The weight of expectations sits lightly on his teenaged shoulders and Grandmaster D Gukesh would bank heavily on his calm mind when he takes on Chinese Ding Liren in the World Championship showdown beginning here on Monday, aiming to become the first Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the coveted title. The majority of the chess world is rooting for the 18-year-old in-form Indian, who already displays the poise of a champion. What remains to be seen is how he handles the pressure during the fortnight-long showpiece. If the first press conference held on Saturday afternoon was any indication, both players have immense respect for each other and yet, both are determined to give their best. Liren had won a match of fluctuating fortunes against Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia in 2023 to be crowned the world champion, but since then, the Chinese has suffered from mental health issues and competed very less compared to Gukesh in the last one year. Also Read: Kasparov: 'I don’t treat this as a World Championship match' “My job is pretty clear — just go into every game as the best version of myself and play the best moves in the position. If I do that, if I keep playing good chess and stay in the right spirits, even with his recent form dip or even at his best, I don’t think it really matters,” Gukesh said on Saturday. This year’s tournament marks the first time in 138 years that two Asian players will be pitted against each other in the marquee clash, that is offering a prize fund of USD 2.5 million. Liren, 32, who has admitted that Gukesh is the runaway favourite, expects an interesting battle. “He [Gukesh] is younger, but has displayed his virtue in many aspects. If we can both perform our best, it will be a great match,” said Liren. Gukesh will be looking to end a title drought for India, dating back to 2013, the year five-time champion Anand lost the crown to Norwegian superstar Magnus Carlsen. $2.5mTotal prize fund for the final All about the final . Final will be best-of-14 games, starting from Nov 25 to Dec 12. . The first to make 7.5 pts will be world champion. . If the score is locked at 7-7 on Dec 12, tie-breaker will be played on Dec 13. . All matches are at 14:30 India time and live on FIDE’s social media handles and Chess.com This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 November,2024 08:08 AM IST | Singapore | PTIMax Verstappen said he “never thought” he would win four world titles after wrapping up the 2024 Formula One championship under the Las Vegas lights. Verstappen’s success ushered him into an elite club alongside Juan Manuel Fangio, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Alain Prost as a four-time champion. Seven wins in the opening 10 races launched Verstappen to this success, but he needed to overcome a mid-season run of 10 without a win before victory in a rain-hit race in Brazil set up his fourth title. Max Verstappen negotiates a corner with his Red Bull F1 car during the Las Vegas GP yesterday. Pics/AFP “At 17, I was just happy to be there and dreaming of potential victories and standing on the podium, just normal things that are already very difficult to achieve,” said the 27-year-old Dutchman whose fifth-place race finish in Las Vegas was enough to guarantee the title. “It was a very challenging season and for me also as a person, at times, it was very challenging and I had to be calm. In a way, I still prefer last season, I enjoyed it a lot, but I think this season it has taught me a lot of lessons. I’m very proud of us as a team and that makes it a very special and beautiful season. It’s been so competitive this time. A special season. A beautiful season.” Also Read: Russell takes pole, Verstappen nips Norris in Championship battle Verstappen also ruled out speculation that he may leave Red Bull. “We’ve been through a lot and this is special, but it’ll be a proper battle next year with a lot of cars so I’m going to enjoy this. I’m proud to be part of this team, celebrating our fourth world title together. Nothing else is on my mind,” said Verstappen who has been on top of the world in an unbroken run since the Spanish GP in 2022. “Max has done an amazing job. He has won eight Grands Prix and the championship with two races to spare. You can’t ask for more. He’s been outstanding all year and we’re proud of him,” said Red Bull boss Christian Horner. F1’s roll of honour . Seven titlesLewis Hamilton (2008, ’14, ’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20), Michael Schumacher (1994, ’95, 2000, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04). . Five titlesJuan Manuel Fangio (1951, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57) . Four titlesMax Verstappen (2021, ’22, ’23, ’24) Sebastian Vettel (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13)Alain Prost (1985, ’86, ’89, ’93) This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 November,2024 08:07 AM IST | Las Vegas | AFPTop-ranked Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini won matches in front of a supportive crowd to lift defending champions Italy past Australia 2-0 and back into the Davis Cup final. Sinner extended his tour-level winning streak to 24 singles sets in a row by beating No. 9 Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4 after Berrettini came back to defeat Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-5. “If we don’t win [the final], it’s still an amazing achievement [to be] playing [in a] final again. We have shown that it was not lucky last year,” Sinner said, inner improved to 9-0 against Di Minaur. