Archive May 1, 2025

The Scotsman’s hopes of a fifth world title for a year were completely halted by John Higgins’ Crucible exit in the quarter-finals, which also put an end to his country’s representation there.

Higgins, who will turn 50 in a few weeks, will continue to compete at the highest level in his remarkable life.

However, this year’s World Championship featured only Scotland’s “The Wizard of Wishaw.”

For those who enjoy snooker, it is a potentially worrying statistic for a country that has won 12 world titles in the last 35 years.

Jim Donnelly became the first Scot to compete in the World Championship at a location that is now ingrained in the sport more than 40 years ago.

He described the absence of his fellow citizens in the years prior as “players in Scotland were making century breaks, but didn’t believe in themselves.”

“Scottish players immediately assumed that I had already defeated him, and that if he can go professional, I can do it.”

Even though Donnelly lost to eventual champion Ray Reardon in the opening round of the 1982 tournament, it was just the beginning.

He placed 29th in the world’s rankings, but a young player from Edinburgh, who had won the title in 1987, lost it.

With the first of seven victories, Hendry earned the nickname “King of the Crucible,” that young star became the youngest ever world champion at the age of 21 – a title he still holds.

Higgins followed suit, winning four world titles, and he is still leading the field today.

The 2006 title went to Graeme Dott. Additionally, Anthony McGill, Stephen Maguire, and Alan McManus have all advanced to the semi-finals.

When Donnelly coached him in Wishaw at the age of nine or ten, he immediately realized he was “something special” and was able to identify him with Donnelly.

He believes it will be challenging to find someone to take on the role of Scotland’s leading player, despite his optimism.

According to Donnelly, who also coached McManus and McGill, “the problem with snooker in Scotland is that it’s dying.” We lack the resources to accomplish what the rest of us did.

They put the effort in, are good players, and enjoy snooker. However, they don’t leave without getting the best of their lives. They try to stop it by being a little bit more attacking by refusing to play some shots.

“Many people are unaware of the significance of what is happening. How much time and pressure are required to sit down alone at a table.

Without a doubt, snooker as a whole faces challenges differently than it did in the 1980s and 1990s, when it was at its height in the UK.

There are fewer snooker halls in the country, and there are more leisure opportunities for young people to play video games.

These are issues that professionals in the sport are aware of, even if they are not fatalistic about.

It’s definitely not a dying sport, insists Anne Totten of Scottish Snooker, “It’s just different.”

Totten, whose son Chris suffered a defeat in this year’s World Championship qualifiers, volunteers with the organization to advance the sport.

She attributes the change in how things have changed as a result of the Covid pandemic and the loss of cigarette sponsors.

Cost increases and a lack of core funding are also putting a strain on the budget.

She said, “Our academies were doing really well a few years ago,” Our numbers were tremendously up, and it was on the rise before being hit by Covid.

It was actually 18 months lost and where young people found other things because it was one of the worst-hit sports because of licensing and government reopening times following lockdown.

Totten insists that snooker is still popular and more inclusive than ever in Scotland.

There is a new tour for players from “very diverse backgrounds,” including those over 55s, another for women, and others.

Between 10 and 20 young players play on tours from under 14 to under 21 and some compete across all age groups, with 40 or 50 of the children currently attending junior academies in Scotland.

However, Snooker is gaining popularity internationally and China, with its 1.4 billion population, is at the forefront, with six players making it to the last 16 of Sheffield’s World Championship this year.

Totten says there is talent in Scotland, but the competition makes it harder to do so internationally.

With the likes of Dean Young, Liam Graham, Ross Muir, and Scott Donaldson, Totten said, “I think sometimes it’s overlooked that there is a number of young people coming through in what is really, really fierce competition.”

“The conditions for young people are incredibly challenging.” Even though there are opportunities, there are also opportunities available everywhere, and everyone is competing for a small number of spaces.

This weekend’s boxing is similar to what happens when you order food from a restaurant but there are too many options. What’s good here, you ask? and you are told “Everything” by the waiter.

You have a choice with the likes of Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez, Saul ‘Canelo ‘Alvarez, and Naoya Inoue in a 72-hour span. This is the ideal time to stay in and stay up, drink coffee, manage your sleep, and ensure that you are awake for every fight if you are a true boxer.

