Four-time world champion Mark Selby has been eliminated from the World Snooker Championship in the first round by debutant Joe O’Connor. Selby trailed 7-2 heading into the second session and was unable to overcome the deficit, despite a late fightback. The defeat marks Selby’s second first-round exit at the Crucible, after his 10-3 loss to Barry Hawkins in 2014.
The Rajasthan Royals began their chase in style, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler putting on 61 runs in six overs. However, the rain delay has put a hold on their momentum, giving the Mumbai Indians bowlers a chance to regroup and devise a strategy to stop the Royals’ top-order batsmen. The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method will determine the outcome of the game if the rain persists, indicating that the Royals are currently in a strong position to win if play does not resume.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander is questionable for Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round series against the Boston Bruins on Monday night due to an undisclosed injury. Nylander missed Game 1 on Saturday as the Bruins rolled to a 5-1 victory. During the 2023-24 regular season, Nylander set a career high with 98 points in 82 games, but did not score a goal in his final 11 games.
Manchester United are reportedly considering former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane as a potential successor to Erik ten Hag, whose position at Old Trafford has come under scrutiny. Zidane, who has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, has been linked with the Red Devils job despite facing competition from other candidates such as England manager Gareth Southgate and Chelsea’s Graham Potter. The Frenchman has won three Champions League titles with Real Madrid and is considered one of the most successful managers in the world. Manchester United’s hierarchy, including new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is expected to make a decision on ten Hag’s future in the coming weeks, with the club aiming to return to the top of English and European football.
Manchester United’s victory over Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-final has secured their place in the final against Manchester City. While this provides an alternative route to European competition for the 2024/25 season, United’s league form has raised concerns about their ability to qualify through their Premier League finish. With six league games remaining, United are currently seventh in the standings and face a battle for European qualification.
Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe’s technical director, David Floury, has acknowledged the team’s victory at the Imola 6 Hours was due to strategic decisions rather than superior speed. Toyota’s rival, Ferrari, was faster on pure pace but made tactical errors, costing them the win. Despite the victory, Toyota recognized the need to address the lack of pace compared to Ferrari’s 499P LMH and hinted that the Balance of Performance (BoP) regulations may still require adjustments.
Chelsea defender Thiago Silva will depart the club when his contract expires in June, according to reports. The Brazilian, now 39, has reportedly garnered interest from his former club, Fluminense, but is keeping his options open. Silva joined Chelsea in 2020 from Paris Saint-Germain and has made significant contributions, including winning the Champions League in his debut season.
Rajasthan Royals’ Sandeep Sharma has made a remarkable return to the IPL with two stunning fifers in the 2024 season. His latest fifer against Mumbai Indians helped RR secure a crucial victory and deny a strong finish for Mumbai. The match witnessed a brilliant partnership between Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera for Mumbai Indians, but Sharma’s electrifying spell proved too much to handle.
Without a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers are looking towards the second round, specifically at South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette. Legette has met with the Panthers multiple times and believes they will select him with the 33rd overall pick, a mid-to-late second-round projection. If chosen, Legette would join a promising wide receiver group including Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen, providing support for quarterback Bryce Young.
Turki Alalshikh, the influential Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, has set his sights on making some of boxing’s most anticipated matchups happen. During a Reddit Q&A, Alalshikh named Fury vs Joshua, Crawford vs Canelo Alvarez, and Benavidez vs Beterbiev as the top three fights he hopes to bring to fruition.
