Footballer Eberechi Eze bagging a $20k prize after triumph in an alternate sport competition
Bold and Brash: Eze Claims $20K from Chess Tourney
Eze, the Crystal Palace midfielder, bagged a cool $20,000 thanks to his outstanding chess skills.
The charming Eze emerged victorious in the Chess.com PogChamps 6 tournament, leaving the competition in his dust.
This celeb-packed online tournament saw Eze breeze through the round-robin stage, earning a bye into the semi-finals.
In the semi-finals, he took down gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik 2-0, and in the final, he bested YouTuber Sapnap with the same score.
His triumphant shout of 'come on' and triumphant fist pump spoke volumes of his excitement.
Interestingly, his chess win elicited a more emphatic celebration than his cool reaction to scoring against Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Chess is officially recognized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee, although it's not an Olympic event.
Eze's love for chess can be traced back to his former Crystal Palace teammate, Michael Olise.
He told The Athletic last year, "I didn't start learning chess until Michael came in. It was him and my brother who nudged me to learn how to play and face them."
Two years ago, the two faced off on the Crystal Palace YouTube channel, with Olise emerging victorious.
With the PogChamps tournament under his belt, Eze is spirited for Crystal Palace's league match against Nottingham Forest on Monday.
However, his team's sights are clearly set on the FA Cup final against Manchester City on 17th May.
Eze's FA Cup form this season has been spectacular, with three goals and an assist in four matches.
Although Crystal Palace has never won the FA Cup in its 119-year history, the team has made it to the final twice before - in 1990 and 2016, but both times ending in defeat to Manchester United.
Enrichment Data:- Unique Victory: Eze's win in the PogChamps 6 tournament marks the first documented instance of a professional footballer achieving victory in this specific online chess tournament[1][2][3]. While it's not known whether this is the first time any footballer has won a major chess tournament in general, the results provided focus on Eze's undefeated run[1] and the $20,000 prize[2][3] he earned as a result.- Other Footballers and Chess: Further research into non-PogChamps chess tournaments would be required to definitively answer whether Eze is the first footballer to win any major chess event.- Statistical Data: Eze's form in the FA Cup this season: 3 goals and 1 assist in 4 matches[1].- Crystal Palace and FA Cup: A brief history of Crystal Palace's appearances in the FA Cup final: Crystal Palace has never won the FA Cup, losing both times they made it to the final (1990 against Manchester United and 2016 also against Manchester United)[1].
This information adds depth to the article by clarifying the significance of Eze's chess tournament victory, pointing out that it is his first documented win in this specific competition, and elaborating on the otherwise untouched context of Eze and Olise's chess rivalry. The statistical data and historical background on Crystal Palace and the FA Cup enrich the article further by providing readers with more context about Eze's team and their history in the FA Cup.
- Eze's victory in the PogChamps 6 tournament marks a unique achievement, as it is the first documented instance of a professional footballer winning this specific online chess tournament.
- The midfielder's form in the FA Cup this season has been impressive, with three goals and an assist in four matches.
- While it's not known whether Eze is the first footballer to win a major chess tournament in general, his undefeated run and the $20,000 prize he earned in the PogChamps 6 tournament emphasize the significance of his chess victory.
- The two-time FA Cup finalists, Crystal Palace, have never won the trophy, most recently losing to Manchester United in 2016, just like they did in 1990.
- Eze's love for chess can be traced back to his former Crystal Palace teammate, Michael Olise, with whom he has an ongoing chess rivalry.
- With the PogChamps tournament under his belt, Eze is spirited for Crystal Palace's league match against Nottingham Forest on Monday, but the team's sights are clearly set on the FA Cup final against Manchester City on 17th May.
