Torstein Bae and Maud Rødsmoen are leading a celebrity chess stream in Oslo on Monday, September 28, to benefit the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC Flyktninghjelpen). The charity broadcast features public figures competing in blitz chess matches and live fundraising efforts ahead of the national TV-aksjonen campaign on October 18.
Celebrity Lineup and Competition Format
The broadcast runs from 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and is hosted by media partner Dagbladet and Take Take Take studios. The tournament opens with a match between Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, and NRK host Adelina Ibishi. Following the opener, a roster of well-known personalities takes to the board. The celebrity lineup includes Erlend Mørch, Steinar Hallert, Nate Kahungu, Hedda Gullikstad, Wasim Zahid, Dennis Vareide, Hans Olav Lahlum, and Bahare Viken.
Contestants play hourly matches against each other while Bae and Rødsmoen provide commentary. Each participant then plays a blitz chess game directly against Bae. A live leaderboard tracks participants based on how many moves they survive against Bae, with games capped at ten minutes.
Bahare Viken Seeks Chess Redemption
Among the participating celebrities is Bahare Viken, who returns to competitive board play following her appearance in the 2024 NRK Celebrity NM against Linni Meister. Viken stated to Dagbladet that her previous performance drew criticism from the public, making pride a primary motivator for her return. She specifically targeted tournament host Torstein Bae as the opponent she most wants to face.
Public Participation and Fundraising Goals
Viewers watching the broadcast on Dagbladet.no or from the venue at The Good Knight in Oslo can register digitally during the event for a chance to play a live-streamed match against Bae. Real-time fundraising trackers display incoming donations throughout the program.
The fundraiser directly supports the TV-aksjonen, with all proceeds channeled to the Norwegian Refugee Council. Bae, who worked for the organization until 2025, emphasizes that the stream aims to draw public attention to an initiative focused on assisting 400,000 people displaced by conflict ahead of the official collection day on October 18.
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