Chess has the element of combat but not of athleticism of a sport. Regarding combat, it is arguably more of a sport than golf, figure skating, or gymnastics, wh

Chess has the element of combat but not of athleticism of a sport. Regarding combat, it is arguably more of a sport than golf, figure skating, or gymnastics, where you do not try to thwart your competitors. Part of what makes sports such as tennis, football, or basketball interesting is how each player or teams adapts its play based on the strengths and weaknesses of the other side. That happens in chess, too.