The five-time Dutch champion and Germany’s No 2, Matthias Blübaum, were surprise qualifiers for the world title Candidates ahead of several more fancied rivals The $625,000 Grand Swiss in Samarkand, on the ancient Silk Road, was a hard fought race for two qualifying spots in the 2026 world title Candidates,...
Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend
Robertson looks a better bet for Merseyside derby, a fresh test for Bournemouth, protests at West Ham and more Premier League top scorers: the latest standings It would be a surprise to see Arne Slot start Milos Kerkez against Everton, given the left-back’s struggles against Burnley last weekend. Kerkez was...
McLaughlin-Levrone runs fastest women’s 400m in 40 years to claim world gold
US runner takes title in 47.78 sec at World Championship Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi wins men’s 400m Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ran the fastest women’s 400 metres in 40 years to claim world championship gold in 47.78sec on Thursday and complete her transition from the one-lap hurdles in emphatic style. The American...
‘I tried to escape with drugs, pills and alcohol’: Björn Borg on his misery and mayhem after quitting tennis
The sporting superstar walked away from success and adulation at 26 – much to everyone’s bemusement. He opens up about his secret life and the depression, cocaine, overdoses and aggressive cancer that almost killed him ‘I’m a person who doesn’t say very much,” Björn Borg says with a wry smile....
Freedom and joy: Rugby World Cup’s quirky quality sets it apart from the pack | Emma John
This tournament has embraced a festival atmosphere and still seems to be fuelled by a radiant and irrepressible delight with a gleaming sense of fun I have a friend who rejects the notion of “guilty pleasures”. There is, she argues, plenty of real and justified guilt in the world, without...
Rare talent Rashford emphatically announces himself at Barcelona’s summit | Andy Brassell
The first two goals of his loan spell suggest that England forward’s stay at Barcelona could become more than a marriage of convenience It was the day that Uefa confirmed, as kick-off approached in Barcelona’s Champions League season, that La Liga’s champions would begin their home campaign in the competition...
Alexander Isak’s Liverpool debut provides box-office glamour despite the rust | Barney Ronay
As non-goalscoring club debuts go, Isak’s 57 minutes at Anfield made for a fascinating spectacle Now witness the firepower of this fully operational Death Star. Four months, one record transfer and an endless rolling multiverse of internet rage since his last club game, Alexander Isak has now finally rematerialised in...
Jake Wightman’s ‘perfect fairytale’ denied on the line by Isaac Nader surge
Silver medal for Briton in Tokyo as injury thwarts Kerr Just 0.02sec separates first from second in 1500m final When Jake Wightman sat on the bus to the 1500m heats at the World Athletics Championships on Sunday, he told himself that if he failed to make it through he was...
Olympic 100m medallist Fred Kerley joins Enhanced Games weeks after ban
World champion from 2022 is first American man to join Kerley provisionally banned by Athletics Integrity Unit The Olympic 100m silver and bronze medallist Fred Kerley will compete in the inaugural Enhanced Games, the event’s organisers revealed on Wednesday, weeks after the Athletics Integrity Unit handed the American a provisional...
Eddie Hearn threatens to sue Chris Eubank Jr over ‘sabotage’ claim before Conor Benn rematch
Eubank Jr makes allegations against Matchroom at press conference Hearn rejects claims and threatens legal action unless boxer apologises Eddie Hearn has threatened to sue Chris Eubank Jr, after the boxer fired the first shots during a press conference ahead of his rematch with Conor Benn by accusing his opponent’s...