Gary Anderson booked his place in the second round of the PDC World Championship with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Adam Hunt.
Two-time champion Anderson, 54, was given a stern examination by world number 84 Hunt but the Flying Scotsman was able to battle back from 2-1 down to progress.
Anderson, seeded 14th, will next play the winner of the match between Connor Scutt and Simon Whitlock .
“That’s probably the best Adam has played all season. The first game is the hardest, but I’m through,” Anderson told Sky Sports.
Anderson, who won back-to-back world titles in 2015 and 2016, held his nerve to win the first set 3-2 against the 32-year-old Englishman.
However, he missed double top in the deciding leg in the second set and Hunt took his chance to level the match up with a confident 72 checkout.
Hunt won the third set as Anderson’s average plummeted but the Scot raised his game in the fourth and took control early in the decider as Hunt failed to recover from an early break of throw.
Elsewhere, Welsh amateur David Davies secured a dream tie with defending champion Luke Littler in the next round after causing a minor upset on his World Championship debut.
Davies claimed a 3-0 win over Belgium’s Mario Vandenbogaerde – 66th in the PDC rankings – thanks to a checkout average of 37.5%.
Andrew Gilding saw off a spirited effort from 22-year-old tournament debutant Cam Crabtree as he progressed with a 3-1 win over his fellow Englishman thanks to an average of 97.89.
Cole Palmer returned with a much-needed goal as Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 in the Premier League on Saturday to end a run of four games without a win in all competitions.
Victory at Stamford Bridge lifted Chelsea back into the top four.
Injury-plagued attacking midfielder Cole missed Chelsea’s loss away to Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday as part of his recovery from a two-month spell on the sidelines.
Palmer was initially troubled by a groin problem and then fractured his toe after stubbing it on a door at home.
The 23-year-old made his first start for the Blues since September in last weekend’s goalless draw at Bournemouth.
The England international broke the deadlock against Everton in the 21st minute at Stamford Bridge.
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Malo Gusto played in Palmer with a fine pass, and he beat fellow England international Jordan Pickford at the goalkeeper’s near post.
Everton dominated possession, with Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez saving well from Jack Grealish.
All of Everton’s pressure failed to yield an equaliser, and Chelsea, against the run of play, doubled their lead in first-half stoppage-time when a counter-attack ended with Gusto turning in a cut-back from Pedro Neto.
Everton had a chance to make it 2-1 when Carlos Alcaraz curled in a cross to the back post, only for the unmarked Grealish to divert the ball well wide.
Chelsea almost added a third when Reece James’s quick free-kick was only just tipped over the bar by Pickford.
Taylor Swift fans catch a glimpse into the pop star’s generosity in her new Disney Plus docuseries, which sees her handing out hefty bonus cheques to the Eras Tour crew
Taylor Swift The Eras Tour The End of an Era trailer
Inside the eye-watering figure Taylor Swift gave her Eras Tour crew in bonuses
Taylor Swift’s crew members were left stunned after receiving bonus pay cheques for their efforts during the record-breaking Eras Tour. The 35-year-old singer is taking fans behind the scenes of the beloved tour in a new Disney Plus docuseries, shedding light on the highs and lows of life on the road.
Titled Taylor Swift: The End of An Era, the six-part show dropped its first two episodes on December 12. Its following four instalments will air over the next two weeks. Episodes 3 and 4 will be released on December 19, while episodes 5 and 6 will be available to stream on December 26.
In the second episode of the series, Taylor is shown getting ready for ‘bonus day’ alongside her mum, Andrea Swift. She then shows viewers a collection of handwritten letters addressed to each team member, thanking them for their efforts.
The dancers looked visibly stunned as they opened their letters, which included bonus amounts that were bleeped out from the show.
According to People, Taylor gave out a staggering $197 million (roughly £147.3 million) in bonuses to everyone who helped the tour. This includes caterers, truck drivers, instrument techs, merch team, lighting, sound, production staff and assistants, carpenters, dancers, band, security, choreographers, pyrotechnics, riggers, hair, make-up, wardrobe, physical therapists and the video team.
While it is unclear how much each crew member received, pop culture account Pop Base posted a photo of one of the bonus notes back in January, claiming that one team member received an extra $100,000 (£74,783) from the singer.
