Afghanistan all-rounder Karim Janat produced a match-winning display of power-hitting as Yas Lions defeated United Tigers by 13 runs in the Abu Dhabi T10, handing the Tigers their first defeat of the season.

Janat turned the contest around with a blistering innings after the Lions had slipped to 50 for three. He launched consecutive sixes against Abbas Afridi before repeating the feat against Faheem Ashraf in the following over. Alongside Tom Moores, he lifted Yas Lions to 115 for five.

United Tigers, who had won their first three matches, were restricted to 102 for five in reply.

“There is a saying in cricket that if it is a cricketer’s day, he can do anything,” Janat said after the match, reflecting on his decisive contribution.

Pakistan T20I captain Sahibzada Farhan, who opened the batting for the Tigers, acknowledged that Janat’s innings had shifted the momentum.

“Credit goes to Karim Janat for the way he batted from there. If a batter gets a start like that, it is very difficult for the bowlers to come back,” Farhan said. 

“This is T10 cricket. If one or two overs go for 15 or 20, the match goes out of your hands.”

Hosein kept Lions in the game

Despite Janat’s late assault, the Lions still had to defend their total against a Tigers side that remained in contention for much of the chase. Fakhar Zaman’s 44 kept the visitors in the hunt, but West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein delivered the decisive blow.

The Lions had used Hosein for one of his two overs during the powerplay and held the other back for the closing stages. The left-arm spinner conceded just five runs in the final over to seal the victory.

Janat said the Tigers had been in control during the bowling innings until Hosein’s return changed the contest.

“In bowling, the match was in their hands. But when Akeal came back, the whole scenario changed, and the match came to our side. It was a plan from the beginning. It is difficult for a left-hander to play a left-arm spinner,” he said.

The Lions also relied on the ground’s long boundaries and a disciplined wide-yorker strategy.

“The ground is big, so we planned that a wide yorker is no issue. The batter has to change his mind. If a batter’s mind changes in a short format, anything can happen,” Janat explained.

He added that confidence and sticking to the basics were central to defending a total in the fast-paced format.

Stick to basics

“Here a bowler is happy if he gives 10 runs in an over. As Jason Holder told us, have self-belief and stick to the basics. We kept a simple plan, and the ball went where we wanted it to go,” he said.

Farhan offered a similar assessment from the losing dressing room, pointing to Hosein’s change of pace as a key factor in the final stages.

“In T10, it is ball to ball. Akeal Hosein took the pace off, and from there it got away from us,” he said.

Farhan also explained the decision to retire Iftikhar Ahmed and send Abbas Afridi to the crease.

“Sometimes it is not your day and you are not timing the ball, so you try the next player. Unfortunately, it did not work for us today,” he said.

Beyond the result, both players highlighted the value of franchise leagues in developing cricketers and building relationships across national teams.

Janat credited the experience gained through competitions such as the T10, ILT20 and IPL for the progress Afghanistan’s players have made in recent years.

“The benefit comes from the league cricket we play, T10, ILT20, IPL, all the leagues. National players share the dugout with overseas players and you get a lot of experience from them. That is where the confidence comes from,” he said.

Farhan said the Tigers’ dressing room, which brings together Pakistani, Afghan, overseas and UAE-based players, had developed a strong sense of togetherness.

“We have Pakistani boys, Afghan boys and other boys, and a local boy we have played cricket with. We are all brothers, and we play a lot of cricket together,” he said.

Demanding schedule

The demanding schedule has also tested the squad, with the Tigers having played four matches in five days.

“We played four matches in five days, and tomorrow we have a rest,” Farhan said.

The defeat comes during a significant year for the 30-year-old opener, who led Pakistan to silver at the Asian Games in Japan before being appointed the country’s T20I captain in October.

Farhan acknowledged that the leadership role had brought a different level of responsibility.

“When you play as a player, you play for your country. When you become captain, you are responsible for all the players, and people look at you in a different way. I will keep trying to improve as a captain,” he said.

Asked about his preferred opening partner, Farhan named his United Tigers teammate Fakhar Zaman, who scored 44 in the chase.

“Fakhar Zaman. We are proud of him. When he is standing at the non-striker’s end, you do not feel so much pressure even if you play a dot ball,” he said.

Despite the setback, Farhan remained upbeat about the Tigers’ campaign, pointing to their three victories in four matches.

“We have won three out of four, so the morale of the team is high,” he said.

