Chess is not merely a board game you play on a boring Sunday or when in the mood to compete with your sibling, it is much more than that. But is chess considered a sport? Find out below!

Chess is a renowned two-player board game that includes applying strategies to maneuver a player’s 16 pieces across the board adhering to the established guidelines for every single piece.

Now since this game can be dragged for hours, a clock is used in professional chess to keep games from carrying on for too long.

Not only that, but the world championship match of chess also takes place every year, so, it is not “just a game!”

Can we Consider Chess as a Sport?

Chess has been around in multiple forms spanning more than 1,000 years, with the board game evolving over time to the current game and rules.

Chess’s goal aims to checkmate the king, which occurs when the other player’s king has no further moves that it can make. This is where chess strategy comes into play, as there are literally thousands of possible movements during a game.

Some claim that it isn’t a sport given that it isn’t physically exerting, whilst others can’t believe anybody would question, “Is chess considered a sport?” because it needs mental acuity as well as physical energy.

Chess is a centuries-old game that has evolved into one of the world’s most widely played board games. However, an ongoing debate raises the question of whether chess is a sport or not.

So, is chess considered a sport? Let’s delve in!

History of Chess

Humans have been practicing some kind of chess for about 1,400 years. It is one of the world’s earliest and most popular games, with a traditional and intellectual value that only a few other games can match.

Chess was invented in India under the Gupta Empire in the sixth century. It is still played in 172 nations currently, over 1500 years later. Chess constitutes one of India’s contributions to global civilization, with tournaments conducted in kings’ courts, villages, and now as a professional sport.

Chess, or its earlier forms which were a little different, was both a hobby and an element of learning.

Initially, chess pieces were positioned in the chaturanga to resemble the troops in warfare: infantry, horses, elephants, and carriages. The current generation of pawns, knights, and the queen evolved from this.

Now that you ask the question “Is chess considered a sport,” it was recognized as a sport in 1999, but that is where the debate ensued.

What Exactly Happens in this Game?

Chess is a game played by a pair of players on an eight-by-eight square chess board. The sixty-four squares alternating white and black colours. A white cube ought to represent the right-most square together with the border nearest to each player when correctly set up, then black, and vice-versa.

The pieces of each participant are placed in the two rows on either side nearest to them. The second rank from the player’s point of view, is made up of an arrangement of 8 pawns, each positioned on a single square.

White makes the first move, and players alternate solo moves until a player is beaten by a checkmate or resigns. A draw or stalemate is also an option. If a timer is used, as in competitions, the primary player who runs out of their time loses the match.

The objective is to checkmate the opponent, and fun fact, chess can also be won in merely 2 moves!

Now to answer your question “Is chess considered a sport,” let’s discuss what qualifies as a sport.

Elements Needed to Qualify as a Sport

A sport is an activity that requires physical effort, skill, and competitiveness. According to this definition, sports are any activities that meet all three characteristics. Basically, sports is an activity involving physical exertion, as most would say.

While chess does need some “physical activity,” it is primarily a mental duel rather than a physical one. Players must use their minds to figure out where the next action by their opponent will come from and what their team may do to counter it.

That may sound more like a board game than a sport, and it is correct that chess players do not need to be in “fit” physical condition for them to partake in a match and aim to win against another player.

However, it is vital to realize that strategies, like those utilized in chess, are used in numerous sports around the world.

Chess isn’t just a pastime performed indoors on a rainy afternoon on weekend by those loaded with pension savings.

It is enjoyed all around the globe by individuals of varying ages at a number of various levels – from beginner to professional – and uses a player rating system that is remarkably similar to those used in golf, table tennis, or any other kind of sport.

The reality that chess has been officially recognized as a “sport” and not merely a “board game” by the Olympics at the beginning of the century is a significant benefit for the pro-sport classification.

Chess may appear strange when compared to other sports like football, cricket, or volleyball that sweep the news headlines today, yet there exists proof to show that it deserves to be in this category.

And there are people who will fight for its correct title, literally!

International Chess Tournaments

To begin with, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially acknowledged chess as an intellectual sport, but chess is not an Olympic sport.

The main explanation given is that chess doesn’t necessitate true physical dynamism. This has sparked a lot of discussion about whether chess is merely a game or a sport.