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 November,2024 08:06 AM IST | Malaga | AFPDream Seller, trained by PS Chouhan, extended his winning streak to four wins (after a hat-trick at Pune) to win the Royal Calcutta Turf Club Trophy, the feature event of the opening day's race-card that ushered in the Mumbai racing season 2024-25 at the Mahalaxmi racecourse. Stalking Democracy (N Bhosale up) who set the pace, jockey R Ajinkya asked for an effort from Dream Seller after passing the two-furlong marker, and the 18/10 favourite soon took charge to lord over the field. However, Dream Seller started shortening his strides as the finish line neared, but Ajinkya did well to stay clear of the rivals who were closing in very fast in the final yards, especially Snowfall (Yash Narredu up) who flew in from the rear to breathe down the winner's neck. Doubles galore Trainer Pesi Shroff led in the winner of the Dr SR Captain Salver (Class III; 1400m) after Jade (Multitude - Majestic Opinion), confidently handled by jockey C Umesh, moved up attractively to collar the leader Fontana in the final furlong, and skipped away so stylishly that the three-year-old bay filly never looked vulnerable even when Dash, the hot favourite with Yash Narredu in the saddle, tried his best to catch up. Shroff completed a back-to-back double in the very next race, sending out another three-year-old Odesseus (a colt by Ulysses out of Hidden Valley) to pick up the PB Avasia Plate. Also Read: 'Maha Laxmi' on offer at Mahalaxmi Jockey Suraj Narredu who rode Odesseus for Shroff also pulled off a quick double, driving public fancy Divine Star to an effortless victory in the Welcome Trophy. The three-year-old Divine Star (Roderic O'Connor - Starletina) was trained by Aman Altaf Hussain. Jockey A Prakash also scored a brace, winning the KJK Irani Plate (Class II; 1600m) with Dream Alliance for trainer Imtiaz Sait, and wrapping up the last race of the day (MD Petit Plate for 4y & older horses in Class V) with the Dallas Todywalla-trained Mi Arion. Fluke to the foreIn the opener of the season--the Fedora Plate for 4y & older horses in bottom class--four-year-old Sorrento Secret (A Prakash up) was the most in demand, but jockey Amyn Merchant astride Anoushka at 6/1 surprised one and all. Amyn Merchant, lying fourth until the turn, made a dash for the lead approaching the 400m marker, and within no time the Faisal Abbas-trained seven-year-old mare passed the front runners to open a three-length gap which only Marlboro Man (H Gore up) could attempt to bridge in the final furlong, but without success.
25 November,2024 08:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Prakash GosaviAfter fighting many pitched battles with him for nearly a decade, former World No.1 Novak Djokovic has appointed his one-time rival Andy Murray as his coach for the 2025 season's first Grand Slam in Australia. The 37-year-old Djokovic of Serbia took to social media on Saturday to announce that longtime friend and rival Andy Murray will be his new coach starting from the next Australian Open in Melbourne. Murray retired from professional tennis earlier this year at the Paris Olympics. Born one week apart in May 1987, both climbed to the top of the ATP Rankings and battled on the world’s biggest stages. Djokovic and Murray clashed in 36 ATP head-to-head showdowns, with the former winning 25 of them. They met in 19 finals, including the championship match at seven majors and the 2016 ATP Finals. They most recently played in the 2017 Doha final. Announcing their partnership in a video message on his social media channel, Djokovic said, "We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. They called us game-changers, risk-takers, and history-makers. I thought our story might be over. It turns out it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard the coach, Andy Murray." Also Read: 'Was worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties': Federer’s tribute to Nadal hits all the right notes “I’m excited to have one of my greatest rivals in my team, on the same side of the net, this time as my coach," Djokovic said per his official website. I’m looking forward to starting the season together with Andy and having him by my side in Melbourne, where we’ve shared many extraordinary moments throughout our careers," Djokovic said. Murray too was excited about the partnership. “I’ll be joining Novak’s team during the preparation period, helping him get in the best possible shape for the Australian Open," Murray said. "I’m very excited about it and I am looking forward to being on the same side of the net for a change. I’m also grateful for the opportunity to assist him in achieving his goals for the coming year." In 2024 Djokovic recorded a 37-9 match record according to Infosys ATP Stats. In January he will attempt to win an 11th Australian Open title to reach 100 career titles. Djokovic is the most successful tennis player in the Open Era, having won a record 24 Grand Slam titles, while the 37-year-old Murray won three Grand Slam titles, including the Wimbledon titles in 2013 and 2016. Both of them along with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were part of tennis's Fab Four for many years. (With agency inputs)
