‘How are we still here?’ – Class of 92 graduates thrill Crucible again

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Two of snooker’s greatest players combined age 99 to face off in one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament, which saw Mark Williams defeat John Higgins in the semi-finals.

“What a match,” he said. As Williams potted the black almost falling over the winning line on Wednesday, BBC commentator John Virgo remarked, “Treasure the moments of these two great champions.

Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ronnie O’Sullivan complete the trio, which includes the legendary “Class of 92,” and they are all still a top-notch tour team.

In December, O’Sullivan celebrated his 50th birthday, and Williams turned 50 in March, while Higgins celebrates his half-century 13 days later in the same year’s final.

However, they have demonstrated that a number is all that.

“How are we still here?”

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Williams, pictured in 2006 during the World ChampionshipImages courtesy of Getty

Since Ray Reardon, a six-time champion, did it at the age of 52 in 1985, Williams has now reached the last four at the Crucible.

When he fell 5-1 behind, it seemed a step too far, but a Williams surge brought him close to victory at 12-8 before Higgins resurrected to level terms.

We were really big rivals twenty years ago, and now we enter the practice room and nod off as if to ask, “How are we still here competing with everyone?” Before the game, Higgins said.

Williams agrees with that statement.

He said, “Typically, the worse you get,” according to him. Your focus is on getting through the day, everything is going, and you experience a slight decrease in stamina.

“But somehow, us three are circling like a bad smell.”

Perhaps their best accomplishment to date?

A final between two members of the “Class of 92,” which is named after their professional careers, is a real possibility because O’Sullivan is in the opposite half of the draw.

What a feat it would be if one of them won the World Championship and could possibly defeat a young whippersnapper in the final. Perhaps their best accomplishment, Davis said.

In the Crucible first round, Davis defeated Mark King 10-9, defeated a 34-year-old Higgins, reigning champion, and fell 13-11 to eventual champion Neil Robertson in the final eight.

I may have lost faith in the fact that it was a fantastic buzz, Davis recalled.

‘ I thrashed him, and got £200 ‘

Mark Williams and John Higgins at the China Open in March 2006Images courtesy of Getty

The “Class of 92” trio’s accomplishments are legendary. Williams has three titles, while Higgins has four, and O’Sullivan has seven.

If Williams or O’Sullivan win the trophy on May 5th, they will surpass O’Sullivan’s record set set when he won it three years ago, when he was 46 years old.

Thirty-three years ago, they were all teenagers who had a desire to rise to the top and were driven, hungry, and talented.

When they were both 15 years old, Williams described how he first met Higgins at the 1990 championships final.

The Welshman said, “We played in the final, and he beat me.” He won 6-1 against me, he had 5 grand for the win, and I had 3 grand for the winner.

I then played in the British Under-16s in Birmingham, where I lost to him 4-0 after 50 minutes, and I received 200 dollars for the delay.

When I was 13 and 14, I first really remembered John because we were both playing in junior events.

Williams and Higgins have a history of the Crucible, having previously met six times at the Sheffield theater, winning five games, including an 18-16 victory in the 2018 final showdown.

Before their most recent rematch, Williams said, “That was one of the best games I’ve ever been involved in, and people say it was the best final ever.”

It becomes “a lot more challenging as you get older.”

Mark WilliamsImages courtesy of Getty

The legendary trio was Ken Doherty, the 1997 world champion, who had previously played them throughout his career, in the belief that Williams-Higgins was the setting for “the tie of the round.”

It excelled at doing that.

The Irishman claimed that they have been producing well for 33 years and have been at the top of the game since 1992.

Players like me, Stephen Hendry, Alan McManus, and Peter Ebdon have all discovered that getting older makes things much harder. Being able to dedicate your life to the game and deal with the tension are difficult to deal with.

They still have the appetite, willingness, and hunger, which is an incredible talent, even though you become a father and a family man, and it’s difficult to dedicate yourself to the game.

For the past 30 years, I’ve worked with them as loggers. In big finals, I’ve defeated them all but also lost to them all. You used to enjoy playing them because it was a fantastic test for your own game, and I just had great fun doing them.

Doherty, who is a member of the BBC TV team for the competition, said: “We have to enjoy these three as much as we can.” They continue to provide the sport with great entertainment and entertaining.

Judd Trump, who defeated him 13-10 on Monday, was the man who Shaun Murphy favored to win the title.

