Snooker

Subterms

    Latest story

    188 Shares28 Views

    Ronnie O’Sullivan fears Kyren Wilson crossed ‘very fine line’ that sparked World Snooker Championship exit

    by

    RONNIE O’SULLIVAN reckons Kyren Wilson fell victim to the Crucible Curse due to BURNOUT.Late on Saturday night, the Warrior’s world championship reign was unexpectedly ended 10-9 by debutant and qualifier Lei Peifan.Ronnie O’Sullivan thinks burnout played a part in Kyren Wilson being dumped out of the World Snooker ChampionshipsCredit: GettyThe reigning Crucible champion suffered a shock 10-9 defeat to qualifier Lei Peifan on Saturday nightCredit: GettyWilson, 33, is the 20th person to have lifted the world title for the first time in Sheffield and then failed to retain the trophy 12 months later.The world No.2 won four ranking titles in an excellent season and admirably he took little breaks as he wanted to be the “best ambassador possible” for the sport.But the Rocket, 49, reckons Wilson should have cut back on his playing schedule and skipped a few events.O’Sullivan was struck down by the Curse in the 2002 semi-finals, going down to Stephen Hendry, the year after his first of seven triumphs.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThe former world No.1 said: “I think Kyren played in too many tournaments, which he didn’t need to play in.“If you look at the last two winners of the world championship, himself and Luca Brecel, they both came in very fresh.“To win this world championship, you need to come in, okay doing well, but at some point around February, say to yourself: ‘Right, it’s ALL about the world championship.’“One minute he’s in Leicester playing for 7-8 days. I was like: ‘You want to be chilling out and just put your cue down.’Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“It’s a very fine line and when you come here, you want to have a spring in your step. Play your way into form.“Rather than be really at your limit. It’ll go the other way. With Kyren, he could have maybe missed a few tournaments.Kyren Wilson rolls his eyes at World Snooker Championship announcer live on BBC as ‘curse’ is instantly brought up“This is the one you want to win. I always think, come in a bit undercooked, take a month off playing.“For this tournament, you need to be feeling strong come the quarters and semis. To me, I think he has played too much match snooker.”Wilson – who played 82 matches in the 2024-25 season – will decide in the next day whether to return to the scene of his exit or drown his sorrows on holiday.The father-of-two, 33, is unsure if he will work for BBC TV during the remainder of the event or go home and spend time with his family.If he does work for the Beeb then he might have an awkward meeting with Shaun Murphy in the bowels of the Crucible.The pair are engaged in a war of words over a mystery incident that happened backstage in practice before the final session of the 2025 Masters final.Wilson, who jokingly smashed a mirror in the build-up to try to curb any potential back luck, sighed: “I cannot think of anything worse than snooker right now!“I’m not sure what I will do. It has been an incredibly long season. I have really missed my family this year, it has been really tough at times.“I love this sport, I love the game. I have tried to be the best ambassador possible. But now it’s trying to fit in a bit of quality family time.“I’m meant to be working for the BBC! I don’t know. I don’t really want to be there.“This is extremely tough to take. It really hurts. I’ve such a strong record at the Crucible. I’m tough to beat here.Read More on The Sun“I’m sure the Curse will be broken at some point. Unfortunately I won’t be that person.“I certainly had the Snooker Gods against me. Maybe I have to put that mirror I smashed back together.”List of all-time Snooker World ChampionsBELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.The first World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.1969 – John Spencer1970 – Ray Reardon1971 – John Spencer1972 – Alex Higgins1973 – Ray Reardon (2)1974 – Ray Reardon (3)1975 – Ray Reardon (4)1976 – Ray Reardon (5)1977 – John Spencer (2)1978 – Ray Reardon (6)1979 – Terry Griffiths 1980 – Cliff Thorburn1981 – Steve Davis1982 – Alex Higgins (2)1983 – Steve Davis (2)1984 – Steve Davis (3)1985 – Dennis Taylor1986 – Joe Johnson1987 – Steve Davis (4)1988 – Steve Davis (5)1989 – Steve Davis (6)1990 – Stephen Hendry1991 – John Parrott1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)1997 – Ken Doherty1998 – John Higgins1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)2000 – Mark Williams2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan2002 – Peter Ebdon2003 – Mark Williams (2)2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)2005 – Shaun Murphy2006 – Graeme Dott 2007 – John Higgins (2)2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)2009 – John Higgins (3)2010 – Neil Robertson 2011 – John Higgins (4)2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)2014 – Mark Selby2015 – Stuart Bingham2016 – Mark Selby (2)2017 – Mark Selby (3)2018 – Mark Williams (3)2019 – Judd Trump2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)2021 – Mark Selby (4)2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)2023 – Luca Brecel2024 – Kyren WilsonMost World Titles (modern era)7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams2 – Alex Higgins More

