By Jordayn Padilla
The quick answer to that question is yes, chess is a sport.
I can understand why people say that chess isn’t a sport. The reason being, that it doesn’t fit in the category of a sport. When people think of sports, they probably think of running, jumping, sweating etc.
Then, when we think about chess, you see two kids sitting at a table moving around pons for fun. The question is controversial, But I do think that chess is a sport. Let me explain my reasoning.
Ichess.com states that, “Chess is competitive.” This is saying that Chess is a competitive sport where you compete against another person.
The media could also argue that board games like Monopoly, Game of Life, and Jenga are just as competitive. On the same website, ichess.com, it also says, “Another thing Chess has in common with sports is the fact that it requires skill.” This is a valid point.
When you look up the definition of a sport it says, “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.” In chess you compete against another person to checkmate someone first.
Personally, I think that chess requires way more thinking and strategizing than most sports. Also, you’re doing all of this on your own. You also need to think on your toes in a timely manner. You want to try to think of your opponent's next move before they move. I think that requires way more thinking than lots of other sports.
So, you may think that in sports like football and basketball, you have to strategize and make plans to help win the game. Yes, this is true and I will not deny that, but you’re also doing this with lots of other people and you’re doing this over time.
For example chess requires critical thinking and visual thinking. You must do this in a timely manner because an average chess game lasts 90 minutes with no breaks. In games like football and basketball you have breaks to try and to re-strategize whatever is not going right.
Another thing people may say is that, in chess, you don’t get a lot of physical activity like running. People claim that when you play a game of Chess you are sitting in a chair for a period of time and not having much physical movement. That is true, but not all sports include running.
For example, everyone claims that NASCAR racing is a sport, but that contains no physical movement. If you are in a NASCAR race, you are sitting in a car, steering a wheel that doesn’t seem to have a lot of movement. Does that change your mind?
In the end, I believe that chess is a sport because you are competing against another person and you use lots of skills such as using tactics, making plans, analytical skills, and critical thinking. So, after reading, the final question is, do you think Chess is a sport?
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