London, 21 March 2026 (PA Media/dpa/MIA) - Erling Haaland has been announced as an investor in a new global chess tour.

The Manchester City striker is backing Norway Chess, which is planning to launch the Total Chess World Championship Tour next year.

“Chess is an incredible game,” said Haaland on fide.com. “It sharpens your mind, and there are clear similarities to football. You have to think quickly, trust your instincts, and think several moves ahead. Strategy and planning are everything.

“I’m investing in Norway Chess because I believe the new Total Chess World Championship Tour can turn chess into an even bigger sport for spectators around the world.

“The team behind Norway Chess has already done an impressive job growing the event, and joining the project was too exciting to pass up.”

Haaland, whose countryman Magnus Carlsen is chess’ biggest star, is among a growing number of fans among leading footballers, with Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Eberechi Eze known to play the game.

The new tour will feature four tournaments each year in different cities, with a world champion crowned across three disciplines – fast classic, rapid and blitz chess – and has the backing of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich said: “Chess – like football – has always been a global language of strategy and creativity.

“Seeing a world-class athlete like Erling Haaland join the Total World Chess Championship Tour is a powerful signal of the global attention and cultural relevance that chess enjoys today.”

A pilot tournament is planned for this autumn, while each season will have a minimum prize pool of $2.7 million.

Photo: EPA