Sports

GG maintain stronghold halfway into Global Chess League

Published

2 years ago

June 27, 2023

Ganges Grandmasters regained the lead in the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League halfway point from SG Alpine Warriors at Le Meridien hotel, Dubai, on Monday.

After the first match out of the two scheduled for the day, Vishwanathan Anand’s Ganges Grandmasters beat Triveni Continental Kings 14:2 to go on top. The Grandmasters reached 12 points from five games. The Warriors had a chance to go back into the lead – in their sixth game though – but they lost to bottom table Balan Alaskan Knights.

After this match, the teams start the second phase of the round-robin, where those who have been white in the first encounter now play black, and vice versa.

Hou Yifan, right, defeated Kateryna Lagno to play a part in Ganges Grandmasters taking the top spot on Day 5. Courtesy GCL

Ganges Grandmasters vs Triveni Continental Kings

This was a day of big hope for Triveni Continental Kings. The team which features top-world players such as Levon Aronian, Yu Yangyi, and three-time women blitz champion Kateryna Lagno had high hopes ahead of the match with Ganges Grandmasters. With two victories in four matches, they needed to win to stage a rally.

The final coin toss was won by Ganges Grandmasters who, after three successive victories, suffered a defeat in the fourth round which removed them from the lead in the League. Grandmasters took the early initiative early thanks to Georgian GM Bella Khotenashvili who achieved a strong position against compatriot Nana Dzagnidze. Her win was quickly followed by Hou Yifan’s victory over Lagno. Then, on board three, Leinier Dominguez was better against China’s Wei Yi.

Birthday boy Jonas Buhl Bjerre (who turned 19 today) did a good job for the Kings holding a level position against the very strong Andrey Esipenko. But former five-time world champion Anand got the upper hand against Levon Aronian despite his best efforts to finish last of all boards. Grandmasters have four victories as white and two draws.

Loek van Wely, manager of Triveni Continental Kings was blunt after the game: “It was a crushing defeat for us. I think the rest day and the visit to the Dubai Mall, was a bit overwhelming for some of the team and they still haven’t recovered. We will seriously need to think about what to do next.”

Balan Alaskan Knights’ position did not justify their position given the team’s composition heading into a match against the Warriors. The two sides were evenly matched at the outset. Knowing they need to make a push, the Knights opted for more sharp play, avoiding lines for a draw.

On board five, Knights’ Nino Batsiashvili created a winning position against the strongest German woman player Elisabeth Paehtz and won. On board four, Tan Zhongyi had more initiative over America’s eight-time women’s champion, Irina Krush.

On board two, 2021 world rapid champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov was pressing hard against Gukesh D and managed to win. One of the top performers in the BAK team, Praggnananadhaa scored another important victory for his squad, against Raunak Sadhwani.

Ian Nepomniachtchi tries to look at signs of pressure in the demeanor of his rival Magnus Carlsen. Courtesy GCL

Some glimmer of hope for SG Alpine Warriors came with a draw on board three between Radjabov and Erigaisi. The victory for Knights depended on what Zhongyi does against Krush. Despite entering time trouble, the former women’s world champion from China managed to win against Krush. It was noticeable that Tan was shaking after the game from the excitement.

The match was already decided as the board one game was still going on. Ian Nepomniachtchi was playing against Magnus Carlsen. The two know each other well and Dubai was the home of their 2021 match for the World Championship title, which Carlsen won. Nepomniachtchi gave up a pawn early to get more initiative, however, Carlsen coordinated his pieces well and as they were moving towards the endgame he started raising the pressure on White.

Nepomniachtchi was on the back foot and gradually started to fall behind. By the end, he was lost and Carlsen scored another victory but that wasn’t enough to change the outcome of the match. The final result was 10:9 for the Knights.

Staff Reporter

Announcements

WORLD PADEL LEAGUE IN INDIA: YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO TEAMS, RULES & BROADCAST

Published

11 hours ago

February 4, 2025

Staff Reporter

The dawn of February 5 will mark a new chapter for padel in India as the World Padel League makes its much-anticipated debut at the Nesco Center in Mumbai. ‘The Greatest Show on Court!’, set to take place until February 8, will bring together 32 of the world’s top padel players on Indian soil. They will compete across four teams – Sohail Khan Ent. Panthers, SG Pipers Cheetahs, Game Changers Lions, and Vernost Jaguars – with each team featuring a strong lineup of eight players, including five men and three women, along with a coach/captain.