    More stories

    • 213 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Non-league clash postponed after pitch left covered in GOOSE POO as war of words erupts between clubs

      by

      A NON-LEAGUE match was postponed after the pitch was covered in goose poo.The two clubs clashed on social media after announcing the news that the game would not go ahead.West Allotment Celtic claimed their rivals refused to playSeaham Red Star FC took to X to confirm to supporters that their visit to West Allotment Celtic FC was postponed as a result of goose excrement covering the pitchWest Allotment coach Richard Stretton hit back, saying: “Referee granted a 15-minute window for the home team to clear the pitch, which was successfully completed. “However, the away team declined to proceed, with management asserting that their players were unwilling to continue, a claim later contradicted by the players themselves.”Seaham Red’s official account doubled down and responded claiming they did want to play.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThey wrote in reply: “Respectfully, it’s not our fault that your pitch was full of goose [poo].”It should have been cleared prior to our arrival, your post is factually incorrect as we wanted to play, [the] referee said ‘it’s caked in [poo]’, at 8pm it was still not clear was it.”West Allotment rejected that claim, saying: “Respectfully, you were asked if you wanted to play and said no (which is absolutely fine, you were given the choice). The match was called off at 19:05.”The club later put out an official statement on the incident, claiming Seaham Red informed the referee they felt the playing conditions were unsafe.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThe statement read: “Sincere apologies to those who attended tonight, please keep your ticket as we’ll be looking at what we can do as a club to offset the disappointment of tonight.”To clarify, goose excrement was found on the pitch during the warm up, which has never happened before.”Wayne Rooney Eyes Pundit Spot on BBC’s Match of the DaySince the postponement, West Allotment Celtic have been active on social media joking about the situation.The Newcastle-based club have organised a raffle with prizes including a bottle of Grey Goose vodka and a t-shirt saying “I helped save a non-league football club from geese”.And after geese returned to the pitch on Sunday night, they posted a video, seen by over 30 thousand people, titled: “An actual wild goose chase” More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      ‘Let’s have a re-rack then’, jokes snooker world champion as Masters crowd erupts into laughter during bizarre frame

