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They might not always look like elite athletes, but a British High Court judge has said that players of bridge, chess and other “mind” games could be ranked alongside sportsmen of the highest order.

Judge Nicholas Mostyn ruled that a claim for bridge to be recognized as a sport is at least arguable because the brain is a muscle.

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He added that, in some cases, games requiring intense mental activity could involve more physical strain than activities such as shooting, which are recognised as sports.

The judge gave the English Bridge Union (EBU) the go-ahead to bring a legal challenge against rules which exclude it from official recognition as a sport and indicated that games such as chess might also wish to be considered.

It raises the prospect that enthusiasts of Scrabble, Monopoly and other board games might also request to be recognised as sportsmen.