Padel in India has seen a significant rise in participation and expanding infrastructure across major cities, with people of various age categories actively engaging in the sport. With support from the Indian Padel Federation (IPF), the Meteora Developers World Padel League – owned by ID Info Business Services Ltd. and powered by Maisour – will further inspire sports enthusiasts and contribute to the sport’s growing popularity in India.

SOLID SQUADS

The line-ups for all four teams are boasts a combination of elite talent and global rankings that promise high-level competition.

Sohail Khan Ent. Panthers
Male: Carlos Daniel Gutierrez (World No. 19), Javier Barahona (World No. 29), Javier Leal (World No. 31), Javier Garcia (World No. 33), Rama Valenzuela (World No. 77)
Female: Marta Ortega (World No. 7), Sofia Araujo (World No. 8), Marina Guinart (World No. 22)
SG Pipers Cheetahs
Male: Francisco Guerrero (World No. 21), Juanlu Esbri (World No. 25), Enrique Goenaga (World No. 42), Teodoro Zapata (World No. 35), Pol Hernandez (World No. 65)
Female: Claudia Fernandez (World No. 3), Beatriz Gonzalez (World No. 6), Julieta Bidahorria (World No. 35)
Game Changers Lions
Male: Jon Sanz (World No. 9), Jairo Bautista (World No. 22), Gonzalo Rubio (World No. 38), Pablo Lijo (World No. 47), Daniel Santigosa (World No. 73)
Female: Veronica Virseda (World No. 12), Aranzazu Osoro (World No. 18), Carla Mesa (World No. 32)
Vernost Jaguars
Male: Alejandro Arroyo (World No. 18), Lucas Campagnolo (World No. 26), Maximiliano Sanchez (World No. 23), Aris Patiniotis (World No. 51), David Gala Sanchez (World No. 76)
Female: Alejandra Salazar (World No. 15), Tamara Icardo (World No. 17), María Virginia Riera (World No. 19)

EXCITING MATCH-UPS

The World Padel League will kickstart with a thrilling opener as the Vernost Jaguars face Sohail Khan Ent. Panthers. In the second match of the opening day, SG Pipers Cheetahs will take on Game Changers Lions.

On the second day, Sohail Khan Ent. Panthers will meet SG Pipers Cheetahs in the first match of the day, followed by a clash between Vernost Jaguars and Game Changers Lions. The league stage concludes on February 7, with Game Changers Lions taking on Sohail Khan Ent. Panthers in the first match and the SG Pipers Cheetahs facing Vernost Jaguars in the second. The top two teams from the overall points table will compete in the finals on February 8.

FORMAT, SCORING and POINTS SYSTEM

The tournament will follow a single round-robin (all-play-all) format, with each team playing against every other team during the three league stage days, before the top two teams advance to the finals. Each match will comprise four sets: two men’s doubles, one women’s doubles, and one mixed doubles.

The scoring follows the same format as tennis: the first point is 15, the second point is 30, the third point is 40, and the fourth point wins the game. In the case of a deuce, a ‘Golden Point’ will be played to decide the winner.

During the group phase, if two teams are tied on points, the head-to-head record, based on the number of games won between the two teams, will determine the ranking. If three teams are level on points, the percentage of games won will be used to decide the order. In the case of a tie after the final match, a Super Shootout will be played to determine the winner.

The same doubles pair that played the fourth set will continue in the Super Shootout. It will be played first-to-10 points, with sudden death at 9-9.

WHEN AND WHERE TO WATCH

Each day will feature two matches (at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM IST). The final will be held on Saturday, February 8 with the game starting at 6:30 PM IST.

The World Padel League will be broadcast to a global audience, reaching to various countries. Sports enthusiasts can catch the action live on:

Styx sports: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal
Myco: GCC, Egypt, Pakistan
India: Sony Sports Ten 1; Fancode (OTT)
Padel TV: Scandinavia and UK

Sports

UAE Skaters shine at Oman’s First International Skating Championship

Published

2 days ago

February 3, 2025

Suhani Singh

Muscat: A historic moment for Oman as the Elite Sports Club, in collaboration with the Skating Association of Oman, hosted the country’s inaugural International Skating Championship at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Stadium.

The event saw impressive performances, particularly from Rithu Vinu (7), Ishaan Krishna (9), Jia Jijesh (14), and Abhinav Ratheesh (12)—all from the UAE. Under the guidance of coach Jude (Senior category), these young skaters dominated the competition, clinching gold medals in all three categories: 100 meters, 400 meters, and 1 kilometer.

The championship featured fierce competition, with skaters from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, the UAE, and Iran vying for top honors.

