Amit Kamath

Long before muscles and medals, Norwegian striker, whose two goals eliminated Brazil from the World Cup, learnt the timeless art of arriving exactly at the right spot

Amit Kamath The Erling Haaland mural in Bryne by Pøbel. (Express Photo by Amit Kamath) Espen Undheim has clung on to clips of a 10-year-old Erling Haaland playing football at his first club Bryne FK.

How did Norway, which missed out on the FIFA World Cup for 28 years, not just qualify but make it all the way to the quarters this time around? Ex-international Morten Gamst Pedersen explains.

With self-deprecating humour and his antics on Snapchat, the hulking hero of Gen Z fans from South America to Russia and China to Norway, has scored goals and added millions of fans wearing success lightly. Norway's exit didn't end the adoration for him.

Starting tomorrow, the Chennai Grandmasters will feature a loaded eight-player field of young stars, with India's Gukesh, Arjun Erigiasi, Nihal Sarin and Pranesh joining an international star cast featuring Abdusattorov, Hans Niemann, Alireza Firouzja and Dmitry Andreikin.

Alireza Firouzja the only player to enjoy a win, beating Pranesh M

By beating world champion Gukesh at his home soil, Firouzja has staked a strong claim after Round 2 of Chennai Grand Masters 2026

Arjun Erigaisi, one of the four Indian players in the eight-player tournament, secured his first win against Hans Niemann in a 43-move masterclass.

After a loss and two draws, world champ was in a better mood after splitting a point with an opponent who has often got the better of him

Former World Champion backs 20-year-old defending world champion to get out of rut and hopes playing the Chess Olympiad would inspire Gukesh before the big showdown vs Javokhir Sindarov