In search of a unified world champion… Haaland invests in chess

Norwegian Erling Haaland, the English Manchester City striker, launched new practical steps outside the football field, after investing in the Norwegian Chess Championship.
Haaland decided to invest in that tournament to help launch a new global competition, aiming to transform this mental sport into a more exciting competition.
Chase Mets, owned by Norwegian national team player Haaland and businessman Morten Borg, is scheduled to become a major owner of the Norwegian Chess Championship, as well as the Total Tour of the World Chess Championship, a new tour organized by the company.
The series, which will crown the “Unified World Chess Champion” across 3 time modes, namely Classic, Fast, and Lightning, will include 4 tournaments annually in cities around the world.
The FIDE approved the styles last October, with a one-off trial event scheduled for late 2026 before the full tournament season begins in 2027.
“Chess is a wonderful game, it sharpens the mind, and there are clear similarities between it and football,” Haaland said in a statement.
He added: “You have to think quickly, trust your intuition, and think several steps in advance. Strategy and planning are everything.”
“I am investing in the Norwegian Chess Championship, because I believe that the new Total World Championship Tour can turn the game into a bigger sport for viewers around the world,” he explained.
Chess has become increasingly popular in Norway in recent years, thanks in large part to the successes of world number one player Magnus Carlsen, five-time world champion.