Archive December 12, 2025

Former champion Rob Cross is safely through to the second round of the PDC World Championship after a comfortable 3-0 win over Norway’s Cor Dekker.

The Englishman, who triumphed on his debut at Alexander Palace in 2018, has endured a difficult year and dropped to 17th in the world rankings but was in control throughout his first round match.

After averaging just shy of 100 in racing to victory in the first set, Cross dropped off in the second but still came through to win from two legs to one down.

Dekker struggled on the doubles on his debut at the tournament but Cross was clinical on the outer ring, particularly in the opening two sets, and finished the match in style, reeling in the ‘big fish’ – a 170 checkout.

He ended with an average of 90.84 and a checkout success rate of 47.4%.

“I was a bit edgy today but to finish with that one, I’ve been doing that all week,” Cross told Sky Sports.

“I’m really proud of myself and there’s a lot more in the tank yet. I think I’ll be better in the next game – I feel like I’m back. If I play my best stuff, I’ve definitely got a chance.”

Cross will play Ian White, who held off a fightback from Mervyn King to win 3-2, in the next round.

Earlier in the session, 20th seed Ryan Searle raced to a 3-0 win over Chris Landman of the Netherlands, the Englishman hitting five 180s in the process.

Afternoon session

Niels Zonneveld 3-0 Haupai Puha

Ian White 3-2 Mervyn King

Ryan Searle (20) 3-0 Chris Landman

Rob Cross (17) 3-0 Cor Dekker

Evening session (from 19:00 GMT)

Ross Smith (12) v Andreas Harrysson

Ricky Evans v Man Lok Leung

Gian van Veen (10) v Cristo Reyes

Formula 1 has finalised a new Concorde Agreement – the legal contract that defines the relationship between the key stakeholders in the sport.

It details the regulatory framework and governance between commercial rights holders F1, governing body the FIA, and the 11 teams.

The current Concorde Agreement was due to expire at the end of this year and the new one runs from 2026-30.

A revised financial agreement, which a statement said would “enable the FIA to invest further in improved race regulation, race direction, stewarding, and technical expertise for the benefit of the Championship”, has been included in the new deal.

The document is named after the Place de la Concorde in Paris, where the first such agreement was finalised in 1981 after a period of conflict between the FIA and the teams, then led by Bernie Ecclestone.

The new deal has taken most of this year to finalise, after the teams reached their own commercial agreements with F1 in March.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who was appointed to a new four-year term on Friday following an election in which he was unopposed, has been consistent in the past four years in trying to secure more money for the FIA from F1.

The FIA depends to a large part on F1 for its income and paid in the region of $40m (£30m) annually in the last Concorde Agreement.

F1 president and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali said: “This agreement ensures F1 is in the best possible position to continue to grow around the world.”

Ben Sulayem added: “This agreement allows us to continue modernising our regulatory, technological, and operational capabilities, including supporting our race directors, officials, and the thousands of volunteers whose expertise underpin every race.

“We are ensuring F1 remains at the forefront of technological innovation, setting new standards in global sport.”

The Concorde Agreement spans the planned length of the new regulation set which is being introduced into F1 in 2026.

This will feature new regulations for both cars and engines, and includes the introduction of fully sustainable fuels.

Formula 1 has finalised a new Concorde Agreement – the legal contract that defines the relationship between the key stakeholders in the sport.

It details the regulatory framework and governance between commercial rights holders F1, governing body the FIA, and the 11 teams.

The current Concorde Agreement was due to expire at the end of this year and the new one runs from 2026-30.

A revised financial agreement, which a statement said would “enable the FIA to invest further in improved race regulation, race direction, stewarding, and technical expertise for the benefit of the Championship”, has been included in the new deal.

The document is named after the Place de la Concorde in Paris, where the first such agreement was finalised in 1981 after a period of conflict between the FIA and the teams, then led by Bernie Ecclestone.

The new deal has taken most of this year to finalise, after the teams reached their own commercial agreements with F1 in March.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who was appointed to a new four-year term on Friday following an election in which he was unopposed, has been consistent in the past four years in trying to secure more money for the FIA from F1.

The FIA depends to a large part on F1 for its income and paid in the region of $40m (£30m) annually in the last Concorde Agreement.

F1 president and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali said: “This agreement ensures F1 is in the best possible position to continue to grow around the world.”

Ben Sulayem added: “This agreement allows us to continue modernising our regulatory, technological, and operational capabilities, including supporting our race directors, officials, and the thousands of volunteers whose expertise underpin every race.

“We are ensuring F1 remains at the forefront of technological innovation, setting new standards in global sport.”

The Concorde Agreement spans the planned length of the new regulation set which is being introduced into F1 in 2026.

This will feature new regulations for both cars and engines, and includes the introduction of fully sustainable fuels.

