England star Ebereche Eze WINS final of Twitch chess tournament – but takes home less than a day's wages
EBERECHE EZE is already king of the Palace.
But it was his queen to E3 that won him £15,000 in a chess competition on Friday night.
7
7
7
Eze, 26, was Crystal Palace's knight in shining armour as he fired his side into the FA Cup final.
The Eagles star scored a belting opener in last weekend's Wembley semi-final victory over Aston Villa.
But he showed plenty more quick thinking and tactical prowess as he soared to his chess tournament win.
Eze lined up in chess.com's 12-player celebrity PogChamps 6 which ran this week.
After coming through the round-robin stage, he earned himself a bye into the semi-finals where he beat Stephen Nedoroscik 2-0.
Then in Friday night's final, he saw off Sapnap by the same scoreline.
The final was live streamed on Twitch, with Eze sporting a white t-shirt and gaming headset at home - with a piece of artwork depicting him playing for England in the background.
The ten-cap Three Lions hero - playing under the username Ebz Eze with a rating of 1,147 - stormed to the title, closing out the win with his typical class and style.
He moved his rook to the top end of the virtual board, putting Sapnap in check and forcing him to bring his king up.
But that played perfectly into Eze's trap as the Palace man immediately moved his queen into position.
'Raiders of The Selhurst Park' - Bidding war for Geuhi and Eze imminient?
And it meant Sapnap had nowhere to move his king into safety and therefore found himself in checkmate.
When the screen flashed to confirm Eze's triumph, the footballer hilariously shouted "come on" then raised a fist in celebration as he smiled at the camera before bursting into laughter.
Ironically, despite earning almost exactly a day's wages with the £15k prize, the £100,000-a-week playmaker celebrated his chess glory more enthusiastically than his Wembley wonderstrike.
Earlier in the tournament, though, there was major controversy as one of the internet personalities was booted out for cheating.
YouTuber DrLupo admitted he "f***ed up" by reading the live chat to attain "information he shouldn't have had" against a higher-ranked opponent.
Eze, meanwhile, will be hoping for another win on Sunday when Oliver Glasner's side make the trip across the capital to face Tottenham.
But much of Palace's focus is already on the FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 17 - with the South Londoners hoping to win their very first major honour.
SunSport also revealed Eze could be allowed to leave Selhurst Park this summer alongside team-mate Marc Guehi to raise £130million for a squad overhaul.
He has two years left on his current contract but the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United may trigger his £60m release clause.
7
7
7
7
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Jack Grealish handed fresh Premier League escape route amid brutal Man City snub
Manchester City star Jack Grealish is set to depart the Etihad Stadium this summer after falling out of favour under Pep Guardiola and Premier League sides are interested Everton are monitoring Jack Grealish's situation at Manchester City as the midfielder prepares to exit the Etihad Stadium, according to reports. The Toffees are interested in bringing Grealish to Merseyside, though no talks have taken place over a move thus far. The 29-year-old England international is set to be left out of the City Club World squad to travel to the United States. Grealish has won the Premier League three times with City but has seen his influence wane over the last two seasons. The former Aston Villa talisman started just seven times in the Premier League in 24/25 and was an unused substitute 12 times in the competition. The club are said to be willing to accept an offer of £40million for their record signing, taking a £60m hit. However, Grealish's salary could prove problematic to any deal. The star's £300,000-a-week pay packet will pose issues for any side interested in securing his signature and requiring to comply with profit and sustainability rules. Any potential move looks more likely to be a loan deal if Everton are to get a shock deal over the line. Newcastle have also been linked with making a move, while Bayern Munich have been touted with a potential deal if Leroy Sane and Kingsley Coman depart. Grealish has been told by England boss Thomas Tuchel that he must earn time on the pitch if he hopes to make the World Cup squad in 12 months time. The German coach said: 'I love Jack for his personality and of course his talent. He is a very unique player who can handle big pressure on the field. "He is never shy of pressure. It's the opposite. He grows in big matches but he's a player who needs minutes and minutes and minutes and simply does not get them for a very long time. That's basically everything. Nothing has changed. "I have maybe the same information as you that City are thinking of not taking him to the Club World Cup. So he needs to make himself available by playing. I think it's one of his key strengths. "To go every three days and get better and better with every minute that he has in his legs. That's what is missing, nothing else. I have spoken to him after the first international camp and very shortly after the FA Cup final but not since then.' Pep Guardiola agrees with the England boss' assessment. He said: 'Of course, Jack has to play. He's an unbelievable player that has to play football every three days. It didn't happen this season and last season either. He needs to do it, with us or another place. 'It's a question for Jack, his agent and the club. If he stays it will be fine and he will fight like he fought from day one to make a contribution, but not today.' Guardiola added: 'It's nothing personal with Jack. I'm the person who fought for him to come here and the person who fought for him to stay here this season."
