Category Sports News

The Crucible curse refers to the fact that no first-time champion has been able to retain the World Snooker Championship title since the tournament moved to Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre in 1977.

A total of 19 winners have failed when attempting to defend their crown, and just two have reached the final.

Joe Johnson (1987) and Ken Doherty (1998) came the closest to breaking the ‘curse’ but fell at the final hurdle.

All-time greats such as Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby and Stephen Hendry have won multiple World Championships but failed to retain the title the year after their maiden victory.

O’Sullivan won his first in 2001 and went on to win again in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022.

Selby won back-to-back in 2016 and 2017 after his maiden title in 2014. He also won in 2021.

The Crucible Theatre’s contract to host the event expires in 2027, with discussions around the future venue for the tournament ‘ongoing and constructive’.

The Crucible curse refers to the fact that no first-time champion has been able to retain the World Snooker Championship title since the tournament moved to Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre in 1977.

A total of 19 winners have failed when attempting to defend their crown, and just two have reached the final.

Joe Johnson (1987) and Ken Doherty (1998) came the closest to breaking the ‘curse’ but fell at the final hurdle.

All-time greats such as Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby and Stephen Hendry have won multiple World Championships but failed to retain the title the year after their maiden victory.

O’Sullivan won his first in 2001 and went on to win again in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022.

Selby won back-to-back in 2016 and 2017 after his maiden title in 2014. He also won in 2021.

The Crucible Theatre’s contract to host the event expires in 2027, with discussions around the future venue for the tournament ‘ongoing and constructive’.

Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko says she will “seek justice in court” after being subjected to “moral abuse” by the Women’s Tennis Association.

The 35-year-old says she has suffered from panic attacks because of the tour’s decision to “protect” an unnamed senior official after their “conscious” attack on her.

“I spoke about it openly and directly. I tried to seek protection and justice within the WTA,” Tsurenko wrote.

“But in response, faced indifference and injustice, which led to a prolonged moral decline.

“Pain, fear, panic attacks, humiliation, withholding information, harassment of my team to silence me… and this isn’t even the full list of what I’ve had to endure.

“My last chance to defend myself, to stand up for my rights, my dignity, and to prevent such acts of violence in sports is to seek justice in court.”

Tsurenko, who considered quitting tennis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has spoken regularly about the challenges of competing on the tour against the backdrop of the war.

The Ukrainian, ranked 239th in the world, pulled out of a match in 2023 after suffering a panic attack following a conversation with the WTA leadership about its response to the war.

She says the organisation has become a “terrifying and alien place”.

“The WTA tour refused to protect a woman, a player, a human being. Instead, the WTA tour chose to protect a person in a leadership position,” wrote Tsurenko.

The WTA has emphasised its position in opposing Russia’s invasion and maintaining its support of Ukrainian athletes.

“From the outset, the WTA has been steadfast and clear in its condemnation of Russia’s war on Ukraine and the actions of the Russian government against the Ukrainian people,” the association said.

“Consistent with our position, the WTA has taken numerous steps to assist our Ukrainian player members, who have faced great challenges as professional athletes.

“The WTA has been equally clear that it was founded on principles of equality and non-discrimination and its rules provide that competitions are open to all women players who qualify based on their merit, and without discrimination.

“Consistent with those principles, and in common with other tennis organizations, the WTA has taken the position that individual athletes should not be penalised for the actions of their governments.”

It added: “While the WTA has the greatest sympathy for the significant challenges that Ms Tsurenko and our other Ukrainian athletes have faced, we are disappointed that she has decided to engage in litigation to seek to hold the WTA responsible for her distress.

Instead of hot cross buns and chocolate eggs, Friday’s full schedule of EFL games is the real treat to start Easter weekend.

Amazingly, every one of the 24 Championship teams can still be promoted or relegated with only four games left.

There are some seismic events that are expected to have a significant impact on both the promotion and relegation scraps over the course of a nine-and-a-half hour window.

Before Leeds kick off at Oxford United (20:00 BST), Burnley could be three points clear at the top of the pile.

The Clarets travel to Vicarage Road in an effort to clinch their place in the Hornets’ playoff hopes by 90 minutes away from a potential Premier League title win.

