Erling Haaland Invests in Norway Chess to Elevate the Game
Haaland's Vision for Chess
Erling Haaland, the renowned football player from Manchester City, has chosen to invest in Norway Chess and its innovative format, the Total Chess World Championship Tour. His goal is to enhance the appeal of chess, making it more accessible and engaging for spectators. Alongside Norwegian entrepreneur Morten Borge, Haaland has co-founded Chess Mates, which will play a pivotal role in Norway Chess.
“Chess is an extraordinary game that sharpens the intellect, much like football. It requires quick thinking, instinctual trust, and foresight,” Haaland remarked. Morten Borge added, “Chess embodies strategy and foresight, qualities that are essential in elite sports and wise investments. It connects Erling's world with mine, and I’ve even promised to provide him with some chess coaching!”
Haaland expressed his enthusiasm for investing in Norway Chess, believing that the Total Chess World Championship Tour has the potential to elevate chess to new heights globally. The team behind Norway Chess has already made significant strides in promoting the event, making this opportunity too exciting to ignore.
The upcoming championship, which will showcase the world's top players, is anticipated to be a major milestone in contemporary chess. The Total Chess World Championship Tour will feature four tournaments annually across different cities, culminating in a combined world champion across three formats: Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz chess. This new championship format has received approval from the International Chess Federation (FIDE) for a minimum duration of 16 years.
“Chess, like football, serves as a universal language of strategy and creativity. The involvement of a world-class athlete like Erling Haaland in the Total World Chess Championship Tour signifies the growing global interest and cultural significance of chess today. As FIDE President, my aspiration has always been to transform chess into a sustainable and appealing global sport. Collaborating with innovative partners like Norway Chess, we aim to establish the Total World Chess Championship Tour as the most captivating intellectual sporting event worldwide,” stated FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.
Why Haaland is Investing in Chess
With the rise of technology, chess has gained immense popularity. Over 25 million children engage in chess lessons weekly around the globe, and 1.5 billion individuals have downloaded chess applications, according to FIDE. The game is thriving in many developed nations, leading to a surge in chess club memberships. This burgeoning market has attracted football stars like Haaland and Mo Salah.
Interestingly, reports suggest that Magnus Carlsen, the world No. 1 and a fellow Norwegian, is likely to participate in the new world chess championship.
About Norway Chess and the Total Chess World Championship Tour:
This innovative format, sanctioned by FIDE, is developed and owned by Norway Chess. The Total Chess World Championship Tour unites the best players across three disciplines—Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz—to determine the FIDE World Combined Champion, recognized as the most versatile chess player globally. Fast Classic introduces a shorter time limit of 45 minutes plus a 30-second increment, while still receiving a classical rating. The Tour will feature a minimum annual prize pool of $2.7 million, including at least $750,000 for each of the first three events and $450,000 for the Finals (with four players), along with performance bonuses. The Total Chess World Championship Tour is set to officially launch in the first quarter of 2027.