Chess Addict Mohamed Salah Hails Magnus Carlsen As 'Best Endgame Player Ever'

Egyptian soccer star and chess fan Mohamed Salah has once again expressed his admiration for GM Magnus Carlsen and revealed that he followed the drama in the World Rapid & Blitz Championship in New York.

In a new interview by the Norwegian Premier League rights-holder Viaplay, ahead of Liverpool's match with Manchester United last weekend, the Egyptian star said he followed the dramatic FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championship in New York.

"I do, I do. I wish him the best," Salah said when asked about Carlsen while not commenting on the journalist's jeans bait. "I like him a lot. I like the way he plays. The best endgame player ever!"

I like him a lot. I like the way he plays. The best endgame player ever!

—Mohamed Salah on Magnus Carlsen

Arguably one of the greatest African soccer players ever, Salah has been on fire in the Premier League this season. The 32-year-old is the league's top scorer, netting 18 goals and delivering 13 assists, and has been a key player leading Liverpool to top the table.

Asked whether playing chess could help you become a better soccer player, Salah said: "I think so. It takes your mind away from football. I like to watch it, and I like to play," he smiled.

Mo Salah 🤝 Magnus Carlsen pic.twitter.com/hdht82Jr5j

— Chess.com (@chesscom) January 6, 2025

The goal-scoring machine has previously admitted his chess addiction, regularly sharing photos on Instagram of him playing on Chess.com. “I play chess, I am addicted to chess. Every day, literally every day," he said.

It's not the first time Salah has talked about his admiration for Carlsen, saying he dreams of one day meeting the Norwegian for a game of chess or two.

And their respect for each other is clearly mutual, as Carlsen shared in an interview with The Guardian last year. On a new episode of the soccer podcast Men in Blazers, released on January 3, Salah's "chess obsessive" addiction was also a hot topic.

Host Roger Bennett said he had been contacted by people with stories of how they had run into Salah at Starbucks and eventually ended up playing him on Chess.com.

Salah-fan Carlsen isn't surprised, saying: "The funny thing is that his evolution in his Liverpool career has been quite remarkable. From being kind of a speedster when he got there, to now be incredibly smart with his runs and passes and everything he does on the field," Carlsen said, adding, while grinning:

"Does it have a connection with the fact that he started to play a lot of chess? I am not sure. Do I rule it out? No!"

The Norwegian, who previously met up with a number of soccer stars, such as Christian Pulisic, Trent-Alexander Arnold, Pep Guardiola, Erling Haaland, and Martin Odegaard, once again repeated his willingness to add another one to his list.

"Honestly, I mostly would like to meet Mo and talk about chess and football. I don't need there to be any cameras or anything like that. He seems like a great guy."

Honestly, I mostly would like to meet Mo and talk about chess and football. I don't need there to be any cameras. He seems like a great guy.

—Magnus Carlsen on Mohamed Salah

A meeting between the two giants seems inevitable. It can't come soon enough!