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GCL: Carlsen scores ‘massive’ win over Anand to put Warriors in lead

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Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Two days after Magnus Carlsen told the media in Dubai he is still the best in the world with no one to beat him, he proved it by example in the ongoing Global Chess League.

The icon player for SG Alpine Warriors kept the pressure on leaders Ganges Grandmasters by a morale-lifting victory and a historic clash with counterpart Vishwanathan Anand at Le Meridien hotel on Wednesday. A huge turnout at Le Meridien got what they came for as Carlsen, playing with black, overturned the tables in a memorable endgame.

Ganges Grandmasters took the lead but, thanks to the unstoppable Warriors prodigy Praggnanandhaa R, the team managed to strike back in a critical moment. In what turned out to be the endgame for the history books, which saw two queens promoted by White and a knight promoted by Black, Carlsen managed to win 10-8 as Warriors displaced the Grandmasters on the leaderboard as both sides look headed to the final as well.

In the other game, Balan Alaskan Knights also scored a timely 8-5 win over upGrad Mumba Masters to inch up a spot from their fifth place at the start of the day.

Following the French defence, a sharp position developed on the board. In positional readjusting, both were pushing, creating traps for each other. With seconds on the clock, Carlsen had to calculate the complicated path to victory which saw White promoting his pawn to a queen twice. In the end, Anand thought he found a way to a stalemate but instead of promoting a queen, Carlsen took out a knight – an unusual choice by all standards – but just what was needed for victory.

“I did not know the score but, judging from what I’d seen before, I thought I had to win,” Carlsen said. “It’s looking pretty good now.  It’s pretty massive, we’ve got to keep it going. We have played with five blacks in a row, won four of them. But now the mentality changes; a draw will not be enough.”

A disappointed Anand acknowledged the genius of Carlsen. “I spoiled the endgame in the end. He’s really good at this,” said the former five-time world champion from India.


For a long time in the match, neither side had the upper hand. The first to make a breakthrough was Ganges’ Richard Rapport. In the Italian game, Gukesh D allowed Rapport to take more space and orchestrate an attack on the black king from which there was no escape. With another game ending in a draw – between Arjun Erigaisi and Leinier Dominguez – the Ganges Grandmasters took the lead.

The next game to finish was between Hou Yifan – the world’s top-rated woman player – who defeated the eight-time American women’s champion, Irina Krush. In a tense position, Krush made a blunder allowing White to easily mate her king.

A glimmer of hope for Warriors came from Praggnanandhaa – so far the most successful player in the tournament with six wins and a draw – who proved his value again, defeating Andrey Esipenko as Black.

As Elisabeth Paehtz ended in a drawn position with Bella Khotenashvili, everything depended on the outcome of the game between Carlsen and Anand. “This is a game for the history books. The titans of chess fighting it out until the end”, said Grandmaster Peter Svidler.


Balan Alaskan Knights v upGrad Mumba Masters (8:5)

Knights, who won the first round against the Masters 14:5, started with the advantage of playing with white. Icon player Ian Nepomniachtchi went for the Sicilian Rossolimo against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Both the Indian women’s Grandmasters, Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli, also came under opening pressure straightaway.

The Knights’ started the day in fifth position but in the individual race for the most valuable players, they had two players, Tan Zhongyi and Nodirbek Abdusattorov, in good form and in the top six, just behind the Masters’ Harika Dronavalli in fourth.

By the time the dust settled on the opening moves, Humpy was in a disadvantageous position against Zhongyi although the latter had used up more time for her attack. On board one, the icon players settled for a draw, just as Teimour Radjabov and Vidit Gujrathi on the third table.

Meanwhile, a patient Humpy made calculated moves to fight back and Zhongyi also misplayed at a crucial juncture as Humpy bailed out. Dronavalli also held off the initial onslaught from Nino Batsiashvili to split the point.

All hopes rested on board six, where Knights prodigy Raunak Sadhwani pressed his advantage with white Javokhir Sindarov with the time clock also in the favour of the young 17-year-old from Nagpur. The endgame saw some nervous shaking of feet before Sadhwani enforced a win and expressed his delight by throwing his hands in the air.

In the last game to finish, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, in white, was in a tight tug of war with Alexander Grischuk for most of their clash. Abdusattorov then managed to hold fort, thus paving way for an important 8-5 win for the Knights.

Raunak Sadhwani scored an important win for Balan Alaskan Knights.

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Dubai or Abu Dhabi? NFL considers bringing American Football to the UAE

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The NFL is eyeing the possibility of bringing a regular-season game to the UAE, with Dubai or Abu Dhabi as potential host cities.