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Flexible Thomas Frank and Tottenham are the perfect match – Brentford boss will get to show how he REALLY wants to play
Frank recently revealed which teams have inspired him TOTT-AL FOOTBALL Flexible Thomas Frank and Tottenham are the perfect match – Brentford boss will get to show how he REALLY wants to play Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ANGE-BALL is dead and buried, a cold-blooded decision that has divided the Tottenham fanbase. The departure of Ange Postecoglou brought a mix of bewilderment and anger from some, with many feeling his axe was unnecessary. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Ange Postecoglou was sacked by Spurs despite winning the Europa League Credit: Getty 6 Thomas Frank is set to replace Postecoglou at Tottenham Credit: Getty Plenty of Spurs supporters are unsure about what lead candidate Thomas Frank will bring if he is the next man through the revolving door. The club's fans always want their team to reflect the attacking principles — the 'Glory, Glory' 'To Dare is to Do' football — articulated by their 1960-61 Double-winning icons, captain Danny Blanchflower and boss Bill Nicholson. That is why defensively-minded Nuno Espirito Santo, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte never quite fitted in. And it is why Dane Frank — currently at Brentford — actually ticks more boxes than any alternative. His Bees were promoted to the Premier League in 2021 playing free-flowing, attractive football. But Frank realised he could not play that way in the top flight with the squad and resources at his disposal. Not until they established themselves. It meant Frank had to get his recruitment and his tactics right — also showing a willingness to adapt alongside solid analysis and smart thinking. He showed the same passion and desire as Bees fans, who loved watching his side evolve. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK But the Gtech hierarchy knew this moment would come. That a big club would knock on the door and Frank would be ready to walk through, seeking a stage that lets him play the football he REALLY wants to play. Watch Thomas Frank's incredible Brentford speech after beating Newcastle Football that comes straight off the N17 wish-list. Quizzed by SunSport recently Frank, 51, said: 'For many, years, I've been most attracted to more offensive football. 'I always looked a little bit at the Ajax team, the total football idea. 'Then it was Barcelona, the first Dream Team under Johan Cruyff, which of course also had Michael Laudrup, another Danish player, at the heart of it. 'So I watched all those games, incredible — and then of course Pep Guardiola took them to another level. 'I was also inspired by watching what Jurgen Klopp did at Liverpool. 'They were the most difficult team to play against from a defensive side because they attacked from all angles. 'FANTASTIC FOOTBALL' 'Arsene Wenger's Arsenal as well. I liked that, with Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Freddie Ljungberg, Robert Pires. That was some fantastic football as well. 'I got that inspiration and tried to merge it into my own blueprint. 'Hopefully, you can be a great entertainer and a great winner at the same time. 'Ultimately it is all about winning, no doubt. But you can't achieve anything big without being solid at the back.' Frank has the intelligence and depth to deal with pressure and crises — and would not blow up a club like Spurs in the way Conte did in 2023 — nor turn on the fans as Postecoglou did too frequently. Proof of that came with Frank's brilliant handling of the Ivan Toney gambling case. After the striker was charged with betting offences in November 2022 he scored ten goals in 19 Prem games before the striker's eight-month FA ban was confirmed. 6 Frank, 51, handled Ivan Toney's gambling case expertly Credit: Getty 6 Toney was prolific at Brentford before moving to Saudi Arabia Credit: Getty Frank knew his job was to be a counsellor as well as a manager. Not just before the ban, but during and after. He said at the time: 'He's made mistakes, but we need to be there and help him. 'We all make mistakes. Who are we to judge, especially in football? 'Ivan is a footballer, but he's also a human being. We need to do everything we can to support him.' Yet in Toney's absence Frank unleashed Yoanne Wissa alongside Mbeumo — they scored 39 Prem goals between them last term. Ange's legacy is a first Spurs trophy in 17 years. It provides a platform that Frank is ready to build on. It is the role he has waited for all his career. And it gives him the chance to turn his ambitions into reality. 6 Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa have forged an excellent partnership at Brentford Credit: Reuters