      by

      SNOOKER world champion Kyren Wilson was involved in an amusing incident at the Masters this afternoon.Wilson, 33, was in first round action against China’s Zhang Anda at Alexandra Palace.Kyren Wilson saw the funny side of the incidentCredit: BBCNINTCHDBPICT000963956179Credit: BBCTrailing by two frames to nil, Zhang found himself leading the third 64-0.With a difficult red to pot, Zhang took his time pondering his shot.As he continued to consider his next move, Wilson jokingly asked for a re-rack, given his 64-0 deficit.When Zhang eventually played his shot off the cushion, he came agonisingly close to potting the red and continuing his break.READ MORE IN SNOOKERAs the crowd gasped, Zhang joked to Wilson: “Let’s have a re-rack then.”The reigning world champ laughed, as did the majority of those within Ally Pally.Zhang’s good humour then earned him a round of applause.But unfortunately for him this counted for nothing on the scoreboard, with Wilson going on to claim a 3-1 lead.Most read in FootballSUN BINGO GET £50 BONUS & 50 FREE SPINS TODAYList of all-time Snooker World ChampionsBELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.The first World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.1969 – John Spencer1970 – Ray Reardon1971 – John Spencer1972 – Alex Higgins1973 – Ray Reardon (2)1974 – Ray Reardon (3)1975 – Ray Reardon (4)1976 – Ray Reardon (5)1977 – John Spencer (2)1978 – Ray Reardon (6)1979 – Terry Griffiths 1980 – Cliff Thorburn1981 – Steve Davis1982 – Alex Higgins (2)1983 – Steve Davis (2)1984 – Steve Davis (3)1985 – Dennis Taylor1986 – Joe Johnson1987 – Steve Davis (4)1988 – Steve Davis (5)1989 – Steve Davis (6)1990 – Stephen Hendry1991 – John Parrott1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)1997 – Ken Doherty1998 – John Higgins1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)2000 – Mark Williams2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan2002 – Peter Ebdon2003 – Mark Williams (2)2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)2005 – Shaun Murphy2006 – Graeme Dott 2007 – John Higgins (2)2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)2009 – John Higgins (3)2010 – Neil Robertson 2011 – John Higgins (4)2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)2014 – Mark Selby2015 – Stuart Bingham2016 – Mark Selby (2)2017 – Mark Selby (3)2018 – Mark Williams (3)2019 – Judd Trump2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)2021 – Mark Selby (4)2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)2023 – Luca Brecel2024 – Kyren WilsonMost World Titles (modern era)7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams2 – Alex HigginsHe swiftly dusted himself down, however, winning the next frame to cut the deficit to 3-2.The winner of the clash will book a quarter-final date with either Luca Brecel or Chris Wakelin. Watch moment snooker star Si Jiahui stuns Ally Pally crowd with inch-perfect escape shot at the Masters More

    • 238 Shares199 Views

      in Boxing

      Ronnie O’Sullivan leads celebs in crowd for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk as he is joined by Hollywood legend

      by

      RONNIE O’SULLIVAN led the star names in Saudi Arabia to watch Tyson Fury’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk. The pair put on a 12-round thriller in May with Usyk emerging as the first four-belt undisputed champion in heavyweight history. Jason Statham and his partner Rosie Huntington-WhiteleyCredit: PAStatham and Saudi boxing boss Turki AlalshikhCredit: GettyRonnie O’Sullivan speaks to TNT SportsNow, seven months later and they run it back with Fury bulking up to 20 STONE as he prepares to fight for the first time with a loss. Big names from the world of sport, Hollywood and entertainment stepped out in Riyadh for the occasion. Snooker legend O’Sullivan – who helped launch a series in Saudi – was there in support of Fury. He told TNT Sports: “I think it will be a great fight. It’s good to be here. READ MORE IN BOXING”I don’t really know how to read Fury, he’s a bit unpredictable, a bit unreadable. He’s his own man. “He’s a bit of a maverick so I try not to read too much into it. I just hope he’s had a good training camp and I want him to win.” Movie star Jason Statham had the best ringside seat in the house alongside his partner Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.He donned a black suit and pair of sunglasses – looking like he had just walked off a set of his latest action film. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSStatham had been in Jeddah for the Red Sea International Film Festival. The boxing world was also out in force, heavyweight champions past and present looking dapper. British great Lennox Lewis sat ringside with Wladimir Klitschko – two of the division’s greatest. Daniel Dubois – who inherited the IBF title Usyk vacated – looks to be on a scouting mission. His next opponent, Joseph Parker on February 22, was part of Fury’s team in the dressing room.He was joined by Fury’s wife Paris – who stunned in a floral outfit. Prince Naseem Hamed beamed from ringside and was met with a huge reception. Wladimir Klitschko sits down next to Lennox LewisCredit: GettyParis Fury watching from ringsideCredit: PANaseem Hamed sat next to son SamiCredit: Getty More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Athletics

      ‘I can change the face of this sport’: Barry Hearn reveals failed investment that he regrets the most