Strictly judge Anton Du Beke on throwing out the rule book for the festive show, the rumours that he could be the new host and why he won’t be celebrating his big birthday
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Anton Du Beke can’t wait to “be more ridiculous” on the Strictly Christmas special(Image: BBC)
He started out as a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing and got promoted to the judging panel in 2021. Now, Anton Du Beke is being talked about as Strictly ’s next host. Presenting the dance competition would be a dream come true for the 59-year-old, as the top job would see him follow in the footsteps of his idol Sir Bruce Forsyth, whose legendary charisma launched the show in 2004 and turned it into the entertainment juggernaut it is today.
So how would the dance-show judge feel if he was offered the biggest job in showbiz? “Delighted I suppose but we’ll have to see if that ever comes up,” he chuckles modestly. “Wouldn’t that be lovely. Then I’ll have done all three jobs!”
Bruce left Strictly in 2014, but remained great friends with Anton until his death in 2017, with the pair regularly playing golf. “Bruce has always been a great hero of mine,” grins Anton. “I’ve always been inspired by what he did. I loved the way he entertained. I loved the style of entertainer he was.”
Anton is currently preparing to take his seat alongside Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse on the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special , which features former Gogglebox regular Scarlett Moffatt, Gladiators’ Jodie Ounsley (aka Fury), EastEnders actor Nicholas Bailey, comic Babatunde Aléshé, Westlife singer Brian McFadden and All Saints star Melanie Blatt.
For Anton, the Christmas Day show holds a special place in his heart, as it’s that little bit more fun and relaxed than the competitive Saturday night version. Only six couples take part in the Christmas show, but Anton reveals he has hardly ever missed a festive special, even in his dancing days.
“I absolutely love the Christmas Special,” he says. “If you get voted off early from the main show you invariably get a partner for the Christmas Special, so I’ve had a lot of partners over the years for the special having been voted off early on a number of occasions!”
And if he hasn’t had a partner on the Christmas show, Anton has offered to perform with the musical guest. He says, “I’ve danced in front of Michael Bublé a couple of times. It is such a lovely show and you get away with murder as well. I always try to be more ridiculous on the Christmas Special. You break all the rules. I love it.”
The judge is also very excited by the 2025 line-up. “I’ve played a lot of golf with Brian over the years and Scarlett, I might have given her some lessons years ago, so I know she can move,” shares Anton. “Melanie Blatt is exciting. And I can’t wait for Babatunde.”
As it’s Tess and Claudia’s final show, fans are bound to be emotional – as will the show’s cast and crew. “It will be emotional,” says Anton. “I’m sure they’ll have a couple of moments.”
Anton is also taking part in another much-loved show over the festive season – The Great British Sewing Bee Christmas Special 2025 . Along with comedian Lucy Beaumont, Gladiators ’ Tom Wilson (aka Hammer) and Taskmaster’ s Susan Wokoma, Anton will try his hand at some Santa-inspired stitches – and he may have a bit of an advantage over his competitors.
“When I started out dancing, we all used to make our own costumes so we’d all make our own frocks and the more years we did it, the better we got at it,” says Anton. “I never got into full tailoring but I did get into full dressmaking so for them to ask me to do it was a throwback! I hadn’t done anything for 35 years but it was really, really enjoyable. I absolutely loved it. I like anything sartorial anyway. This was the perfect job for me really.”
Anton got on so wonderfully with Lucy, he wants Strictly producers to sign her up for the next series. “Lucy would be a joy,” smiles Anton. “I would come back to dance with Lucy. Any of them on the show would be a joy.”
With his stage show Anton And Friends currently touring, Anton has never been busier. But there is another show he’s itching to be on: The Celebrity Traitors . “I’d love to do that,” says Anton. “If they’ll take me, I’ll come on. Wouldn’t that be fun!”
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Anton, who has eight-year-old twins George and Henrietta with his wife Hannah, is embracing everything that comes his way – except his next birthday when he turns 60. “I can’t even bear it,” he despairs. “I didn’t realise until I read it myself. I thought I was turning 35. Staggering, isn’t it?
“I just don’t know how it’s happened, literally in a heartbeat, it’s just flown by. It’s all those old adages, they are true. I’m absolutely overwhelmed by the fact that I’m going to be that. I find it staggeringly upsetting.”