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Flexible Thomas Frank and Tottenham are the perfect match – Brentford boss will get to show how he REALLY wants to play
ANGE-BALL is dead and buried, a cold-blooded decision that has divided the Tottenham fanbase. The departure of Ange Postecoglou brought a mix of bewilderment and anger from some, with many feeling his axe was unnecessary. 6 6 Plenty of Spurs supporters are unsure about what lead candidate Thomas Frank will bring if he is the next man through the revolving door. The club's fans always want their team to reflect the attacking principles — the 'Glory, Glory' 'To Dare is to Do' football — articulated by their 1960-61 Double-winning icons, captain Danny Blanchflower and boss Bill Nicholson. That is why defensively-minded Nuno Espirito Santo, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte never quite fitted in. And it is why Dane Frank — currently at Brentford — actually ticks more boxes than any alternative. His Bees were promoted to the Premier League in 2021 playing free-flowing, attractive football. But Frank realised he could not play that way in the top flight with the squad and resources at his disposal. Not until they established themselves. It meant Frank had to get his recruitment and his tactics right — also showing a willingness to adapt alongside solid analysis and smart thinking. He showed the same passion and desire as Bees fans, who loved watching his side evolve. But the Gtech hierarchy knew this moment would come. That a big club would knock on the door and Frank would be ready to walk through, seeking a stage that lets him play the football he REALLY wants to play. Football that comes straight off the N17 wish-list. Quizzed by SunSport recently Frank, 51, said: 'For many, years, I've been most attracted to more offensive football. 'I always looked a little bit at the Ajax team, the total football idea. 'Then it was Barcelona, the first Dream Team under Johan Cruyff, which of course also had Michael Laudrup, another Danish player, at the heart of it. 'So I watched all those games, incredible — and then of course Pep Guardiola took them to another level. 'I was also inspired by watching what Jurgen Klopp did at Liverpool. 'They were the most difficult team to play against from a defensive side because they attacked from all angles. 'FANTASTIC FOOTBALL' 'Arsene Wenger's Arsenal as well. I liked that, with Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Freddie Ljungberg, Robert Pires. That was some fantastic football as well. 'I got that inspiration and tried to merge it into my own blueprint. 'Hopefully, you can be a great entertainer and a great winner at the same time. 'Ultimately it is all about winning, no doubt. But you can't achieve anything big without being solid at the back.' Frank has the intelligence and depth to deal with pressure and crises — and would not blow up a club like Spurs in the way Conte did in 2023 — nor turn on the fans as Postecoglou did too frequently. Proof of that came with Frank's brilliant handling of the Ivan Toney gambling case. After the striker was charged with betting offences in November 2022 he scored ten goals in 19 Prem games before the striker's eight-month FA ban was confirmed. 6 6 Frank knew his job was to be a counsellor as well as a manager. Not just before the ban, but during and after. He said at the time: 'He's made mistakes, but we need to be there and help him. 'We all make mistakes. Who are we to judge, especially in football? 'Ivan is a footballer, but he's also a human being. We need to do everything we can to support him.' Yet in Toney's absence Frank unleashed Yoanne Wissa alongside Mbeumo — they scored 39 Prem goals between them last term. Ange's legacy is a first Spurs trophy in 17 years. It provides a platform that Frank is ready to build on. It is the role he has waited for all his career. And it gives him the chance to turn his ambitions into reality. 6 6
