Why Norway, home of world's best chess player Magnus Carlsen, is skipping the European Championships

The 2025 European Team Championships is currently being held in Batumi, Georgia, with Round 7 taking place on Sunday, October 12. Ukraine is leading the Open section of the event with 11 points and Poland is ahead in the Women’s standings with 12 points. The nine-round tournament is scheduled to conclude on Tuesday, October 14.

The tournament is a chance for national teams to fine-tune their squads ahead of the Chess Olympiad next year. Most of the top European nations have fielded strong line-ups, but one big name is missing the competition - Norway. The country’s absence has raised eyebrows, especially given its reputation as a chess powerhouse.

While five-time World Champion Magnus Carlsen himself was unlikely to play this year due to personal reasons, Norway still had some other big names. Despite this, the country decided not to field a team in the European Championships.

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Norway’s surprising no-show explained

The Norwegian Chess Federation has confirmed that the reason for skipping the European Team Championships is financial. The federation’s Top Chess Committee has said that an annual budget of just 2,00,000 Norwegian kroner (around Rs 17.5 lakh) has been approved, and they are planning to use it to prepare for the 2026 Chess Olympiad rather than the European Championship this year.

“The Top Chess Committee has an annual budget from the Norwegian Chess Federation of NOK 200,000. These funds have historically gone to the European Team Championship and the Olympic Games. After conducting a major survey among the top players in Norway, we have concluded that we do not want to use the top chess funds to send teams to the European Team Championship in 2025,” a statement read.

The decision has been met with disappointment and criticism from Norwegian players. Aryan Tari, the country’s third-ranked best player, expressed his frustration on social media. “Yesterday the European Team Championship started in Georgia, but sadly without team Norway. It’s heartbreaking that a nation with the world’s best player for 15 years can’t find the budget to send its top players to compete,” he wrote.

Yesterday the European Team Championship started in Georgia, but sadly without team Norway. It’s heartbreaking that a nation with the world’s best player for 15 years can’t find the budget to send its top players to compete

— Aryan Tari (@aryan_tari) October 6, 2025

Carlsen’s presence might have made it easier for Norway to participate, given the endorsements and TV deals he attracts. However, the current World No. 1 is focusing on his family after the birth of his first child.