United Tigers will return to action on Friday against Emirates Eagles, as Yas Lions, who have won two of their three matches, face Arabian Aces.

The Abu Dhabi T10 has joined hands with global music streaming platform Spotify to bring cricket and music together during the tournament’s landmark 10th edition, introducing exclusive team playlists and live DJ performances for fans.

With the Abu Dhabi T10 2026 taking place from November 7 to 20 at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Spotify has come on board as the tournament’s Official Audio Streaming Partner. The collaboration aims to enhance the match day atmosphere and provide supporters with new ways to connect with their favourite teams through music.

The partnership features the Spotify Powerplay Zone, which will host live DJ performances at the stadium, alongside six exclusive playlists created to reflect the identity, energy and personality of each participating franchise.

Fans can explore the dedicated playlists through the official Abu Dhabi T10 Spotify page, extending the tournament experience beyond the cricket ground.

Spotify Powerplay Zone brings live music to the stadium

A major attraction of the partnership is the Spotify Powerplay Zone at Zayed Cricket Stadium, where live DJ sets will add a musical dimension to the excitement of match days.

The activation is designed to create a more vibrant stadium environment, allowing spectators to enjoy music alongside the fast-paced cricket action.

In addition to the live entertainment, Spotify has introduced six dedicated playlists, with each one representing the character and spirit of an Abu Dhabi T10 franchise.

The playlists give supporters another way to celebrate their favourite teams, whether they are watching matches from the stands or following the tournament from different parts of the world.

Abu Dhabi T10 aims to expand cricket’s entertainment appeal

Matt Boucher, CEO of tournament owner Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub (ADCSH) and Abu Dhabi T10, said the partnership reflects the tournament’s ambition to create an entertainment experience that extends beyond the cricket field.

He highlighted that cricket is about passion, identity and shared experiences that connect supporters across different cultures and countries.

According to Boucher, the collaboration with Spotify will help bring the distinctive personalities of the six participating teams to life through music while creating additional opportunities for supporters to engage with the competition.

He also noted that the partnership supports Abu Dhabi T10’s efforts to reach new audiences, strengthen its international appeal and position Abu Dhabi as a destination where world-class sports and entertainment come together.

Spotify to create exclusive playlists for teams

Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan, Head of Marketing, MENAT+ at Spotify, said music plays an important role in how fans celebrate the sports and teams they love.

He expressed excitement about the collaboration, explaining that the six dedicated team playlists would provide supporters with their own soundtracks and another way to feel connected to the tournament.

Whether cheering from the stadium or following the matches remotely, fans can use the playlists to celebrate their favourite franchises and experience the excitement of Abu Dhabi T10 through music.

The 10th edition of Abu Dhabi T10 is being held at Zayed Cricket Stadium from November 7 to 20, 2026.

With the introduction of the Spotify Powerplay Zone and exclusive franchise playlists, Abu Dhabi T10 is looking to strengthen its position as a sporting event that offers more than on-field competition.

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen made a winning start to the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot, claiming first place in the opening nine-round Blitz Swiss tournament in Budapest on Tuesday.

The Norwegian chess superstar finished unbeaten with 7 points out of 9 at the Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel. France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave secured second place with 6.5 points, while Levon Aronian finished third with 6 points.

Carlsen sealed the top position in the final round by defeating Armenia’s Haik M. Martirosyan with the black pieces. Meanwhile, Vachier-Lagrave was held to a draw by Hans Niemann, allowing Carlsen to finish half a point clear at the top of the standings.

The opening Blitz tournament marked the first competitive stage of the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot, which brings together 24 elite players to compete across Blitz, Rapid and Fast Classical formats to identify the most complete chess player.

How Carlsen dominated opening round

Carlsen and Vachier-Lagrave emerged as the leading contenders throughout the opening evening, maintaining the pace at the top of the leaderboard.

Carlsen entered the final round unbeaten with 6 points from eight games. His victories included wins against Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Richard Rapport, India’s Arjun Erigaisi and Anish Giri.

He also secured draws against Vachier-Lagrave, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Hans Niemann and Aronian before completing his campaign with a final-round victory.

Vachier-Lagrave remained in contention after defeating Alireza Firouzja in the eighth round to draw level with Carlsen. However, his final-round draw meant the French grandmaster had to settle for second place.

Carlsen’s opening victory gives him an important advantage heading into the subsequent stages of the championship.

Arjun Erigaisi finishes joint fourth 

Indian grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi delivered a competitive performance in the opening Blitz tournament, finishing joint fourth with 5.5 points.