      by

      BARRY HEARN revealed his failed bid to bring gymnastics to the mainstream was his most heartbreaking investment.Hearn, 76, has taken darts, snooker, boxing, pool and tenpin bowling to new heights.Barry Hearn revealed he tried to bring gymnastics to the mainstreamCredit: PA:Press AssociationHearn’s failed attempt to boost gymnastics is his most heartbreaking investmentCredit: GettyAnd the Matchroom Sport president tried to do the same with gymnastics in 2016 but only managed to promote one event.The famous promoter claims the project, which he was very passionate about, never succeeded because of outside interference. Hearn told The Mirror: “I wanted to take over gymnastics, because I think that sport is so brilliant.”I tried two events, but then I bumped into – which I bump into quite a lot – a load of blazers [people in suits].Read More on Gymnastics”When I went into gymnastics, I did a fantastic first event. Then I thought, ‘I can really change the face of this sport’. “And then I just got knocked back [by the governing bodies], because they wanted to keep it to themselves!”I’ve had that with various blazers in various amateur bodies, and it’s very frustrating. I don’t have the time to mess about. I know what I’m doing. I’ve got a reputation built over 50 years. “I can change sports, and I can change people’s lives, but I need everyone to pull together – and so often in sport, they don’t because they’re selfish with their own positions.Most read in Athletics”The people that love their sport but have no real interest in the athletes themselves. And we come from completely different directions. We try and change their lives through money. “I love watching the Olympics, and you should be very proud if you’ve won a medal at the Olympics – but you can’t eat a medal!Barry Hearn sends warning to top darts stars that ‘little Littler Army’ is coming to dominate the sport “We are one of only three countries in the world that don’t pay a bonus for a gold medal, and I find that atrocious. Great Britain – that ‘G’ is looking smaller and smaller. So we need to look after athletes.” More

    • 125 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Who is BBC snooker and ITV sports presenter Seema Jaswal?

      by

      Seema Jaswal has an outstanding CV in sports broadcasting with appearances across ITV and BBC sports coverage. The 39-year-old from Richmond became the first female presenter to present a Men’s World Cup Quarter final for a UK broadcaster – Morocco vs Portugal for ITV at Qatar 2022.Jaswal also spent three years working for Channel 5’s The Wright StuffNow, Jaswal works with Premier League productions on their global Matchday Live coverage and makes appearances across a wide array of sporting events.ITV employed Jaswal for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, working as a reporter.Since, Jaswal has covered the Premier League, Cricket World Cup, Euro 2020, FA Cup, and 2022 FIFA World Cup.. Jaswal is expected to get involved in more snooker coverageThe presenter has the CV of dreams when it comes to sports broadcasting. Having presented the World Snooker Championship with the BBC, Jaswal is ecurrently on snooker fans’ screens at the UK Championships 2024.She also appeared on Channel 4’s coverage of the BDO Darts and the BBC for Snooker’s Triple Crown events.How old is Seema Jaswal?Jaswal has now been in TV and radio for over a decade, starting her career as a runner for Sky Sports.That is after she got her big break on CBBC presenting Newsround as Sportsround’s ‘roving reporter’ in 2008.Most read in Euro 2024Born in 1985, she is currently 39 years old. Is Seema Jaswal married?Seema’s maiden name is Pathan but she likes to keep her private life out of the public eye.Former England boss Fabio Capello says ‘fear’ will end Euro 2024 dream as he identifies player as the weakest linkShe is married but prefers to keep her husband out the limelight. More

    • 225 Shares119 Views

      in Boxing

      Barry and Eddie Hearn being followed by Netflix cameras for new ‘Succession-style’ documentary – with NOTHING off limits