However, he continued, “It’s wonderful that we still get to watch the Class of 92, three of the best players we’ve ever seen.”

Continue giving out lessons to the “Class of 92”?

Ronnie O'Sullivan with the world trophy in 2022Images courtesy of Getty

After beating Luca Brecel in his own quarter-final, world number one Williams will face him in the semi-finals.

Trump anticipated that the seasoned trio would continue to excel for many years to come.

When I was younger, Ronnie and John, in particular, gave them a little inspiration, according to Trump. “Ronnie was a person I really admired. They are not far from their best, but they are far from retiring.

Never have I seen him play that way when I played him in the semi-finals [when Trump won a final-frame decider for a 17-16 win in 2022].

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Mexico City GP signs extension until 2028

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After completing a new three-year contract, Mexico City will remain on the Formula 1 calendar until at least 2028.

After being dropped by Red Bull at the end of the previous season, Mexican driver Sergio Perez lost his spot on the grid as a result of the deal.

The Mexican government supports the race, as well as local and national governments and businesses.

Claudia Sheinbaum, the new mayor of Mexico City, is a former mayor of the capital and a supporter of the election.

Since returning to the calendar in 2015 after 22 years, the race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez attracted one of the sport’s most enthusiastic crowds.

The unique atmosphere created by our fans in Mexico City is one of our championship’s most incredible and exciting experiences, according to Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO.

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Syria says it rejects ‘foreign intervention’ after Israeli strikes

After Israel launched airstrikes on a town near Damascus where government forces and other groups had engaged in bloody battles, Syrian authorities have decried “foreign intervention” in Syrian affairs.

At least four Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday targeted security personnel in Ashrafieh Sahnaya, a source from the Syrian Ministry of Interior, according to a source familiar with the matter.

In a statement, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates rebuffed “all forms of foreign intervention,” but did not specifically accuse Israel of carrying out the attacks. The Foreign Ministry continued in its statement that Syria “affirms its unwavering commitment to protect all aspects of the Syrian people, including the children of the honorable Druze community.”

Israel acknowledged that it had carried out a strike in Syria against alleged “extremists” who had attacked Druze people, and that it had followed through on a promise to defend the minority group.

Three Syrian Druze citizens have been taken out of Syria, according to the military, to be treated in Israel.

Following two days of deadly fighting between members of the Syrian government loyalists and members of the Druze military council, the strikes were launched.

Hussam al-Tahhan, the country’s director of security, disclosed to Syria’s state-run SANA news agency that a security operation had been launched there and that reinforcements had been dispatched to ensure the return of “security and stability” to the area’s neighborhoods.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 16 security forces and six fighters were killed on Wednesday. On Tuesday, at least 17 people were killed, including 10 members of the security forces.

Extreme panic

The strike on Ashrafieh Sahnaya, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sent a “stern message” to the new government in Syria, led by interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa.

He claimed that Israel hoped that they would stop the Druze community from suffering.

In the event that the Druze community is the subject of additional violence, Israel’s head of armed forces later gave the military instructions to get ready to attack Syrian government targets.

Leaders of the Syrian Druze have consistently resisted Israeli intervention and pledged to support a united Syria.

In the largely Druze-dominant area of Jaramana, clashes between Druze and Sunni groups erupted on Tuesday, which were sparked by an audio clip that was posted on social media attacking the Prophet Muhammad.

A Druze leader was responsible for the recording. The Druze community’s spiritual leader in Jaramana criticized the recording, claiming that it was made to “incite division and division among the people of the same nation.”

Despite calling for inclusiveness and national unity, Syria’s new rulers, former opposition fighters who led the rebellion that overthrew longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, have struggled to maintain security for the country’s minorities.

Israel has launched hundreds of strikes into Syria since al-Assad was overthrown in December, stepping up attacks it had carried out regularly in previous years, and has deployed troops. to the occupied Golan Heights in a buffer zone designated by the UN.

Following deadly clashes southeast of Damascus, Syria, a member of the Syrian security forces stands next to a vehicle [Yamam Al Shaar/Reuters].

With minorities already enthralled by the horrifying bloodshed last month, the most recent incidents only serve to heighten sectarian tension in Syria.

In a wave of vigilante attacks in the northern regions of Tartous and Latakia governorates, hundreds of people were killed in clashes with security forces in March.

Extreme panic

Sahnaya residents reported intense street fighting on Wednesday.

