Well, chess is not just about moving some wooden pieces across some board. Chess is a game with full information, so there are no hidden or random things with it. The position on the board is everything there is.
At its core, it is a duel between two minds. There are many possibilities for both sides, but they remain just that - possibilities. Or better, they would, if it were not for the two wills, both trying to weave fortunate possibilities into reality, condensing it from the realms of possibilities into a concrete position on the board.
The one who is better at this will win - he will deny his opponent realising his will. There are eight files on the board, but the ninth one is invisible, and yet maybe the most important one. It is the mental file where not pieces, but minds get into fight. The one who can take this mental file normally is the one who will unleash an attack on the physical files. From the mental to the physical, that is the fight. Yes, chess is FIGHT.
If you see it this slightly mystic way which fits Setianism perfectly, then you can consider it as a mental duel where the material position is only the representation of the mental plane. On a very abstract level, this is magic - forcing your will upon reality, thus MAKING reality.
By the way, that is why computers are particularly nasty to fight. They do not have a will like we do, so it cannot be broken. They cannot give in to despair since they do not know it. Even under the most unfortunate conditions, they will give their best. Many attacks which would crush a human will not crush a computer of equal playing strength. One slightly weak point in an overwhelming attack, and the computer will retaliate although his position just seemed dead.
Reminds me a bit of the T-800 in "Terminator 2" - nearly killed, one arm left, and still no giving in. And still it computes its possibilities and acts as efficiently as it can. Granted, chess programs are limited just to chess; but in this specific domain, they represent a form of intelligence completely alien to us. It is rather ironic that one of the main reasons for making chess programs was to understand human intelligence. And all they found out was that human intelligence is not necessary for playing chess.. makes me laugh.
Oh, and btw, normal people are not interested in philosopy. That is why "news"paper like The Sun sell extremely well - they would not if they revolved around current philosophic debates.