      by

      BARRY and Eddie Hearn are being followed around by Netflix cameras for a new documentary – and they claim nothing is off limits.The production brains behind the worldwide success Drive to Survive – which covers Formula One shenanigans – are shadowing the UK’s leading sports promoters.Netflix are making a documentary on Barry and Eddie HearnCredit: GettyNothing will be off the table for sport’s biggest father-and-son duoCredit: Action Images – ReutersThe show will be aired globally in June 2025 and focuses on the fortunes of the Essex-based empire that has fingers in different sporting, commercial and broadcasting pies.Barry, 76, set up Matchroom Sport in 1982, the year after he celebrated protege Steve Davis winning the first of six world snooker championships at the Crucible.Since then, he has made millions in boxing, pool and darts, the latter of which he has transformed into the second most-watched sport on Sky after football.Eddie, 45, has since taken over the reins of the company and put aside a longstanding family grudge with boxing guru Frank Warren to hook up with oil-rich Saudi officials.READ MORE IN SPORTSpeaking to SunSport after he completed the latest episode of The Barry Hearn Show podcast, Barry said: “Everything is a completely open book. It’s going to be fun.“But I’m frightened to have a bath, mate! Because I get up and go, ‘f***ing, who put this microphone on me?’“The title is ‘Matchroom: The Greatest Showmen’. It’s going to go out to 500 million homes. They are spending millions and millions.“The team that are doing it are the ones who did Drive to Survive, so they have a hard act to follow. But they are very excited about it.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“You try to distance yourself from it. It’s a good story. We had Succession, which was almost a take-off of the Murdoch empire.“Well, we are not at that level but it is a similar theme of an old geezer that starts off something, brings up kids in a different world to what he came from.Eddie Hearn reacts wildy in the ring as Katie Taylor beats Amanda SerranoThe Hearns made stars out of boxers such as Anthony Joshua through MatchroomCredit: GettyEddie’s biggest rival in the boxing game is Frank Warren, but the pair are now also working together on some projects alongside the SaudisCredit: Getty“It’s not a power struggle but there are definitely different influences throughout.“But the company has grown bigger and bigger, it’s a global one rather than a British one. There are a lot of good stories.”Barry added: “We asked ourselves: ‘Are we ready for this type of intrusion?“We’ve never allowed anyone behind the scenes access at Matchroom. But we’re very proud to be a successful British company that has added to the sports world.Barry’s snooker empire saw players including Steve Davis become superstarsCredit: RexHis world of darts is growing even more popular thanks to Luke LittlerCredit: Getty“We took the view that if it’s gonna be treated seriously enough and done properly, then now was the time.“They are everywhere. Quite honestly, I’m seeing more of them than I’m seeing my wife and children lately.“They followed me to Atlantic City for my entry at the US Open 9-Ball Pool.“They’re attending board meetings and we are giving them unlimited access because we don’t want any excuses.“We won’t be doing this with anyone else probably in our lifetime and we’re going to make sure it’s a series that is memorable and tells the truth at every level.READ MORE SUN STORIES“We’re gonna give them a good story. There’ll be things in there that’ll shock and entertain people.”The Barry Hearn Show is available on all podcast platforms – with exclusive video episodes on Spotify. More

    • 300 Shares119 Views

      in Soccer

      I’ve covered Man Utd for 25 years and feel sorry for Amorim, if he gets a tune out of this lot he’s football’s Beethoven

