Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah among Premier League stars 'addicted' to chess
Manchester City forward Erling Haaland is deeply intrigued by chess and has recently put money into an innovative new chess circuit to take advantage of the heightened popularity driven by its famous participants.
In addition to Haaland, Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah and England's colleagues Harry Kane, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Anthony Gordon all enjoy chess enthusiastically.
Salah is particularly keen on the quicker 'blitz' format of chess, playing it via an anonymous internet account.
"I'm addicted to chess. Every day, literally every day," the Egyptian remarked.
Arsenal players Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze in midfield both take interest in the game, with Eze securing victory in an amateur competition in 2025.
Chess expert Magnus Carlsen, who has claimed the world title five times, adores football, and the Norwegian's passion for both pursuits has influenced this unexpected blend.
Alexander-Arnold frequently engages in chess matches with his siblings and once progressed to challenge Carlsen, who beat the Real Madrid full-back in a swift 17-move game that concluded in only five minutes.
AC Milan attacker Christian Pulisic sports a tattoo of the chess queen on his arm to honour his grandfather, who introduced him to the game during his childhood.
France's World Cup victor Antoine Griezmann and Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal count themselves as enthusiasts too.
At first glance, the thoughtful and intellectual side of chess seems entirely different from the intensity and competitiveness of football.
Yet a closer examination reveals more parallels than anticipated.
"Chess is an incredible game. It sharpens your mind, and there are clear similarities to football," Haaland commented.
"You have to think quickly, trust your instincts, and think several moves ahead. Strategy and planning are everything."
'It's remarkably similar'
Supported by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), this fresh circuit will include four events annually in various locations, culminating in a world champion determined over three categories: fast classic, rapid, and blitz.
Every season will offer a prize fund of at least £2 million ($2.7 million).
"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," FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich stated.
Chess originated in seventh-century India.
However, those modest beginnings contrast sharply with the modern tech accelerating the chess surge, as digital applications have largely replaced the classic board as the primary arena for matches.
Online participation surged amid the Covid-19 outbreak, and FIDE reports that a minimum of 1.5 billion individuals now have a chess application on their mobile devices.
The Netflix production "The Queen's Gambit" along with the influence of prominent figures, such as footballers, have fueled this rise, reshaping the once-dull perception of chess.
The tactical elements of chess attract football coaches seeking a cognitive advantage in their strategic confrontations on the field.
As cited in the publication 'Pep Confidential', Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola noted: "You have no idea how similar the two things are."
Devoted Real Madrid supporter Carlsen views his sport similarly to the ex-Barcelona tactician Guardiola: "In chess and football, the important thing is to control the middle. If you control the middle, you control the pitch or the board," he explained. "In terms of space, it's remarkably similar."
Can the fulfilment of executing a perfect checkmate truly supplant the excitement of netting a decisive goal for these footballers hooked on chess?
For Kane, his primary passion stays with football, positioning chess as an ideal means to unwind.
"I use chess to switch off," he noted. "It's such a mental game. You have to focus on every moment."