Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland has become an investor in the new Total Chess World Championship Tour. The deal was concluded before Manchester City’s match against West Ham on March 14.

Haaland became the first top footballer to invest in chess. He teamed up with Norwegian businessman Morten Borge to create Chess Mates — a company that supports Norway Chess. The amount of Haaland’s investment was not disclosed.

Haaland stated that his investment in the Total Chess World Championship Tour is part of his commitment to making chess a more popular and entertaining sport.

Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland

Norwegian footballer

“Chess is an incredible game. It sharpens your mind, and there are clear similarities to football. You have to think quickly, trust your instincts, and think several moves ahead.

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 Total Chess World Championship Tour is a new series created by Norway Chess and approved by FIDE combining Fast Classic (45+30), Rapid (15+10), and Blitz (3+2) disciplines. The Tour aims to crown a unified World Combined Champion across all time controls. The 2026 pilot tournament will take place from 3–15 October 2026.

Credit: Jonathan Turton