Erling Haaland (Photo by Total Chess / Jonathan Turton) NEW DELHI: Already an icon in the world of football, Erling Haaland is entering the world of chess not as a player but as an investor. He supported Norwegian chess and their newly launched Total Chess World Championship Tour, which aims to contribute to the worldwide growth of the sport. Together with businessman Morten Borg, he co-founded Chess Mates, which now owns a significant stake in Norwegian chess. The new tour, approved by FIDE for at least 16 years, plans to host four tournaments each year in different cities.
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World Chess Championship Overall Journey Explained: Norwegian Chess Fan Questions Answered | ExclusivePlayers will compete across formats such as classic, fast and blitz to crown the overall world champion. The trial event is scheduled for late 2026, with the full season starting in 2027, offering a prize pool of at least $2.7 million annually.Haaland explained his interest by saying: “Chess is an incredible game. It sharpens your mind and there are clear similarities to football. You have to think fast, trust your instincts and think a few moves ahead. Strategy and planning is everything.”
Why Haaland is investing
Haaland believes the new tour will make chess more exciting for fans around the world. He said: “I am investing in Norwegian Chess because I believe that the new Total Chess World Championship Tour can make chess an even bigger sport for spectators around the world. The team behind Norwegian Chess has already done an impressive job developing this event and joining this project was too exciting to keep.”Officials are also optimistic about this move. Norwegian Chess CEO Kjell Madland said: “We expect the new championship to become one of the most prestigious events in the global chess calendar. The fact that Erling is joining us as an investor speaks volumes for the commercial potential of this tour.”