Premier Sports Cup final: St Mirren v Celtic

Venue: Hampden Park, Glasgow Date: Sunday, 14 November Kick-off: 15:00 GMT

Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy says victory in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup final against St Mirren would “validate” what he is trying to implement at his new club.

But he insists he will have “many other” chances to prove himself to their supporters.

Nancy became the first Celtic boss to lose his first two matches in charge as they were swatted aside by Roma in the Europa League on Thursday following last weekend’s Scottish Premiership defeat by Heart of Midlothian.

Many supporters had left by the time the full-time whistle blew and those that remained expressed their frustration at both the result and performance.

Given the importance of Nancy’s first three matches in charge, some fans were confused by the timing of his appointment.

The Frenchman understands what is at stake at Hampden but insists he is not thinking about the prospect of a third straight defeat.

“For me? No,” he said when asked about the importance of winning a trophy.

“For my players, yes. And for the fans, yes.

“Yes, I would like to win the trophy. I’m pretty sure that, if we don’t win it, it’s going to be difficult, because when we lose, this is painful.

“But, again, I am optimistic as a person. So hopefully we’re going to do it. And also if it’s going to validate what we are doing. But, if not, I don’t want to think about this because, for the moment, I want to stay positive and this is the way I think.

Nancy inherited a side that had won seven from eight matches under interim manager Martin O’Neill, but he stamped his own identity on the team from the start, switching to a back three against both Hearts and Roma.

With some players shoehorned into unfamiliar positions, Celtic have struggled to click in attack and were dismantled at the back by Roma on Thursday in a dominant first-half display.

Still, the former Columbus Crew head coach has seen enough to believe his system will come good.

“I watched the game and obviously we had a difficult moment, but we had also good moments,” he said

“This game for me was important because it gives me the possibility to set the standard regarding what we want to achieve and it was good to compare certain things [with Roma].

“After that, the standard, we have it already. The desire to compete, the desire to train well, the desire to improve, this is the standard.

“The desire also to do what it takes to have good performance, we have it. We have to be better in terms of execution, but we are on the right track.

“For one week, I can see good stuff. We need also to improve on certain things, but it will come.”

Given the two defeats leading into the cup final, Nancy admitted there will be a degree of doubt but dismissed the idea there was an added pressure on the game.

“It doesn’t change,” he added. “A final is a final, it’s not the same.

“Obviously the fact that we didn’t win the last two games, mentally we can have a bit of uncertainty.

Premier Sports Cup final: St Mirren v Celtic

Venue: Hampden Park, Glasgow Date: Sunday, 14 November Kick-off: 15:00 GMT

Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy says victory in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup final against St Mirren would “validate” what he is trying to implement at his new club.

But he insists he will have “many other” chances to prove himself to their supporters.

Nancy became the first Celtic boss to lose his first two matches in charge as they were swatted aside by Roma in the Europa League on Thursday following last weekend’s Scottish Premiership defeat by Heart of Midlothian.

Many supporters had left by the time the full-time whistle blew and those that remained expressed their frustration at both the result and performance.

Given the importance of Nancy’s first three matches in charge, some fans were confused by the timing of his appointment.

The Frenchman understands what is at stake at Hampden but insists he is not thinking about the prospect of a third straight defeat.

“For me? No,” he said when asked about the importance of winning a trophy.

“For my players, yes. And for the fans, yes.

“Yes, I would like to win the trophy. I’m pretty sure that, if we don’t win it, it’s going to be difficult, because when we lose, this is painful.

“But, again, I am optimistic as a person. So hopefully we’re going to do it. And also if it’s going to validate what we are doing. But, if not, I don’t want to think about this because, for the moment, I want to stay positive and this is the way I think.

Nancy inherited a side that had won seven from eight matches under interim manager Martin O’Neill, but he stamped his own identity on the team from the start, switching to a back three against both Hearts and Roma.

With some players shoehorned into unfamiliar positions, Celtic have struggled to click in attack and were dismantled at the back by Roma on Thursday in a dominant first-half display.

Still, the former Columbus Crew head coach has seen enough to believe his system will come good.

“I watched the game and obviously we had a difficult moment, but we had also good moments,” he said

“This game for me was important because it gives me the possibility to set the standard regarding what we want to achieve and it was good to compare certain things [with Roma].

“After that, the standard, we have it already. The desire to compete, the desire to train well, the desire to improve, this is the standard.

“The desire also to do what it takes to have good performance, we have it. We have to be better in terms of execution, but we are on the right track.

“For one week, I can see good stuff. We need also to improve on certain things, but it will come.”

Given the two defeats leading into the cup final, Nancy admitted there will be a degree of doubt but dismissed the idea there was an added pressure on the game.

“It doesn’t change,” he added. “A final is a final, it’s not the same.

“Obviously the fact that we didn’t win the last two games, mentally we can have a bit of uncertainty.