2 months ago
Erling Haaland has go a important investor successful a caller world chess title circuit that is expected to prima his chap Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, nan Guardian tin reveal.
The woody was agreed soon earlier Manchester City played astatine West Ham past Saturday, pinch Haaland shown connected Sky Sports wearing a Norway Chess cap arsenic he entered nan London Stadium – without anyone noticing.
Haaland said that his finance successful nan Total Chess World Championship Tour, which will person an yearly prize excavation of $2.7m (£2m), was portion of his ambition to thief chess go a bigger and much spectator-friendly sport.
“Chess is an unthinkable game,” Haaland said. “It sharpens your mind, and location are clear similarities to football. You person to deliberation quickly, spot your instincts, and deliberation respective moves ahead.”
Chess has go a astonishment deed among galore of nan Premier League’s elite, pinch Liverpool’s Mohammad Salah saying successful 2023 that he was “addicted” to nan game, while past twelvemonth Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze won $20,000 successful an online personage tournament. Haaland’s manager, Pep Guardiola, and erstwhile Chelsea head Enzo Maresca besides play.
However, Haaland is nan first apical subordinate to put successful nan athletics by joining forces pinch nan Norwegian businessman Morten Borge to shape Chess Mates, which will beryllium a important proprietor of Norway Chess, nan institution down nan caller event.
“I’m investing successful Norway Chess because I judge nan caller Total Chess World Championship Tour tin move chess into an moreover bigger athletics for spectators astir nan world,” Haaland said. “The squad down Norway Chess has already done an awesome occupation increasing nan event.”
The format, which has nan backing of Fide, chess’s governing body, consists of 4 tournaments each year, hosted by 4 cities, and will crown a mixed world champion crossed 3 disciplines – accelerated classic, rapid, and blitz chess.
A aviator tourney is planned for autumn 2026, followed by a afloat title play successful 2027. Haaland’s finance has not been disclosed but is understood to beryllium substantial.
Kjell Madland, nan main executive of Norway Chess and Total Chess, said he welcomed nan engagement of Haaland arsenic a semipermanent strategical partner.
“The truth that Erling is joining america arsenic an investor says a awesome woody astir nan commercialized imaginable of this tour,” he said. “Erling has an tremendous world pursuing and is genuinely world-class erstwhile it comes to creating magical sporting moments.”