Then you can watch them all again on Monday if you can’t work.

On Saturday in Saudi Arabia, Alvarez fights William Scull to defend his super-middleweight titles.

Inoue then defends his undisputed super-bantamweight title against Ramon Cardenas in a haphazard appearance in the United States on Sunday.

Strangely, out of those three cards, Canelo would likely be the third. That is not something I ever thought to say. He views Saudi Arabia as unexplored territory.

You can’t really fault Canelo for choosing to take an easy fight, though, with a fight scheduled for September 30th and Terence Crawford in the works.

Fantasy fights are now more prevalent than ever. Boxing is so wonderful there.

No one was arguing with one another a few years ago; instead, everyone was. Boxers wanted more money than they were worth, and they were all competing on various platforms. But I can’t believe where we are right now.

Garcia is fantastic in it and a sensation outside the ring.

He has been boxing since he was a child and has incredible power with both hands, but especially that left hook, which may be greatly underrated given his social media following.

I am aware that that drug test caused him some trouble. The unfortunate thing is that he is not distinctive in this day and age. There are many things and people you can point your finger at, and Canelo has had issues with drug tests.

No walks in the park when Rolly Romero and Jose Carlos Ramirez square off against them. Although there is a risk involved, I don’t believe they will be defeated.

Canelo is engaged in a fight that avoids risk. Scull, a classic Cuban boxer, is a classic Cuban who will make you miss and pay, but some critics point to Canelo, who is overdue for a stoppage, and this is where he might find himself.

Everyone is anticipating Canelo-Crawford, and I’ve heard it is almost certain to be a done deal.

I’m a fan of this fight, which features two of the sport’s biggest names, top 10 pound-for-pound fighters.

Boxers always move up the weight division. To defeat Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran used two weights. Great fighters accomplish great things.

Canelo won his first title at welterweight before rising to dominance and beginning as a light-welterweight.

Watching Inoue at night is always fun. He has incredible power, incredible technical skills, and incredible power.

He has a little slack in the face of strong opposition, but he still manages to stay in shape and form.

However, the power and technique are unmatched, making it difficult to beat. You have a man who consistently maintains his shape, exerts patience, commits to his attack, and has incredible one-touch strength.

If Inoue isn’t in the best form, his opponent Cardenas, who has a whipping left hook, might be a problem. He can sometimes make mistakes, which he does, and he can knock you out if you do that against Inoue.

That’s what I predict will occur, which could be early or later. That power is maintained throughout Inoue.

Where does Inoue then turn? Where he wants to go.

After the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs, LeBron James says he is unsure whether he will continue playing for the NBA next season.

The 40-year-old professional was unable to stop the Timberwolves from clinching a 4-1 series lead with a 103-96 win in Game Five at Crypto.com Arena.

James, the NBA’s top scorer all-time, had hoped to capture a fifth championship this year.

James, who signed a two-year deal with the Lakers in 2024, says he will take some time to consider his future during the off-season.

When James was asked how many more years he would play, he replied, “I don’t know.

The highlight of James’ season came after a 74-game campaign, according to James, who was given the chance to play alongside Bronny, making them the first father-son duo in NBA history.

“No. 1,” he declared, “for sure.”

That’s not even close, they say. This year has been one of the most enriching, fulfilling journeys I’ve ever been on because I can play the game I love and be with my son.

The Timberwolves had 27 points and 24 rebounds coming from Rudy Gobert.

He said, “It feels great.” To come here and play the way we did during a season full of ups and downs means a lot.

We just have a lot of guys who want to win and a lot of guys who have endured hardship throughout their careers and lives, and we are so loving each other.

In the Western Conference semifinals, the Timberwolves will face Houston Rockets or Golden State Warriors.

With a 131-116 victory over the Warriors in game five, the Rockets cut their series deficit to 3-2.

At Toyota Center, Fred VanVleet added 26 points for the Rockets, while Dillon Brooks added 24 and Amen Thompson added 25.

Steve Kerr, the Warriors coach, replaced many of his starters in the third quarter to keep them fresh for game six, and the Rockets had a 31-point lead at one point at one point.

We can’t expect to defeat a great team on their home court because of that lack of defensive concentration and energy, Kerr said.

They treated us like a million bucks tonight.