Elias Hanna, who resides on the edge of Sahnaya, described the indiscriminate shelling as making us feel extremely anxious and fearful.

We worry that the massacres against the Druze on the coast in Sahnaya will continue, he said.

UN Special Envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, said he is “deeply concerned” by the violence there, particularly in the Homs and the suburbs of the capital Damascus.

He demanded immediate action to stop civilian casualties from being incited and prevent communal tensions from being sparked.

Israel must stop its aerial assaults on Syria, according to Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Williams beats Higgins in stunning Crucible black-ball finish

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Mark Williams, a three-time champion, fought back to earn a 13-12 victory over John Higgins in the World Championship’s semi-finals.

As winner Williams rallied from each of the first four frames with three half-centuries before the game resumed at 8-8 on Wednesday, Higgins was initially left to rue costly misses in each of the subsequent frames.

Williams, 50, who was 5-1 up at the 20th frame as Higgins, a four-time champion, delivered a stirring response from 12-8 down, was largely confined to his chair after that.

The 49-year-old, who appeared to be struggling, found his rhythm and recorded breaks of 94, 114, and 67 to prepare for a dramatic conclusion.

Both players had chances to win a tight final frame, but when Higgins slammed the corner of the blue, the Welshman made it 2-0 before 52-year-old Ray Reardon in 1985.

“Unbelievable game, unbelievable finish. One of my best shots for many years probably was the blue I played, Williams said to BBC Sport.

What are those blue steel balls. A difficult shot was made. I had the option to leave. It could have been cut too far. I simply pursued it full-blooded.

There were no nerves at all, perhaps just a few times throughout my entire career.

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Williams, the reigning world number six, has generally prevailed over his fellow “Class of 92” rival in Sheffield, winning five of their six meetings, but it was Higgins’ first defeat in a decider since 1996.

After the first four frames of the morning, it appeared unlikely that it would live up to the thriller they provided in the 2018 final, which the Welshman ultimately won 18-16.

Higgins appeared out of tune and out of rhythm until the mid-session interval, which was similar to Williams’ claim that he had inspired him to perform “Delilah” by Tom Jones before arriving. He only showed signs of resemblance to the player who recently won the World Open and Tour Championship.

The Scot said, “It was poor for the first four frames, but after the break, I had nothing to lose and played perhaps the best four-frame burst of the event.”

I had a chance, I thought. You are under a lot of pressure, but the blue might be impossible if I pot the brown and roll through.

Zhao moves into the final four.

With a 13-13 victory over Chris Wakelin, Zhao Xintong placed third in the group.

His reward for making his debut appearance at the single table will be a meeting with Ronnie O’Sullivan, who defeated his Chinese compatriot Si Jiahui on Wednesday night 13-9.

The 28-year-old amateur won six straight frames on Tuesday to take the lead 12-4, and he did so comfortably.

After being one of the top 10 players from China sanctioned in a match-fixing scandal, Zhao, a former UK Championship champion, has now won 45 of his 47 matches.

He accepted the accusations of being a party to another player who had already fixed two matches and had himself bet on matches without actually playing a match.

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Europa League victory will not save our season – Amorim

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Ruben Amorim, manager of Manchester United, claims that winning the Europa League “could potentially change a lot of things in our club.”

The Old Trafford outfit travel to Athletic Club on Thursday for the first leg of their semi-final after a disappointing domestic campaign.

Even though United are 14th in the Premier League and have only 39 points from 34 games, they could still qualify for the Champions League if they win the Europa League.

Everyone is aware of how crucial it is to our season, Amorim said. Nothing can possibly save our season, but this could be very significant.

In the second leg of their last-eight tie, United won 7-6 on aggregate with a remarkable comeback when they scored two goals in the final minute of extra-time to beat Lyon 5-4 in the second leg.

Even if they win the trophy, Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag in November last year, is aware of how much of the Premier League’s struggles are in stark contrast to their European form.

The United manager added, “Europa League will not change anything about our problems; it will help us have Champions League next year, more money to spend, but the problems are still there,” added the manager.

We must “change the minds of our fans with consistency, sound judgment, sound hiring, and a strong academy.” To restore this club’s leadership, we must alter something about it.

“This is more of a shortcut than a game in Europe,” he said. Nothing more.

After returning from injury, Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt, both of whom are injured, are out for the Spanish team.

Dutchman De Ligt missed a month with a similar issue while Diallo, 22, has been out since February with an ankle injury.

