Eberechi Eze has always played the game differently. But it isn’t just in football where Eze is showing his mastery in 2025.
Earlier this year, Eze stunned fans by winning a $20,000 online chess tournament. His rating? A solid 1,143—not quite grandmaster level, but far beyond casual. According to The Athletic, his playstyle is defined by tight pawn structures, well-timed forks, and calculated sacrifices—moves that echo his cerebral style in football: slow build-up, sudden brilliance.
It’s no wonder his stock keeps rising. Since his £17 million arrival at Palace in 2020, Eze has grown into a fan favourite and a genuine match-winner. His goal in the 2025 FA Cup final sealed a historic victory and further solidified his legacy in South London. Now earning £70,000 per week, with Arsenal reportedly circling, he’s not just one of the league’s most entertaining talents—he’s one of the most valuable.
But if you needed more proof that Eze plays a deeper game, it came in the form of a photograph in his Instagram dump today.
The image shows Eze sitting across from billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson, locked in an outdoor chess match. The setting—sunny, serene, with coffee cups and cold drinks on the table—hinted at a luxurious escape. Perhaps Necker Island. Perhaps somewhere else only Branson could dream up.
The image had no caption, no explanation. Fans simply couldn’t believe the randomness of it all.
With a net worth of $2.8 billion and a taste for the extraordinary, it’s not hard to imagine Branson inviting Eze to an impromptu game during a shared escape. Whether this was a random holiday meetup or the start of a quirky friendship, one thing is clear: both men love a good challenge.