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) is the sport’s regulatory organization, and it oversees all international chess tournaments.

It was established as a non-governmental organization in 1999 and received accreditation as a Global Sporting Association (GSA) by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

A sport may be recognized by the IOC yet never feature in the Olympic Games. Although chess and bowling are officially classified as sports, they are not represented in the Olympics.

To participate in the Olympic games, they must ask for inclusion by submitting a petition to the IOC outlining its eligibility qualifications.

Some of the Most Prominent Chess Grandmasters

1. Magnus Carlsen

Magnus Carlsen, a renowned chess player who you must know of if you are a chess fanatic, who at the age of 22, earned the title of world’s second youngest chess master in 2013.

Carlsen learned to play chess from his father when he was just five years old. At the young age of eight, he competed in his first competition.

He is a single player who has won world titles in rapid, standard, and blitz. In 2019, he was actually holding all three respected titles at the same time.

Carlsen has held the title of the world’s top-ranked player ever since 2011 and has remained a strong contender ever since. He won the world title in 2013, shortly before turning 23. This earned him the world’s second-youngest chess master in the record.

He was also the youngest ever player to surpass the 2800 rating level, doing so in 2009. Furthermore, he holds the most prestigious rating in the course of history, 2889.

Additionally, in February 2020, he set the mark for the longest unbeaten streak in conventional time controls with 125 games.

2. Bobby Fischer

The infamous Chicago-born Bobby Fischer, a Brooklyn-bred prodigy rose to become one of the world’s best chess players, his chess knowledge was incompetable!

He had an issue with FIDE (chess’s regulatory organization) about the conditions of the upcoming match versus Karpov. Bobby Fischer hoped to be the first to reach ten victories and ten draws, but if it became a 9-9 tie, the competition could be drawn, but he would continue to hold the title of champion.

In 1970 and 1971, he took home the winner title from 20 games in a row against world-class opponents before becoming world champion in 1972.

He nevertheless failed to defend his championship because he was unable to strike an arrangement with FIDE. Fischer is well-known for his uniqueness and ingenuity.

He demonstrated an extraordinary understanding of positions in the game and influenced a generation of American chess players. The majority considered Fischer to be the greatest chess player ever, yet his dominance was brief since he sadly passed away in 2008.

3. R Praggnanandhaa

Gradually rising in ranks in the chess world and an inspiration for many, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa is a chess grandmaster from India.

When we talk about people being born with natural chess skills, Praggnanandhaa is the one we mention. At the mere age of 12 years, he is the fifth youngest individual and the second Indian to hold the honorary title.

Praggnanandhaa started out playing chess at the young age of five. In 2018, Praggnanandhaa was the youngest Indian who win the World Youth Chess Championship. He also earned the title of the world’s youngest grandmaster.

Praggnanandhaa has experienced steady growth in the past few years, and his chess performance indeed has miles to go.

His current world ranking is 29th. Praggnanandhaa is regarded as one of the most gifted chess players. He is well-known for his combative method of playing and ability to swiftly calculate complicated positions. He is anticipated to have an illuminating and prosperous chess career.

Recently, Magnus Carlsen won the FIDE World Cup for the first time in his professional life after three days of heated chess in two variations. In the final, he beat India’s R Praggnanandhaa, but not until the 18-year-old young prodigy dragged him into the tie-breaker.

The match between the 32 vs. 18-year-old was fun and set a lot of adrenaline on fire for sure.

EndNote

Conclusively, we can say that yes, chess is considered a sport. However, it is not played at the Olympic level.

Although it is less physically demanding and there is no athletic performance involved, it is a mind sport played all across the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is chess a professional sport?

As discussed in the above sections, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) does recognize chess as a sport.

2. Is chess physically demanding?

Chess demands a high level of focus, analytical skills, and problem-solving abilities. Players may analyze movements and make choices for hours at a time while seated at the board, thus it also requires physical endurance.

3. Is there money in professional chess?

Even while the majority of professional chess players aren’t very wealthy, exceptional grandmasters can make up to $100,000 every game. Vishwanathan Anand is estimated to be worth about $15 million, whereas Magnus Carlsen is valued at least $25–30 million.

Also, learn how to play 7 Wonders card games here!

Last Updated on November 9, 2023 by gourvigupta