In the other semi-final, Tottenham will face Bodo/Glimt from Norway, and the match will take place on May 21 in Bilbao.

And with Spurs currently 16th and two points adrift of United in the Premier League, Amorim also refuted claims that the matchup between teams was fair because they were able to qualify for the Champions League despite having such subpar domestic campaigns.

Bodo/Glimt are third in the Norwegian top flight, while Athletic Club is fourth in La Liga.

Amorim remarked, “It’s the rules.” The best teams in the Champions League should be included, so perhaps you could say that’s unfair.

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Louise Thompson breaks down after suffering ‘horrendously debilitating’ stoma leak in public

Made in Chelsea star Louise Thompson openly about the leak of her stoma bag in central London and admitted to being “too overwhelmed to speak” as she was left crying.

Louise Thompson candidly opened up on her stoma bag leak that left her in tears(Image: Instagram/louise.thompson)

Louise Thompson has revealed she was left “too overwhelmed to speak” as she broke down following a stoma bag leak while in central London. The Made in Chelsea star, 30, said she found the incident “horrendously debilitating”.

She has been open about her multiple health battles, having almost died while giving birth to her son in 2021. Louise revealed last year that she had been fitted with a stoma after years of ulcerative colitis. According to the NHS, it is a long-term condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed. A stoma is a surgically-created opening made in the abdomen that helps to divert the flow of body waste into a medical device.

Louise Thompson reveals stoma bag
Louise candidly detailed her experience (Image: Instagram/louise.thompson)

In honor of Winnie The Pooh, Louise proudly displayed her stoma bag, which she affectionately dubbed “Winnie.” Louise revealed she was left in tears this week after a leak despite frequently maintaining her upbeat status on her Instagram account.

She and her fiance Ryan Libbey were traveling to Marylebone on his motorcycle for a coffee and an appointment. After their “excellent” start to the day, Louise and I went to record a podcast.

Louise was taken to the hospital where she later realized that her Stoma bag had leaked. Louise opened up about the incident by saying, “I found myself in a really depressing situation yesterday.

Continue reading the article.

I had a fantastic day off. At @avenues, I had a medical appointment. life with Ryan in the morning: we biked there to avoid the traffic for 20 minutes.

Then, off to record a podcast with two of my best friends, which has been a long time coming. following a week of c**p health, I had a lot of excited energy in my belly.

Because we were a little early, Louise continued, “We were riding out of Marylebone blissfully happy and then I felt a little wet in my pocket before we headed to @watchhouse for some delicious coffee and cookies pre-recording.”

I looked down and discovered the most gruesomely incapacitating stoma leak. As Ryan intervened, the reality TV star admitted she was too overwhelmed to explain the circumstance.

Louise Thompson on moped
Her fiance Ryan supported her throughout the incident(Image: Instagram/louise.thompson)

As hospital staff attempted to locate a new stoma bag, she had to wait in the bathroom for an hour. I had to hobble to the nearest hospital, which was a private one, so it was a little awkward, Louise said.

“Thankfully Ryan, who I was with, handled it for me because I was actually too overwhelmed to speak when we got to reception.” Then, as they searched around to see if any of their inpatients had any stoma bags, I literally waited locked in a bathroom for an hour while sitting on the floor covered in mess.

Louise described how painfully she had to remove her old bag and remove the new one from the photo. While Louise struggled to keep it all together, her assistant made her a new pair of pants.

She wrote, “I tried to pull myself together.” I put on some new, clean, but really long trousers after cleaning up in the sink, and then had to ask for scissors to cut this to the right size (while my small intestine was free and active and hanging out of a gaping hole in my stomach).

Louise Thompson stoma
She fitted the new stoma bag herself(Image: Instagram/louise.thompson)

I was so determined to continue listening to the podcast recording because I’m so used to this crazy s**t happening to me at this point.

Louise, however, gave in to what she had just experienced. She had to give her mental health a priority in addition to her work obligations.

She openly said, “But then as I was leaving, I caught myself in the mirror and I just felt so sorry for myself that I burst into tears.”

I called Ryan and told him to come in, but I was just told I couldn’t bloody do it. I had hoped it would make a good story, but I was unable to.

“Sometimes, on a rare occasion, I experience a human reaction and realize that I’m not that strong, so I need to be kind to myself, call it a day, look after myself, and look after my mental health.” Although work frequently comes first, this one was too much of a push. I canceled everything.

Continue reading the article.