OT: is chess a sport?

[Eric72]

These days, there are so-called E-sports. This often involves people playing video games...for an audience...with television coverage.

If that qualifies as a “sport” then so, too, would chess.

Just my opinion.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Eric72

These days, there are so-called E-sports. This often involves people playing video games...for an audience...with television coverage.

If that qualifies as a “sport” then so, too, would chess.

Just my opinion.

Never were the words truer, "You are all a lost generation."

[packs]

Boomers created video games.

Anyway, I like that E-sports became a thing. Not everyone is blessed with athletic ability or an athletic body but everyone and anyone can learn how to play a video game. I can't think of a better way to make a living either.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by packs

Boomers created video games.

Anyway, I like that E-sports became a thing. Not everyone is blessed with athletic ability or an athletic body but everyone and anyone can learn how to play a video game. I can't think of a better way to make a living either.

Personally I can't stand video games but know I am about the only one that doesn't like them. Chess isn't a sport per se' but it is an intellectual game.

[steve B]

Does it change anything if Weston took performance enhancing stuff?

"Weston spent 8 years touring Europe, starting in 1876 in England where he challenged England's racewalking champion to a 24-hour, 115 mile ultramarathon. The Englishman quit 14 hours and 65.6 miles into the race, but Weston walked the full 24 hours and covered 109.5 miles. His performance caused a bit of a controversy when he later admitted to having been chewing coca leaf throughout much of the race."
(From his Wikipedia entry)

Also interesting is that the card shows a cross country walk, but it's not mentioned in either his entry, or a list of cross country walkers and runners. But that walk did happen.
https://www.utne.com/community/walki...a-ze0z1503zken

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by steve B

Does it change anything if Weston took performance enhancing stuff?

"Weston spent 8 years touring Europe, starting in 1876 in England where he challenged England's racewalking champion to a 24-hour, 115 mile ultramarathon. The Englishman quit 14 hours and 65.6 miles into the race, but Weston walked the full 24 hours and covered 109.5 miles. His performance caused a bit of a controversy when he later admitted to having been chewing coca leaf throughout much of the race."
(From his Wikipedia entry)

Weston is proof that a person can walk and chew a natural stimulant at the same time.

Brian

[Peter_Spaeth]

On a related front, is a jockey an athlete? Or a race car driver?

[oldjudge]

Originally Posted by Leon

Personally I can't stand video games but know I am about the only one that doesn't like them. Chess isn't a sport per se' but it is an intellectual game.

+1 on both

[Frank A]

I raced cars for many years and I don't consider it a sport. It's a mental game. Learning how much you can push the car, thinking how can I pass this guy etc. Not very tough on the body, but on the mind.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Never were the words truer, "You are all a lost generation."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN5zw04WxCc