Even though it is a game of the mind that does not require any athletic ability whatsoever, chess is considered to be a sport by the International Olympic Committee. Additionally, over 100 countries recognize chess as a sport. Disagree with it all you want (and trust me, I do), but the institutions whose opinions carry more weight than either me or you have deemed chess to be a sport.

I have a follow-up question, then.

If chess is a sport, does that make online chess (such as on Chess.com or Lichess) an e-sport? Or is online chess just a regular sport, since it is essentially the exact same game as over-the-board chess? But how can it be a regular sport when the two players aren't even in the same room as each other, and it takes place on the computer? Is the physical act of picking up and moving the pieces what makes chess a sport? I need answers. Preferably from the International Olympic Committee, but I guess answers from the populace of Vizzed will also suffice.

Yes.

Chess is a sport, it is played online in the esport variety, just like racing is done online and I'm sure other board games are done in the game way.

"Well, chess is officially recognized as a sport and can be played online with electronic devices. Esports are defined by Wikipedia as forms of competitions using video games. Video games are electronic games with user input. So going by that logic, yes, online chess can be considered as an esport.

Everyone here saying yes so I’m just going to say no to spite these yessers. Chess is not an esport. I don’t care if there are world wide tournaments and even huge cash prizes for the game. I don’t care if it’s even sponsored by Julius Baer, the Swiss private bank company. “How we invest today is how we live tomorrow” Julius Baer International.

I mean not advertising nor do I have an account… but uhhh chess is definitely not an esport (it is).

Barathemos: But there is a substantial difference between racing in an actual car and racing online. The best NASCAR, Formula 1, etc. racers are not necessarily the best at Gran Turismo or Forza, and the best Gran Turismo or Forza players are not necessarily also going to the be the best at racing actual vehicles. With chess, the game is exactly the same when played online vs when it's played over the board. Magnus Carlsen is the best in-person, and he is also the best online. If it's the exact same game, why does its title change based on how it is played? If over-the-board chess is a sport, why is online chess not also just a sport? The medium changes it to an e-sport, even if the game is the same?

Yes.

In my honest opinion it's not an esport. The ruleset and such does not change. plus i'd argue that chess obviously preceeds esports and that a lot of electronic devices were made for chess specifically.

if using a electronic device is the ruling for an esport. then i suggest everytime you mention anything on your phone, or your internet or your computer with the e prefix..

e.g I am making an epost on the eforum so i can ecommunicate with my efriends..