24 November,2024 11:53 AM IST | London | IANSDream Seller, trained by PS Chouhan, who outpaced and outclassed nearly the same set of rivals when winning the Delhi Race Trophy three weeks ago at Pune, obviously gets the first nomination to win the opening day's feature event, the Royal Calcutta Turf Club Trophy. However, jockey R Ajinkya astride the four-year-old son of Phoenix Tower will have to keep an eye on Magileto who is certain to get a vigorous ride from jockey Suraj Narredu. First race at 2 pm.Selections: Fedora Plate (For 4y&o, Class V; 1400m)Sorrento Secret 1, Marlboro Man2, Prince Igor 3. KJK Irani Plate (Class II; 1600m)Christofle 1, Fast Pace 2, Dream Alliance 3. Dr SR Captain Salver (Class III; 1400m)Dash 1, Jade 2, Fontana 3. PB Avasia Plate (Class IV; 1600m)Amadeo 1, Odysseus 2, Endurance 3. Welcome Trophy (Class IV; 1200m)Vincero 1, Divine Star 2, The General 3. Also Read: 'Maha Laxmi' on offer at Mahalaxmi Royal Calcutta Turf Club Trophy (Class I; 1200m)Dream Seller 1, Magileto 2, Snowfall 3. MD Petit Plate (For 4y&o, Class V; 1000m)Khaleesi 1, Mirae 2, Mi Arion 3. RecommendationsBest bet: NoneUpsets: Anoushka (1-7), Eloquent (5-2) & Fidato (7-1) Today's poolsSuper jackpot pool: 2,3,4,5,6,7Jackpot pool: 3,4,5,6,7Treble pool: 4,5,6Tanala pool: 2,3,4,5,6,7
24 November,2024 08:08 AM IST | Pune | Prakash GosaviThe last man to face and beat Rafael Nadal in professional tennis, 80th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp, converted his 10th match point Friday to finally close out a 6-4, 6-7 (12), 6-3 victory over Daniel Altmaier and help the Netherlands reach its first Davis Cup final by sweeping Germany. Tallon Griekspoor, who is ranked 40th, sealed the 2-0 win for the Dutch in the best-of-three-match semi-final by hitting 25 aces and coming back to defeat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-4. When it ended, appropriately, on an ace, Griekspoor shut his eyes, dropped to his knees and spread his arms wide. Also Read: 'Was worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties': Federer’s tribute to Nadal hits all the right notes “We have been talking about this for two, three years,” Griekspoor said. “We believed in ourselves so much. We always felt like this was possible. To do it now feels unbelievable.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 November,2024 08:07 AM IST | Malaga (Spain) | AP | PTIA woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros (USD 257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland. Also Read: Jake Paul believes he is title-ready, but Mike Tyson might be done in the ring at 58 Nikita Hand said the December 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 November,2024 08:06 AM IST | London | AP | PTIThe Indian men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty bowed out in the semi-finals of the China Masters Super 750 badminton tournament, losing in three games to Korea’s Jin Yong and Seo Seung Jae on Saturday. Also Read: Star shuttlers Sat-Chi eye ‘great things’ at Paris Oly Competing in their first event since the Paris Olympics, the former World No. 1 Indian pair, who had reached the finals in the last edition, couldn’t maintain the pressure in a 74-minute encounter, going down 18-21, 21-14, 16-21 to the unseeded Korean duo. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 November,2024 08:04 AM IST | Shenzhen (China) | PTIAsian Games bronze medallist Gulveer Singh on Saturday bettered his own national record in 10,000m race while winning gold in the 2024 Hachioji Long Distance meet in Japan. Also Read: From the sole and the soul: Mumbai's running community mourns loss of Mufaddal Hararwala The 26-year-old Singh clocked 27 minute 14.88 seconds to win the race at Hachioji, near Tokyo. His earlier national record in the event was 27:41.81s which he had clocked on March 16 at The TEN event in San Juan, USA. He had won a bronze medal in the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games with a time of 28:17.21s. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 November,2024 08:04 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIGeorge Russell of Mercedes took pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Friday while title-chasing Max Verstappen was fifth as the Dutchman closes in on a fourth successive world championship. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was second ahead of Pierre Gasly of Alpine with Red Bull’s Verstappen finishing one spot ahead of title rival Lando Norris of McLaren who was sixth. Verstappen leads Norris by 62 points with three races remaining and needs simply to finish ahead of him to become only the sixth man to win four world titles. Norris has to beat Verstappen by three points to keep his slim hopes alive. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 November,2024 08:02 AM IST | Las Vegas | AFPADVERTISEMENT