Sports

Sharjah Warriorz cruise into playoffs with Kohler-Cadmore’s heroics

Published

3 days ago

February 2, 2025

Staff Reporter

Sharjah Warriorz completed a sensational comeback in the tournament as they became the third team to seal a spot in the playoffs at the DP World ILT20 Season 3. Buoyed by a stellar knock from Tom Kohler-Cadmore, the Warriorz defeated the MI Emirates by eight wickets in a must-win match, here at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The result also knocks the Gulf Giants out of the race for a playoff berth, while the Dubai Capitals and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders are in contention for the fourth spot.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore stood out with 91 runs in 52 balls in an endeavour that saw seven fours and five sixes. Matthew Wade, playing his first game of the season, also made his presence felt with a breezy knock of 44 runs in 25 balls. The victory not only also placed Sharjah Warriorz into the playoffs for the first time in the history of the competition but also marked the team’s first win against the MI Emirates across three seasons.

Earlier in the day, Tom Banton extended his purple patch to remain unbeaten on 84 runs and drove the MI Emirates to 173/5 despite Tim Southee’s frugal spell of 1 for 22 in four overs.

Though the Warriorz lost Johnson Charles early for only 14 runs, they had a lucrative powerplay with Jason Roy smoking 18 runs off Alzarri Joseph in the sixth over to finish the phase at 59/1 with Tom Kohler-Cadmore unbeaten on 24 runs at the other end.

While Roy was run out soon after for 22 runs 15 balls, Opener Tom Kohler-Cadmore was in fine form, cracking boundaries at will. Kohler-Cadmore smashed Waqar Salamkheil for a six and four on his way to a 29-ball fifty that comprised four fours and three sixes, in the 10th over.

Australia’s Matthew Wade joined Kohler-Cadmore in a 102-run stand that came in just 55 balls. Wade took the pressure of Kohler-Cadmore, taking up the onus of finding the boundaries. At the 13 over mark, the Warriorz needed 52 runs in 42 balls and were firmly in the driver’s seat.

The equation was further whittled down to 24 runs needed in 30 balls as Wade struck three sixes including two off Alzarri Joseph. The Warriorz eventually romped home in 17.2 overs.

Batting first, MI Emirates lost both openers in the powerplay, up against an economical spell from Warriorz skipper Tim Southee. Muhammad Waseem got a start but couldn’t convert falling to Southee for 21 runs. Meanwhile Andre Fletcher was run out for 11 runs as they finished the powerplay at 45/2

Tom Banton and Kusal Perera took the innings ahead with a crucial 75-run stand in 53 balls. The pair scored conservatively until they took Ashton Agar for 16 runs in the 12th. Banton followed it up with two consecutive sixes off Zampa in the next over to increase the run rate significantly.

Perera looked dangerous but he holed out to deep square leg off Dilshan Madushanka in the 15th over, bringing the score to 120/3.

The death overs were important for the Emirates, netting 47 runs as Banton cruised to his half century in 35 balls that included four boundaries and four sixes. MI Emirates captain, Nicholas Pooran was unable to replicate his exploits from the previous game as he was dismissed by Adam Milne for eight runs in the 18th over. Banton remained unbeaten on 84 runs in 51 balls, as the MI Emirates posted 173/5.

Player of the Match, Tom Kohler-Cadmore said: “We’ve been playing for three years, and we haven’t been to the finals, that was the goal going into this season. Tim Southee bowled well and set it up today. I just want to put the pressure back on them, sometimes they’ll get the better of me, but I tend to do well if I get a start, and I had some luck as well. Wade played some fine shots and eased us home. We’ve had a great group; the boys have been together even when we lost heavily.”

MI Emirates captain, Nicholas Pooran said: “I thought we were 10-15 runs short. We allowed them to get back into the game too many times, both with the ball and the bat. They batted well, and our fielding wasn’t great in terms of execution. We missed a few chances and were sloppy in the field. They also bowled well into the wicket and put us under pressure.”

Brief Scores

Sharjah Warriorz beat MI Emirates by eight wickets

MI Emirates 173/5 in 20 overs (Tom Banton 84 not out, Kusal Perera 31, Muhammad Waseem 21, Tim Southee 1 for 22, Dilshan Madushanka 1 for 33, Adam Milne 1 for 40)

Sharjah Warriorz 176/2 in 17.2 overs (Tom Kohler-Cadmore 91 not out, Matthew Wade 44 not out, Jason Roy 22, Fazalhaq Farooqi 1 for 22)

Player of the Match: Tom Kohler-Cadmore