Salah was asked on Sky Sports if he played other sports as a kid. He played paddle tennis, tennis, and golf, according to Liverpool club striker. “But now I’m аddicted to chess, and every day I play online with other people anonymously,” said.

Salah, 31, helped Liverpool win the Champions League and Premier League in 2019 and 2020. He was the best Premier League player in 2017-2018, earning the Golden Shoe three times and the King of Assists once. The Egyptian striker was Africa’s greatest 2011–2020 player.

Salah claimed to have used a chess account with the correct nаme and numbers. Many have privately messaged his account asking if this is Mohamed Salah. Salah claimed it was true, but they suspected he was lying. The soccer star told Sky Sports this story with enthusiasm and laughter.

Salah replied “1,400” when asked his chess level. Host: “Is that your rank worldwide?” Salah, laughing, said: “No. Coefficient 1,400 is little compared to the globe. The world-ranked 1,400 player is good.”

Salah is correct; current world number 1,400 is International Master (IM) Paulo Bersamina (Philippines), with Elo 2,428. Elo is a coefficient that compares a player’s performance to others. An Elo of 1,400 places a player outside the Top 100,000 worldwide. Salah’s online coefficient often trails Elo.

Salah hinted at playing chess with five-time world champion Carlsen. The host suggested Salah compete, but he stated, “No one has a chance when meeting Carlsen.”

Carlsen, 33, has been world number one for over 12 years. At 2,882, he has the best Elo record and a 125-game unbeaten run. Carlsen loves football, Real Madrid, and Fantasy Football. Carlsen posted a waving hand emoji and Salah’s nаme on X after the interview.

Salah said no Liverpool player could play chess, but he may be mistaken. After 17 moves, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Salah’s Liverpool teammate, was defeated by Carlsen in a friendly match in 2018. Arnold says “it’s hard to find anyone more passionate about chess than him” and has played since childhood.