One of his most notable results came in round eight, when he defeated Fabiano Caruana to move within half a point of the tournament lead.

Erigaisi also recorded the distinction of being the only player to defeat Vachier-Lagrave during the nine-round competition.

However, a final-round defeat against Aronian prevented the Indian from securing a podium finish.

Erigaisi finished on 5.5 points alongside Alireza Firouzja, Fabiano Caruana, Hans Niemann and Richard Rapport, with tie-break scores determining their final positions.

Richard Rapport stuns Fabiano Caruana 

Hungarian grandmaster Richard Rapport produced one of the opening night’s biggest surprises by defeating world No. 3 Fabiano Caruana in the first round.

Playing in front of his home crowd, Rapport continued to deliver strong performances and finished the tournament with 5.5 points after defeating Vladislav Artemiev in the final round.

Indian grandmaster R Vaishali also produced impressive results, recording victories against Hans Niemann in the opening round and Wesley So in round three.

Meanwhile, R Praggnanandhaa, the reigning Norway Chess champion, concluded his Blitz campaign with a victory over Andrew Hong to finish with 4.5 points. Vaishali ended the event with 4 points.

Opening Blitz standings

Magnus Carlsen topped the opening Blitz Swiss tournament with 7 points from nine rounds, finishing unbeaten. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave secured second place with 6.5 points, while Levon Aronian finished third with 6 points.

Arjun Erigaisi, Alireza Firouzja, Fabiano Caruana, Hans Niemann and Richard Rapport shared fourth place with 5.5 points each, with tie-break scores determining their final order.

The complete standings are available at totalchess.com/tournaments/budapest-2026.

Four groups confirmed for Fast Classic Stage

Following the drawing of lots earlier in the day, organisers confirmed the four groups for the upcoming Fast Classic stage.

Group B appears particularly competitive, featuring three players ranked among the world’s top ten: Fabiano Caruana, R Praggnanandhaa and Vincent Keymer, alongside Hungary’s Richard Rapport.

Carlsen will compete in Group C alongside Anish Giri, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.

Group D also promises exciting contests, bringing together Wesley So, Arjun Erigaisi, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Hans Niemann, alongside the two female players in the tournament, R Vaishali and Bibisara Assaubayeva.

The four groups are:

Group A: Alireza Firouzja, Jorden van Foreest, Andrew Hong, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Levon Aronian and Nodirbek Abdusattorov.

Group B: Vladislav Artemiev, Richard Rapport, R Praggnanandhaa, Vincent Keymer, Fabiano Caruana and Liem Le.

Group C: Anish Giri, Haik M. Martirosyan, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Abhimanyu Mishra, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Magnus Carlsen.

Group D: R Vaishali, Hans Niemann, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Wesley So, Arjun Erigaisi and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

Fast Classic Stage begins November 11

The Fast Classic group stage is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, November 11, with two rounds taking place daily at 15:00 and 18:30 Central European Time (CET).

Each group will follow a double round-robin format, with players competing in 45-minute games with a 30-second increment per move.

The scoring system awards three points for a victory and one point for a draw, making every game particularly important in the race for the group standings.

Only the four group winners will advance to the championship title bracket. However, all 24 competitors will continue in the tournament through separate knockout brackets, with final positions from fifth to 24th also determined through competitive matches.

With a total prize fund of $650,000, the competition offers significant financial rewards alongside the opportunity to become the inaugural champion of the new format.

Global broadcasting and live coverage

The Total Chess World Championship Tour is being broadcast to audiences in more than 200 countries and territories through an international television and digital distribution network.

DAZN is the worldwide broadcast partner, while India’s NDTV will provide coverage through its television network and digital platforms, including YouTube.

Fans can also follow the competition through Chess.com, ChessBase India, Norway’s TV 2 and the Norway Chess YouTube channel.

The main broadcast team includes Anna Rudolf, Fiona Steil-Antoni, David Howell and Jovanka Houska, while Levy Rozman will host the Total Chess Highlight Show.

With Carlsen leading the opening standings and the Fast Classic stage about to begin, the Budapest tournament is entering a crucial phase. The battle for the inaugural Total Chess title is far from decided, with the world’s leading grandmasters preparing for another demanding test across multiple time controls. With Carlsen winning the opener, the challenge now shifts to Fast Classical chess, where consistency and versatility will determine who moves closer to the championship crown.