Latest news with #Sapnap
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eze does it: England footballer wins celebrity chess tournament
Eberechi Eze has followed up his starring role in Crystal Palace's FA Cup semi-final win with another personal success: first place in an online celebrity chess tournament. The 26-year-old England international, who scored as Palace beat Villa 3-0 at Wembley last Saturday, won four-day, 12-player amateur PogChamps tournament, involving athletes and content creators. Eze beat the American YouTuber Sapnap 2-0 in the final, livestreamed on Twitch, winning the $20,000 (£15,000) top prize. said Eze 'showed that he's as good at defending as he is at attacking', taking advantage of Sapnap who 'missed a key attacking idea, which led to an unfortunate brain fart and piece blunder'. Related: Magnus Carlsen: 'Play chess against Mo Salah? I would love that' Eze is a relative newcomer to chess, having been taught the game by his former Palace teammate Michael Olise. He told The Athletic in 2023 that Olise, now at Bayern Munich, had introduced him and his brother to the game at the club's training ground. 'That's when I started studying it, watching YouTube videos of the best chess openings, things like that. We're always playing something at the training ground.' Eze is one of several high-profile football figures to profess a love for the sport, with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah admitting in 2023 he was 'addicted' to online chess. 'I play every day, literally every day,' Salah told Sky. 'But I am not saying my username. I put my name and some other numbers so some people they ask 'are you Mo Salah,' I say 'yes,' they don't believe it, and say 'you are lying.' I say 'yes, I'm lying.'' Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, lost to the world No 1, Magnus Carlsen, in 17 moves in a game that lasted five minutes in 2018. Carlsen, a big football fan who topped the official Fantasy Football rankings ahead of 7.3m others in 2020, said last year that there are 'a lot of decent chess players' in professional football. 'Martin Ødegaard plays a little bit … He's not a bad player, but he's kind of private about it.' Eze and Palace will face Manchester City in the FA Cup final on 17 May, aiming to win the club's first major trophy. The Football Association announced on Saturday that the game will kick-off at 4.30pm BST.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eze does it: England footballer wins celebrity chess tournament
Eberechi Eze has followed up his starring role in Crystal Palace's FA Cup semi-final win with another personal success: first place in an online celebrity chess tournament. The 26-year-old England international, who scored as Palace beat Villa 3-0 at Wembley last month, won four-day, 12-player amateur PogChamps tournament, involving athletes and content creators. Advertisement Eze beat the American YouTuber Sapnap 2-0 in the final, livestreamed on Twitch, winning the $20,000 (£15,000) top prize. said Eze 'showed that he's as good at defending as he is at attacking', taking advantage of Sapnap who 'missed a key attacking idea, which led to an unfortunate brain fart and piece blunder'. Eze is a relative newcomer to chess, having been taught the game by his former Palace teammate Michael Olise. He told The Athletic in 2023 that Olise, now at Bayern Munich, had introduced him and his brother to the game at the club's training ground. 'That's when I started studying the game, watching YouTube videos of the best chess openings, things like that. We're always playing something at the training ground.' Palace will face Manchester City in the FA Cup final on 17 May, aiming to win the club's first major trophy. The Football Association announced on Saturday that the game will kick-off at 4.30pm BST.
The Guardian
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Eze does it: England footballer wins celebrity chess tournament
Eberechi Eze has followed up his starring role in Crystal Palace's FA Cup semi-final win with another personal success: first place in an online celebrity chess tournament. The 26-year-old England international, who scored as Palace beat Villa 3-0 at Wembley last month, won four-day, 12-player amateur PogChamps tournament, involving athletes and content creators. Eze beat the American YouTuber Sapnap 2-0 in the final, livestreamed on Twitch, winning the $20,000 (£15,000) top prize. said Eze 'showed that he's as good at defending as he is at attacking', taking advantage of Sapnap who 'missed a key attacking idea, which led to an unfortunate brain fart and piece blunder'. Eze is a relative newcomer to chess, having been taught the game by his former Palace teammate Michael Olise. He told The Athletic in 2023 that Olise, now at Bayern Munich, had introduced him and his brother to the game at the club's training ground. 'That's when I started studying the game, watching YouTube videos of the best chess openings, things like that. We're always playing something at the training ground.' Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Palace will face Manchester City in the FA Cup final on 17 May, aiming to win the club's first major trophy. The Football Association announced on Saturday that the game will kick-off at 4.30pm BST.
The Sun
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
England star Eberechi Eze WINS final of Twitch chess tournament – but takes home less than a day's wages
EBERECHI 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 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
Scottish Sun
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
England star Eberechi Eze WINS final of Twitch chess tournament – but takes home less than a day's wages
Controversy earlier in tournament as YouTuber booted out for cheating EZE DOES IT England star Eberechi Eze WINS final of Twitch chess tournament – but takes home less than a day's wages EBERECHI 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. Advertisement 8 Eberechi Eze won £15,000 in an online celebrity chess tournament Credit: Twitch / 8 He secured a 2-0 victory in Friday's final Credit: Twitch / 8 The Crystal Palace star celebrated his chess win more than his FA Cup semi-final wondergoal Credit: Getty 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 12-player celebrity PogChamps 6 which ran this week. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL MAKE YOUR MARC Crystal Palace ready to let Guehi and Eze leave to fund £130m rebuild 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. Advertisement CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 8 Eze secured the title by moving his queen to E3 Credit: Twitch / 8 Eze came through the round robin and then won a semi-final Credit: Twitch / 8 He pocketed a day's wages by being crowned winner of the 12-player competition featuring internet personalities Credit: Twitch / 8 Eze will be hoping for another 2-0 win in this month's FA Cup final Credit: Getty Advertisement
