The competition is the brainchild of Magnus Carlsen (a Norwegian player and five-time world champion widely regarded as the best in the world) and Jan Henric Buettner (a German businessman).

The Schachbundesliga has never known such a clamour. Magnus Carlsen — the most famous current chess player in the world and the game’s number one — made his debut for St. Pauli’s chess team.

The world’s No 1 chess player Magnus Carlsen will return to the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York after initially withdrawing as he refused to change out of a pair of jeans.

Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi have caused a stir in the chess community after agreeing to share the World Blitz Championship title earlier this week. Tuesday’s final in New York was ...