      by

      IT was wonderful to see the adulation and warmth towards Ruben Amorim as he bid farewell in his final home game as Sporting Lisbon manager.And yet despite that stunning 4-1 win over Manchester City, I couldn’t help feeling sorry for him.New Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has a lot of work to doAmorim did an amazing job with Sporting LisbonAmorim took over at Man Utd after leaving SportingAmorim replaced Erik ten Hag who couldn’t improve Man UtdAmorim is facing a major challenge with his new Man Utd teamAt Sporting he has achieved incredible success with two Portuguese Primeira Liga crowns — the first of which ended a 19-year title drought.Understandably he is adored by the fans, even when they knew he was leaving and there is a clear bond between him and the players. He looked a man genuinely content and happy with his life in Lisbon.“Don’t do it Ruben, stay where you are” . . . but it was too late.Amorim had already opted to throw himself into the managerial meat grinder known as the modern-day Manchester United.Read More on Man UtdHe only has to look at the disgraceful treatment of his immediate predecessor to know what he is going into.There was something very unsavoury about the way Amorim was being welcomed to United with all those club social media postings.It was as if he had arrived as a great liberator to take the club into the light after a dark time.Erik ten Hag was a good man. One of the best I have met in my 25 years covering the Red Devils.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe did everything he could to drag that club back up, winning two trophies and getting to another final along the way in his two full seasons.Yet it was clear the new broom being swept through Old Trafford by part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was going to take the Dutchman along with it.Ruben Amorim arrives in Manchester ahead of starting role as Man United managerEven after that so-called show of faith in him over the summer, after everyone else they tried to get to do the job ran a mile.He was always staring at the exit door at a time when 250 staff have brutally been made redundant, against a back drop of cuts that is gradually ripping away a bit more of the soul of this great club.No matter how good he is the squad is poor, for which Ten Hag has to take a major part of the responsibility. Although he never wanted Joshua Zirkzee, an Ineos signing, and we can see why. If Amorim can get a tune out of this lot, then he will be the Ludwig van Beethoven of football.All the while he will have to cope with everything that comes with being United boss.A club that stopped being able to match expectations the moment Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013.Amorim is the sixth permanent boss since then. They all arrive with a smile and believe they can be “the one”.They all leave with their reputations in the dustbin and their lives changed.Ten Hag is still coming to terms with what happened. I’m not sure if David Moyes ever will.Even baby-faced assassin Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looked his age by the end.Sometimes, if you find contentment in your life — and a job you love with people around you who love you — that’s when you have really reached the pinnacle.Amorim had that. And in two years’ time my bet is he wishes he never turned his back on it.Littler’s a star I CAN relate toIT’S often difficult to relate to the incredible feats of sportsmen and women.That is what fascinates us the most: How on earth do they do that?Then you learn of the sacrifices they make for years and years for that one moment in time.How they even struggle to let themselves go after all the hard work when they retire. Then you hear about Luke Littler.He has just become darts’ youngest millionaire at 17 and whose mid-match routine was revealed by Martin Lukeman, whom he thumped 16-3 in the Grand Slam of Darts final.“He had a curry, a Boost [chocolate bar], a meal deal and them little sweets, half pink and half white . . . Squashies. Then he walks up there and just smashes me like that.” Marvellous.Jimmy is living the dry lifeTHE MODERN snooker player is a world away from those icons we used to enjoy watching in the 80s and early 90s.Gym, water, diet, sleep. The best, Ronnie O’Sullivan, is a great example of this with his running.Which reminded me of how Jimmy White used to enjoy his downtime.At his height White once went to the Gresham Hotel in Dublin for a weekend and returned six weeks later.He had 24 bottles of Dom Perignon champagne sent to his room daily and was reportedly joined by “nightclub girls, UB40 and Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy” for what was described as “the mother of all benders”.When Alex Higgins rocked up to join in, it’s fair to say things went up a notch.Yet in the weekend just gone, the now clean-living “Whirlwind”, aged 62, beat an opponent 42 years his junior in the qualifiers for the UK Champs — over four decades after reaching the semis on his debut.Sober, fit and healthy White is still competing. He may never have been a world champion, but he remains a champion of the sport.Europe crown not for Nick-ingHATS off, or rather caps and visors, to Rory McIlroy.His brilliant finish to claim the DP World Tour Championship meant he blitzed the field in the Race to Dubai for a sixth time.That equalled Seve Ballesteros’ achievement and leaves him two behind Colin Montgomerie’s record.McIlroy has his sights set on becoming the best European golfer of all time, although some already consider him to be.His four Majors to Ballesteros’ five and Nick Faldo’s six suggest that’s not the case. But for me, the moment that sets Faldo apart came in the 1995 Ryder Cup.It was all down to his match as the Sunday singles came to a close and he stood one down with three to play against Curtis Strange.READ MORE SUN STORIESLevel going down 18, his presence of mind to chip out the rough and leave himself the perfect wedge to get up and down to claim par and win as Strange melted is the greatest moment in Ryder Cup history.Watch it and marvel at the man’s powers to block out all the noise and pressure to get the job done.Ruben Amorim leaves Sporting on a highBy Charlie WyettRUBEN AMORIM would have preferred to leave Lisbon in a blaze of glory after winning a third Primeira Liga title.Yet football does not work like that. And in what was surely his final game before taking charge of Manchester United, Amorim prepared to say his goodbyes at a half-empty Estadio Jose Alvalade in a League Cup quarter-final against Nacional.Sporting won 3-1 thanks to  second-half goals by captain  Morten Hjulmand and Viktor Gyokeres, who scored two.Luis Esteves pulled back for Madeira-based Nacional.The stadium  will be a good deal more lively on Tuesday when Manchester City are here for  a Champions League match — although Amorim should by then have his feet firmly under his desk at Old Trafford.Liverpool and Aston Villa were both interested in Europe’s most sought-after coach. Even City could have been a possible destination post-Pep Guardiola.Yet the United job is one Amorim, 39,  could not turn  down — even if not everyone saw it that way at Sporting last night.There is clearly a huge split in the Portuguese club’s fan base over their coach leaving at this stage of the season with many believing he should have seen the job through.Yet Amorim, along with the three-man coaching team who are expected to follow him, leaves a club in a much better state than when he arrived here in 2020.Inside the stadium, there was applause — albeit muted — when his name was read out before the game along with the line-ups.And there did not appear to be any jeers when Amorim shuffled out from the tunnel awkwardly towards the dugout.So, while his departure is hard to take for some, none of the fans will forget his legacy.This is a club which is back as the dominant force in Portugal. Even this term, Sporting have won their first nine league games, scoring 30 goals and conceding just two.They are also eighth in the Champions League table, which is one hell of an effort.In contrast, Lisbon was not exactly hit by League Cup fever last night.Amorim made lots of changes, which saw Sporting’s star man Gyokeres, the former Coventry striker, start on the bench.There was, however, a first appearance in six weeks for former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards. He is certainly one player who has been transformed by Amorim since arriving at the club from Vitoria in 2022 and will be sorry to see the coach leave.While he changed his team, Amorim stuck with his tried and trusted formation of a back three.It will certainly be something Manchester United’s fans will have to get used to over the  coming months.But looking at the Premier League table, none of them will be complaining about the change. More

