I think a good portion of chess is how well you can put together strategies and execute them while predicting your opponents movements and adapting to them. I've always found that people that are more intelligent, have an easier time with this. Even though I've considered myself to be educated enough, but I'm absolutly terrible at chess. I really just lick balls at it. But at the same time, my dad, who was the smartest man I ever met before he started drinking, took 3rd in nationals for chess. I have his trophies, he was a huge chess nut (no pun intended). He left about 10 different kinds of boards when he left, including one set made completly out of ivory (I couldn't imagine how much I could sell it for.. the pieces are HUGE. Ivory is a substance that is the bulk of what the tusks and teeth are made out of on hippos, elephaunts, walrus', mammoths, etc.).
But getting back on topic, I think people with high intelligence might have an easier time with chess... but that's not to say someone with an average IQ can't play and be good at it.