Calumn Morrison scored twice as Linfield defeated Crusaders 4-0 at Windsor Park on Saturday to make up ground on Irish Premiership pacesetters Larne and Coleraine.
A Lewis Barr own goal and Matthew Fitzpatrick provided the other goals for the champions, who move to within seven points of the leading two clubs, with games in hand over both.
David Healy’s side have have played three games fewer than Coleraine and one less than Larne.
Jack Keaney was on target twice as Cliftonville went fifth in the table with a 5-2 victory over bottom club Glenavon, despite the hosts having Odhran Casey sent-off for a second yellow card offence early in the second half.
Sean McAllister grabbed a double as Dungannon Swifts drew 3-3 with Carrick Rangers at Taylors Avenue.
Blues breeze past Crues
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Linfield went in front inside the opening five minutes when Kirk Millar’s corner was inadvertently diverted into his own net by Crusaders defender Barr.
Crusaders came close to an equaliser when Adam Brooks teed up Fraser Bryden but his low shot was well saved by Chris Johns.
Instead it was the home side who doubled their lead on 21 minutes when Fitzpatrick met Ethan McGee’s cross with a towering header at the back post.
Fitzpatrick almost added another when his header from a Millar corner brought a sharp save from Jonny Tuffey.
But the home side added to their tally five minutes into the second period when Kyle McClean threaded a through ball for Morrison to run on and slip a shot between Tuffey’s legs.
The Scot doubled his tally for the afternoon on 71 minutes when he seized upon a clearance from a Crusaders corner and ran a long distance unchallenged before skipping past Tuffey and rolling the ball into an unguarded net.
Reds too strong for Glenavon
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Cliftonville got off to a dream start in the third minute at Solitude when Jonny Addis spotted the run of Eric McWoods and the frontman ghosted in behind the Glenavon defence before poking the ball beyond a hesitant Mark Byrne.
The visitors struck back just before the half hour when Paddy Burns played a ball down the left wing, and Jack Malone managed to get on the end of it before chipping past the onrushing PJ Morrison.
Michael O’Connor’s charges edged themselves in front four minutes before the interval when Oran O’Kane’s free-kick was only cleared as far as Bridel Bosakani, who produced a goal of the season contender after his chest-and-volley finish from 25 yards found the back of the net via the far post.
Glenavon’s lead lasted only a matter of minutes when Joe Sheridan picked up possession out left before cutting in and getting the better of substitute goalkeeper Sean Hamill at his near post for his third league goal of the season.
As the half-time whistle approached, the home side regained the lead after neat build-up involving Odhran Casey and Keevan Hawthorne eventually saw the ball fall to Addis, who found the far corner from the edge of the area.
Nine minutes after the restart, the Reds were reduced to ten when Casey was shown a second yellow for a late challenge on Paul McGovern in midfield.
Carrick and Swifts take point apiece
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Dungannon got off to a rapid start with an opener after just three minutes thanks to captain Cahal McGinty. Carrick failed to clear a corner and the Swifts captain fired low and hard into the bottom corner to open the scoring.
Following this, neither side really created much although Aidan Steele replaced Joe Crowe early on and was bright. He set up an equaliser just over 10 minutes before half-time as he made a powerful run before slipping in Danny Gibson who finished coolly one-on-one past the onrushing Declan Dunne.
That sent the teams in at the break level, then Rodney McAree introduced Sean McAllister at the break and he would go on to make a big impact on the game.
Having saved Peter Maguire’s effort, Nathan Gartside fouled Danny Wallace inside the box as they went for the rebound and it was McAllister who blasted the penalty straight down the middle.
That was how it stayed until the final quarter of an hour when Gibson beat McGinty out left and picked out an unmarked Paul Heatley who headed level. The game was turned on its head in just four minutes as Steele capitalised on a loose header in his own box from Junior.
Ports defeat Sky Blues
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With Kearney in the dugout for the first time, Ballymena thought they had opened the scoring in the 15th minute at Shamrock Park. A cross from the left was left by Success Edogun for Daire O’Connor, who beat Aaron McCarey.
However, the flag had already gone up, ending the celebrations of the travelling fans.
James Teelan, who was enjoying a good battle with David Toure on the left flank, delivered Portadown’s first big chance of the game.