Peter O’Reilly, the league’s executive vice president, confirmed the interest during a press conference at the NFL owners’ meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday.

“We don’t know the timing, and it’s really an ‘if’ in terms of whether we’ll play a game there. What I will say is that’s a market where there’s strong interest in our game on a year-round basis, it’s a market we’ll continue to explore,” O’Reilly stated.

The league has already conducted exploratory visits to assess the feasibility of hosting a game in the UAE but emphasized that further evaluation is needed before making a decision.

As part of the NFL’s international expansion, games were held in Brazil, England, and Germany in 2024. These countries will remain on the schedule in 2025, along with Spain and Ireland. Additionally, Australia is set to host a game in 2026.

In a further move to strengthen its presence in the UAE, the NFL expanded its global markets program on Monday, granting the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Washington Commanders international marketing rights in the region.

If the plan materialises, it would mark a significant step for American football in the Middle East, tapping into a growing international fan base and boosting the sport’s global reach.

(Source: Reuters)

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UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia eye joint bid for Rugby World Cup

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The UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are preparing a joint bid to host the 2035 or 2039 Rugby World Cup, marking a major step in the region’s growing involvement in global sports. The president of Asia Rugby, Qais Al Dhalai, has confirmed the bid, which aims to bring the prestigious tournament back to Asia for the first time since Japan hosted it in 2019.

Asia Rugby has pledged its full support for the bid, emphasizing the Middle East’s potential as a premier host destination. The organisation has urged World Rugby to consider multi-nation bids, a model that has been successful in football, including the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

A Bold Vision for Rugby in the Gulf

“As our leaders in the Gulf believe, nothing is impossible,” Al Dhalai told The Times. “I foresee this as something that might happen in 2035. If World Rugby works hard on this with a solid plan, it is achievable.”

He highlighted the readiness of stadiums across the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to host a world-class event, stressing that a multi-nation model could transform the Rugby World Cup just as it has for football.

To accommodate the region’s climate, the proposed tournament would take place in December and conclude in January, ensuring optimal conditions for players and fans. This timing would require adjustments to the global rugby calendar, particularly the Six Nations tournament, which traditionally starts in February.

Gulf Nations Poised to Boost Rugby’s Global Appeal

Al Dhalai, who also serves as president of the UAE Rugby Federation, expressed confidence that hosting the Rugby World Cup in the Middle East would unlock unprecedented commercial opportunities for the sport. He pointed to the strong financial backing available in the region, citing existing partnerships such as Emirates Airlines’ sponsorship of World Rugby and the Dubai Sevens, as well as Qatar Airways’ recent investment in the United Rugby Championship.

“The Gulf is home to major corporations and sovereign wealth funds that are eager to invest in global sports. Rugby is already benefiting from this, and a World Cup in the region would be a game-changer,” Al Dhalai said.

A Transformative Opportunity for Rugby

While rugby is still in its developmental phase in the Gulf, hosting a World Cup would significantly accelerate the sport’s growth. Asia Rugby remains convinced that the commercial appeal and fanbase across the wider Asian continent would ensure a successful tournament.

The bidding process for the 2035 Rugby World Cup is set to begin within the next two years, with competition from European nations like Italy and Spain. The UAE and its Gulf partners will be making a strong case, not just as hosts but as key players in rugby’s global expansion.

(Source: Times)

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Dubai World Cup to go global with record-breaking broadcast

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The Dubai World Cup is set to captivate the world once again. The 29th edition of the iconic horse racing fixture, taking place at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday, April 5, will be broadcast in a staggering 170 countries worldwide.

Known as the most international race day on the planet, the event will feature elite competitors from over a dozen nations battling it out across nine thrilling races, headlined by the $12 million Dubai World Cup.

A record-breaking 37 broadcasters will air the spectacle live, including Channel 7, which will bring the race to Australian mainstream TV for the first time. Canada’s Sportsnet and India’s Fancode — with a whopping 160 million users — are also on board.

Other major networks include Fox Sports (US), ESPN/Star+ (South America), SuperSport (Africa), and top European broadcasters like Eurovision, Viaplay, and Setanta Sports.

In the Middle East, fans can catch the action on Dubai Racing Channel, Yas TV (Abu Dhabi), and Saudi Sports Channel. Asia won’t miss out either, with coverage on Japan’s Green Channel, Fuji TV, Kansai, and NetKeiba, as well as HKJC TV, Cable TV, Now TV, and TVB in Hong Kong.

Even cruise lines and airlines — including title sponsor Emirates Airline—will stream the event, ensuring fans can watch from anywhere. And with CNN Worldwide bringing highlights to its 347 million viewers, the Dubai World Cup is set to make waves like never before.

(Source: Wam)

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