Erling Haaland invests in the Total Chess World Championship Tour, aiming to expand chess globally with elite tournaments and major prize pools

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has invested in a new international chess tour designed to boost the sport’s global appeal.

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The Norwegian forward is supporting the Norway Chess organisation, which will launch the Total Chess World Championship Tour next year.

The tour features four annual tournaments in different cities, with an overall champion crowned across classical, rapid, and blitz formats. A pilot event is scheduled for this autumn.

Each season will offer a minimum prize pool of $2.7 million (£2 million), highlighting the scale and ambition of the project to attract top players and audiences worldwide.

Haaland praised chess as “an incredible game,” drawing parallels with football in terms of strategy, quick thinking, and decision-making.

“I believe the new Total Chess World Championship Tour can turn chess into an even bigger sport for spectators around the world,” he said.

The initiative is backed by the International Chess Federation and strengthens Norway’s presence in global chess, where Magnus Carlsen has dominated multiple formats in recent years.

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Organisers expect the tour to raise chess’s visibility, combining elite competition with structured global events and significant financial support.