Source:REUTERS/Phil Noble
[Saba Sports News] According to British media reports, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is investing in a Norwegian chess tournament, helping to launch a brand-new world tour aimed at turning the sport into a larger-scale spectator event. Chess Mates, a company co-owned by Haaland and businessman Morten Borch, will be one of the main investors in the Norwegian Chess Tournament and the newly launched All Chess World Championship Tour by the organization. The series will determine an overall world champion through three formats: classic rapid chess, rapid chess, and blitz chess, with four tournaments held annually in major cities around the globe. The event received approval from the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in October and is scheduled to hold a pilot tournament at the end of 2026, followed by a full championship season in 2027.
The editor believes that chess is an incredible sport that exercises the mind. One must think quickly, trust intuition, and anticipate moves several steps ahead. Strategy and planning are crucial. In recent years, chess has continued to surge in popularity in Norway, largely thanks to the outstanding performances of Magnus Carlsen, the world No. 1 and five-time Chess World Champion.