    • 200 Shares129 Views

      in Boxing

      Puzzled fans say ‘this is so random’ as snooker royalty spotted ringside for Beterbiev vs Bivol

      by

      RONNIE O’SULLIVAN couldn’t get enough as Artur Beterbiev edged out Dmitry Bivol for undisputed light-heavyweight glory.Boxing fan O’Sullivan was seated ringside as Bivol suffered a tight and contentious loss to his Russian counterpart Beterbiev by a majority decision.Ronnie O’Sullivan was sat ringside for Beterbiev’s controversial win over BivolO’Sullivan is an ambassador for Saudi Arabian snookerFans were left stunned at the result as many thought Bivol had done enough to retain his WBC, IBF and WBO belts.Yet the judges scored the bout 114-114, 115-113 and 116-12 in Beterbiev’s favour.Bivol’s promoter Eddie Hearn labelled the decision “absolutely disgusting” and viewers called it a “robbery”.But O’Sullivan, 48, was one person who enjoyed the fight in the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.READ MORE BOXING NEWSThe seven-time world snooker champ posted a close-up from his ringside seat with the caption: “What a fight!!!!”And fans were left stunned by his involvement, with one writing: “Ronnie O’Sullivan being there is so random😂.”While another said: “What is O’Sullivan doing ringside?”A third wrote: “I did not expect to see Ronnie O’Sullivan there… so random.”Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAnother replied: “The Rocket is in the house!”While another added: “From Ronnie O’Sullivan to Medvedev at the Beterbiev vs Bivol fight, who would have thought.”Ronnie O’Sullivan explains heartwarming reason behind snooker walk-on song and says he used to play it on repeatBut fans shouldn’t be that surprised as O’Sullivan agreed to become an ambassador for Saudi Arabian snooker in April.He penned terms on a three-year deal with the Gulf State and will commit to playing in all World Snooker Tour (WST) events in Saudi Arabia.The Rocket lost 6-4 to Si Jiahui at the quarter-final stage of the inaugural Saudi Arabia Masters in Riyadh last month and has backed the venue as “one of the world’s best”.Meanwhile, O’Sullivan wasn’t the only random sporting star in attendance.Neymar appeared in the ring after Chris Eubank Jr to retain his IBO middleweight titleFootball star Neymar, who plays for Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, was pictured in the ring after Chris Eubank Jr’s seventh-round KO win over Kamil Szeremeta.The former Paris-Saint Germain and Barcelona star was caught in-between Eubank’s face off with Conor Benn to the confusion of fans.Tennis star Danil Medvedev, who was beaten by Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals of the US Open last month, was also spotted in the crowd.READ MORE SUN STORIESAll surely witnessed Frazer Clarke’s brutal first-round knockout at the hands of Fabio Wardley in their rematch.Clarke will undergo an operation to repair his jaw and cheekbone. More