In his blog ChessExpress, Shaun Press asks the question: Is chess a sport?
I simply can't resist a full reply.
Chess is not a sport because there is no skill in the physical execution of the moves.
By that I mean, if I want to move rook to e1 I just pick it up and move it to e1. I can do that repeatedly with 100% precision. Every time. You can do it with a mouse. If you're playing blindfolded you can even do it just by saying the words: "Rook to e1".
Contrast that with tennis. I can't just think "medium paced serve into the top left corner" and have the execution of that move go perfectly every time.
The tactics and strategy of chess and tennis certainly require plenty of skill, but the difference is in the execution of the basic moves.
It's actually one of the things I love about chess.
Once the mechanics of playing the perfect forehand or swinging the perfect nine-iron chip shot are out of the equation, the game is entirely about tactics and strategy.
Incidentally, this was the same argument I had with a friend about whether motor racing was a sport. At first my reaction was no, but then when argued that there was a great deal of skill in the physical execution of the moves, I had to concede.
So motor racing is a sport. Chess is not.
If the amount of sweating was the only criteria to classify it as a sport, I can assure you that based on my own experience, chess would definitely qualify.
6 comments:
Clearly a newbie.
When you need allowance from the national sports committee, chess is a sport. If you need money from the department of culture, chess is an art.
Why do you think that the skilled use of muscle cells is better than the skilled use of braincells?
"Why do you think that the skilled use of muscle cells is better than the skilled use of braincells?" - Tempo
He never proposed that one was better than the other, just that chess - by his definition - not qualifies as a sport. ;)
Down Under, after scanning the ol' interweb, I was not able to find any definition of sports (wikipedia, different dictionaries) which claims that there has to be an element of skill in the physical execution for an activity to be called a sport.
Tennis uses muscles and braincells.
That must mean tennis is better than chess right?
Nah - just different. ;)
Using your definition (which I agree is the most common) blitz chess is a sport.
Especially as played online. One has to balance the speed of making a move versus the possibility of mouseslips based on ones dexterity, reflexes and eye-hand coordination. The physical speed of execution of the moves and the accuracy thereof is a factor.
But, I certainly do not normally think of chess as a sport any more than I think of say, "debate" as a sport. It is primarily a mental competition.
Chess IMO is a sport.
did you know that a chessplayers heart rate can increase to that of an olympic athlete in full flight?
Collins dictionary has the following definitions of sport:
1.an individual or group activity pursued for exercise or pleasure, often involving the testing of physical capabilities and taking the form of a competitive game such as football, tennis, etc
an individual or group activity pursued for exercise or pleasure, often involving the testing of physical capabilities and taking the form of a competitive game 2.such as football, tennis, etcsuch activities considered collectivelyany particular pastime indulged in for pleasure
3.any particular pastime indulged in for pleasure.
Well one and three applied.... chess is a sport!
Nice post! Really interesting:)I think that chess is a sport, brain sport and you need to train your brains a lot to be a good player.
I guess you may like to check these tips to eliminate dark circles under eyes.
Post a Comment