Posts

Posted on

When Jimmy White came closest to winning the world snooker title

White lost four finals to Stephen Hendry at the Crucible. Their meeting 30 years ago was the one that really got away

By Steven Pye for That 1980s Sports Blog

Monday, 2 May 1994. Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White are locked in a final-frame decider in the World Championship final. With White leading 37-24 and the table open, even the usually stoic Hendry is showing signs of concern. White bends down to tackle a black he would normally pot with his eyes closed.

It should have been his crowning glory, the moment White conquered his Everest. Instead it was the day the music died. A gasp echoed around the Crucible as White’s attempt at the black failed to threaten the pocket. All he could do was sit, wait and hope that Hendry would give him one more shot.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Bagnaia wins Spanish Grand Prix to close gap in MotoGP world standings

  • Francesco Bagnaia wins in Spain for third straight year
  • Reigning world champion closes gap to leader Jorge Martín

The reigning MotoGP champion, Francesco Bagnaia, won his third straight Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday to make up ground on Jorge Martín in the world championship standings after the Pramac Racing rider crashed out of the race while leading. Marc Márquez, the six-times MotoGP champion, finished second from pole position for Gresini Racing at the Circuito de Jerez, with VR46 Racing’s Marco Bezzecchi third.

Bagnaia, who started on the third row of the grid in seventh place, put himself in the mix early on with a series of audacious overtakes on the first lap, zipping past Bezzecchi, Martín and Márquez to take the lead. Saturday’s sprint winner Martín quickly wrested back the lead and was in front for much of the first half of the race, but the Spaniard lost the front-end of his Ducati on the 11th lap and was dumped in the gravel.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Luke Littler silences Liverpool boo boys with Premier League darts win

  • Teenager beats Rob Cross 6-2 at the M&S Bank Arena
  • Manchester United fan enjoyed some lively banter

Luke Littler silenced the boo boys by claiming a sweet Premier League victory in Liverpool. The 17-year-old was on the receiving end of jeers at the M&S Bank Arena but turned them into cheers as he hammered Rob Cross 6-2 in the final, where the hostile crowd could not help but watch in admiration.

The 17-year-old has been a fans’ favourite since bursting on to the scene at the world championship over Christmas but his antics on social media have not been well received on Merseyside. Littler is an avid Manchester United fan and has enjoyed goading bitter rivals Liverpool in recent weeks as their quadruple hopes have crumbled.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Vi~ales makes it a perfect weekend at MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas

  • Aprilia rider adds race victory to sprint race triumph
  • Acosta becomes youngest rider to take back-to-back podiums

Aprilia’s Maverick Viñales completed the perfect weekend at the Grand Prix of the Americas when the pole sitter and sprint winner claimed victory in Sunday’s race despite dropping outside the top 10 on the opening lap after a poor start.

Viñales became the first rider to win a Sunday race with three different manufacturers – having won with Suzuki and Yamaha in the past – taking the chequered flag in an eventful race that had several lead changes.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Manchester United loss inspires Luke Littler to second Premier League win

  • The Warrington teenager defeats Gerwyn Price 6-3
  • Littler follows up winning the event last week in Belfast

Luke Littler was inspired to win his Premier League homecoming by Manchester United’s late collapse at Chelsea.

Littler, a staunch United fan, came on to stage at the AO Arena in Manchester moments after watching his side concede two goals in injury time to lose 4-3 at Stamford Bridge and claimed a second successive weekly Premier League win, beating Gerwyn Price 6-3 in the final.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Luke Humphries thrashes Michael van Gerwen to win German Darts Grand Prix

  • World champion beats Dutchman 8-1 in Munich
  • Humphries made six 180s and 170 check outs

The world champion, Luke Humphries, roared to victory in the German Darts Grand Prix, crushing the three-time winner Michael van Gerwen 8-1 in the final in Munich.

Humphries was unstoppable at the Zenith, site of his maiden European Tour title two years ago, racking up 6-2 wins over Ryan Joyce and Danny Noppert before beating Gerwyn Price 7-3.

Continue reading...
Posted on

F1 owner Liberty Media announces takeover of MotoGP

  • US-based company buys 86% stake for €3.5bn from Dorna
  • Takeover subject to clearance and could attract scrutiny

Formula One’s US-based owner Liberty Media has announced a takeover of MotoGP’s parent company Dorna, MotoGP said in a statement on Monday.

Dorna will stay an independently run company attributed to Liberty Media’s Formula One Group tracking stock and continue to be based in Madrid, with the long-serving Dorna chief executive Carmelo Ezpeleta remaining in his position, the statement said.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Jorge Martín dominates in Portugal to take MotoGP lead after eventful race

  • Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Márquez crash out in collision
  • Rookie rider Pedro Acosta shines to claim first podium place

Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martín won the Portuguese Grand Prix at the Algarve International Circuit on Sunday to take the MotoGP championship lead, while 19-year-old rookie Pedro Acosta earned his first premier-class podium with a blistering charge after starting seventh.

Acosta finished third behind pole-sitter Enea Bastianini after Saturday’s sprint winner Maverick Viñales, who was in second place, crashed on the final lap due to what appeared to be a technical problem with the gearbox.

Continue reading...
Posted on

A model of the reliable and durable: Mitchell Starc and a rare piece of cricket history | Geoff Lemon

The Australian quick’s modesty after passing Dennis Lillee’s mark of 355 Test wickets belies the fact the milestone is serious business

In the second week of March this year, Mitchell Starc passed a big number: Dennis Keith Lillee’s 355 Test wickets, which was still second for any Australian fast bowler. This coming Saturday, in the fourth week of March, Starc will pass another: as the most expensive player yet to take the field in the Indian Premier League, with a season’s contract a lick under US$3m.

In the modern era, with the focus on cricket’s shift from a long-form demonstration of international pride to a short-form instrument of commerce, most people would probably see the second number as more significant. Lillee was the sensation of the 1970s, but you would have to be nearing 50 to remember seeing him bowl.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Six Nations produces vintage year despite the usual winners and losers

Even with Ireland once again top, a middle England, and Italy and Wales battling at the bottom, the tournament still thrills

At first glance not an awful lot changed during the men’s Six Nations championship this year. Ireland and France occupied the table’s top two positions, as they did in 2023, with Wales and Italy in the bottom two and England and Scotland once again the meat in the club sandwich. Ireland, for the third year in a row, had the meanest defence and only the winless Welsh, strangely, managed to score more tries than last year.

Yet if this was not a vintage Six Nations in absolutely all respects, the old tournament is enjoying a refreshing renaissance. The competition is now so tight that 10 of the 15 matches were decided by four points or fewer, including all three of the final-round games. If Netflix cannot stitch together an award winning series from the stunning “Super Saturday” footage alone it should abandon its fly‑on‑the‑wall cameras and walk away.

Continue reading...