Eberechi Eze Checkmates Magnus Carlsen in New Balance Ad: A Unique Clash of Sports and Strategy!
Eberechi Eze Checkmates Magnus Carlsen in New Balance Ad: A Match of Minds and Moves
In a surprising twist that has captivated both football and chess fans alike, Arsenal and England playmaker Eberechi Eze has gone head-to-head against world chess champion Magnus Carlsen in a new advertisement for New Balance. The campaign, promoting the brand’s latest boot, the Furon V8—”crafted for speed, tested at every level”—highlights the theme of fast thinking, showcasing two masters of creativity in their respective fields.
Eze, 27, has emerged as one of football’s most prominent chess enthusiasts, particularly after his stunning victory in Chess.com’s celebrity tournament, PogChamps 6, which became one of the most-watched events of 2025. While he dazzles on the pitch, scoring goals for an Arsenal side vying for the Premier League title, Eze has also dedicated time to sharing his passion for chess. In November, he returned to his old school to launch a chess initiative in partnership with Chess.com, inspiring young fans to embrace the game.
The ad, shared on Eze’s Instagram account—boasting 2.7 million followers—opens with the footballer, playing as White, shaking hands with the impeccably dressed Carlsen. As the game unfolds, the pace quickens, making it challenging to track the exact position on the board. However, in a thrilling climax, Eze flashes a grin as he slides his rook to the eighth rank, delivering a checkmate that leaves Carlsen visibly stunned. In a nod to his competitive spirit, the Norwegian responds by knocking over his pieces, reminiscent of his infamous table slam after a previous defeat.
In an interview with the YouTube channel Men in Blazers, Eze reflected on the parallels between chess and football. “Chess, for me, trains patterns in your mind. It helps you to think ahead. You’re training the way you think, trying to improve and work out different ways of winning games. For me, it’s self-improvement,” he explained.
The ad has also garnered attention from the chess community, with International Master Levy Rozman, known as GothamChess, sharing it on his platforms. Eze’s engagement with chess doesn’t stop at this ad; he has previously participated in blitz games with Rozman and attended the Speed Chess Championship Finals in London, where he played against 11-year-old prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan.
As Eze continues to bridge the worlds of football and chess, fans are left wondering: will this be the first of many collaborations between the two sports? One thing is for sure—Eberechi Eze is not just a star on the pitch; he’s also a rising star in the chess world.