Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah Among Premier League Players Who Are ‘Chess Enthusiasts’

Manchester City striker Haaland is so intrigued by chess that he has recently invested in an innovative new chess tour aimed at leveraging the heightened visibility brought about by its celebrity participants.

Alongside Haaland, Liverpool’s Salah, along with fellow England internationals Harry Kane, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Anthony Gordon, are all passionate chess enthusiasts.

Salah has a particular fondness for the faster-paced ‘blitz’ version of the game and plays anonymously online.

“I’m addicted to chess. Every day, literally every day,” the Egyptian star remarked.

Arsenal midfielders Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze have also embraced the game, with Eze clinching an amateur tournament title in 2025.

Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, who has held the world champion title five times, is a dedicated football fan, and his passion for both sports has contributed to this unexpected crossover.

Alexander-Arnold frequently plays chess with his siblings and even faced off against Carlsen, who defeated the Liverpool defender in a swift 17-move match that lasted merely five minutes.

AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic sports a tattoo of the queen chess piece on his arm in honour of his grandfather, who introduced him to the game as a child.

French World Cup champion Antoine Griezmann and Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal are also keen players.

At first glance, the reflective, strategic nature of chess may seem a far cry from the physical intensity and competitiveness of football.

However, upon closer examination, the two sports share more commonalities than one might anticipate.

“Chess is an amazing game. It sharpens the mind, and there are evident parallels to football,” Haaland highlighted.

“You need to think quickly, trust your instincts, and plan several moves ahead. Strategy and preparation are crucial.”

‘Striking similarities’

With the backing of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the new tour will host four tournaments annually in various cities, culminating in the crowning of a world champion across three formats: fast classic, rapid, and blitz.

Each season will boast a minimum prize pool of £2 million (approximately $2.7 million).

“Having a world-class athlete like Erling Haaland join the Total World Chess Championship Tour sends a strong message about the global interest and cultural significance that chess enjoys today,” FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich proclaimed.

Originating in seventh-century India, chess has evolved far from its modest beginnings, now propelled by technology that has transformed traditional play into digital formats.

Online chess participation surged during the Covid-19 pandemic, and FIDE reports that at least 1.5 billion people now have chess applications installed on their smartphones.

The Netflix series “The Queen’s Gambit” and the influence of celebrity figures, including footballers, have helped reshape the game’s once-stodgy image, driving its popularity forward.

The strategic elements of chess resonate with football managers seeking an edge in tactical confrontations on the field.

In the book ‘Pep Confidential’, Manchester City’s manager Pep Guardiola noted: “You have no idea how similar the two things are.”

Carlsen, an avid Real Madrid supporter, shares Guardiola’s perspective: “In both chess and football, controlling the centre is crucial. If you dominate the centre, you command the pitch or the board,” he explained. “In terms of spatial control, it’s strikingly similar.”

Yet, will the thrill of a successful checkmate ever rival the joy of netting a decisive goal for footballers enchanted by chess?

For Kane, his true passion remains football, with chess serving as an ideal outlet for relaxation.

“I use chess to unwind,” he shared. “It’s such a mentally demanding game. You need to concentrate on every single moment.”