His cross in the 20th minute landed in the six-yard-box, but Jordan Gibson, at full stretch, could not get the decisive touch.
The hosts then also had a goal disallowed, Eamon Fyfe delivered a wonderful corner from the left, which looped over Declan Breen into the net.
Celebrations again proved premature however, as referee Declan Hassan spotted a foul on the edge of the box.
Portadown did finally open the scoring 15 minutes from time. A ball was played forward and James Teelan used all of his pace to latch onto the ball.
The winger carried the ball in and finished neatly past Breen in the Ballymena goal, using the outside of his right boot.
Ballymena came close to levelling towards the end of the game when the ball bounced in the box and Success Edogun headed the ball over Aaron McCarey, but the ball was cleared by a Portadown defender off the line.
TNT Sports presenter Laura Woods has broken her silence on the terrifying two-year stalker ordeal that left her living in ‘real fear’ and forced her to increase security
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Laura is detailing what life was like during her two-year stalking nightmare(Image: PA)
Laura Woods has broken her silence about the two-year stalking nightmare she endured at the hands of football fanatic Harneet Kaur.
The 38-year-old TNT sports presenter revealed that she lived in ‘real fear’ during the ‘relentless’ harassment campaign, which started in June 2021 and continued until September 2023.
Laura remembered receiving chilling birthday cards with messages like: “Today’s the day you were born and tonight’s the night you’re going to die”, before Kaur showed up at her home. She detailed how Kaur called the police, falsely claiming she had been pulled into Laura’s London home by a knife-wielding man.
“In 2023, I was in Poland, covering Oleksandr Usyk’s fight with Daniel Dubois, and she emailed me while I was on air. It was a video of my front door and a message, saying: ‘I know you’ve got three cameras in your house’, Laura shared. “I began sifting through all the video footage to see if anyone was inside. It was terrifying. She tried every conceivable way to reach me”.
Kaur, a Liverpool football supporter who used the online alias ‘Krazy Harns’, also threatened to kidnap and kill Laura’s dog and sent a Bible and a sexual health testing kit to her home.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Laura said: “[She sent] Dating websites, spam websites, it was relentless, I couldn’t understand how one person could do it all”.
Last February, Kaur was sentenced to 14 months in prison and given a restraining order prohibiting her from contacting Laura and 14 other individuals, and from going within.
Within 500m of the presenter’s residence, Kaur, who is autistic, was prohibited from entering Liverpool’s Anfield stadium due to ticket touting. Her barrister argued that her autism, which resulted in ‘obsession and compulsion’, was the root cause of her offences.
Prosecutors in court stated that Laura was genuinely frightened and had been compelled to bolster security at her home and workplace.
On Thursday, Laura moved her fiancé, Adam Collard, 30, to tears with a touching video recounting their love story, following the birth of their first child together in January. She was reminiscing about their journey since she first saw him on Love Island in 2018.
The video started with her watching the show, as she wrote: “In 2018 you’ll watch a TV show feature a very tall, very gorgeous red flag”- a reference to his playboy behaviour on the programme. The video then showcased moments from their relationship, including scenes with their baby Leo and their engagement.
As emotional music played in the background, she added in her caption: “In five years’ time, it’s very important you give him a chance…” Adam responded affectionately, saying: “Us 4 against the world, love you. Wow, I’m not crying, you are,” followed by a laughing emoji. The TV presenter replied: “I definitely am hahahaha xx”.
Her post came just a day after she made her return to television for the first time since her shocking on-air collapse, presenting TNT Sports’ coverage of the Manchester City vs Real Madrid match on Wednesday evening. The beloved presenter was hosting ITV4’s broadcast of the Lionesses’ match against Ghana on December 2 at St Mary’s Stadium, where she suddenly fell ill and collapsed forward.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright and fellow pundit Anita Asante were quick to catch her before the cameras cut away, causing worry among viewers. Laura was replaced by Katie Shanahan for the evening, but later reassured fans that she was in good health after receiving treatment.
“Gosh, that was a bit weird. Sorry to worry everyone, I’m OK. The wonderful paramedics at Saints have said it’s probably a virus, just need a bit of rest and hydration,” she posted.
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Adam also confirmed Laura’s well-being on X after the incident: “Laura is all ok and with the right people. Thank you for all of your kind messages.”
