should vanish!
Especially ski jumping is the perfect example! Remember the first V-jumps?

Point made!

I think that if a game is over, the winner should be known! If the result is not clear, because we have to wait for the jury.... Man then something is wrong!

 

[Håkon]

Originally posted by Stapel


Hey, since I can remember I watch Garmisch on january the 1st!

But, I think the jury part should vanish!
Especially ski jumping is the perfect example! Remember the first V-jumps?

Point made!

I think that if a game is over, the winner should be known! If the result is not clear, because we have to wait for the jury.... Man then something is wrong!

Didn't know that was part of your New Year's tradition as well, I just assumed that because you had no good athletes you didn't watch it. There were even some Austrian guy who jumped for Netherlands a couple of years ago - think his mum was Dutch or something.

Anyway, to your point, the V-jumps weren't as stylish (according to the judges - I think they're much nicer), but the jumpers used them because they got more points for length. The jury eventually realised that it was just as nice, and gave them points for it.

And besides, in ski jumping you still have to wait for the lengths to be measured - in fact, often that is what takes the longest time these days, not setting marks from the judges.

If a guy gets a really good jump, far down the hill, but fails to land properly and waves his arms a lot, he shouldn't get as many points as a guy who has perfectly straight arms, does a great landing etc. IMO. But I have a feeling I won't convince you...

 

[bobgote]

not a sport, unless it's the speed chess one. that was going nuts! trying to move so fast they knocked over pieces trying to take their turn. now that makes a sport!

but in reality, no, it's not a sport. not a physical game.

 

[da_greatest]

I don't think it is a sport, because you don't have to be athletic.

 

[CaptainCivFreak]

I don't really think so, its just my opinion though...

 

[Aramazd]

Chess is probably a sport