The men’s league record of 30 could be set at the time they won the Division One title in 1921, when Scott Parker’s men have won 29 games without losing.

According to Parker, “This is about staying very level, very focused, and not getting carried away by the emotions of this time of year.”

There are still four games to play, so let’s keep chalking them off. “My message is to stay calm.”

After falling apart in March, Daniel Farke’s men won six of their five matches by claiming the title’s fate. However, Leeds have since picked up two victories to maintain their own destiny.

Manor Solomon, who scored for Preston on Saturday to win the game 2-1, said to BBC Radio Leeds: “We are really happy but we know we need to stay humble.” We were seven points clear a month ago.

There are still four games left, and we want to win every single game until we can advance.

Although Gary Rowett’s side have been on the verge of extinction in their last five games, a home win under the lights here would all but confirm another season in the Championship, the Whites defeated Oxford 4-0 at Elland Road in December.

With a record-breaking three straight defeats, Sheffield United are effectively six points adrift of the top-two in the weekend despite having a lower goal difference when they travel to Bramall Lane to face third-bottom Cardiff.

It’s as straightforward as that, boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield, “Everyone wants to sensationalise things but we haven’t been good enough.”

We’ve done our finishing, and we’ve not created enough. At each end of the pitch, we haven’t done enough.

“We must face criticism for losing three games when we ought to have won two.” And I’m content to do that.

We fully understand that we have four games to play, and we need to adjust accordingly.

Sunderland have been atop the standings for fourth place since the Christmas decorations were put up, but they now face a fascinating 15:00 BST match at Bristol City, 12 points adrift in fifth, as they try to resurrect their position in what could be a set-up for a potential semi-final showdown.

At Ashton Gate, the Robins have won five of their past six games while losing just one of their last 11 overall.

Boss Liam Manning told BBC Radio Bristol, “We’ve given ourselves something to play for, and credit to the lads for doing that.”

There will be many twists and turns as the season comes to an end; it’s about doing what you can, coming up, and having faith in yourself.

West Bromwich Albion are in command of the pack and would jump back above the dotted line with a win at Coventry, who occupy the top six but would struggle on goal difference if they lost to the Baggies. Last week, they returned to winning ways after a five-game skid.

If Albion beat bottom club Plymouth at the Riverside, Middlesbrough, who sits in eighth place, would also be able to overhaul the Sky Blues.

If Millwall defeats Blackburn, who are still in the play-off race, they could be on par with Coventry in ninth place.

With the potential biggest game of the season for both teams coming up at 12:30, fourth-bottom Derby host second-bottom Luton, all eyes are on the relegation battle.

Birmingham, who had just lost to Wrexham in a 0-0 draw at Wigan, were declared League One champions without even playing last weekend.

Crawley hosts the Blues, looking to maintain their quest to break Reading’s 106-point EFL points record, which was established 19 years ago.

The Vertu Trophy defeat by Peterborough on Sunday by Chris Davies’ side requires 12 points from their final six games to do better.

Wrexham make a return to the Racecourse Ground in an effort to at least keep their one-point lead over Wycombe in the race for the other automatic promotion spot.

The Chairboys have a different challenge than the Red Dragons’, who lost to Rovers of Bristol last weekend after falling for them on goal difference six times.

They travel to Bolton, who are in eighth place, to start their play-off hopes.

If they defeat Peterborough or if Leyton Orient and Bolton both fail to win at home to Barnsley and Wycombe, respectively, then Stockport, five points behind Wrexham with four games remaining, will be guaranteed of a top-six spot.

If they defeat Northampton, 19th place and still not safe, Charlton will advance to the play-offs on Friday, depending on the results of Orient, Bolton, and Huddersfield at home to Cambridge United.

With four games to go, bottom club Shrewsbury will be relegated on Friday unless they defeat Wigan, and Burton and Rovers of Bristol both lose at Exeter and Wrexham, respectively. They are also 12 points away from safety.

If Burton or Rovers of Bristol beat Cambridge United at Huddersfield, they will also be down. They can’t go down before Monday if the Us avoid defeat.

In League Two, things might get even tenser.

With only four games left, leaders Port Vale face a crucial trip to Carlisle, who are vying to stay in the EFL.

If Accrington lose to the Valiants and Accrington lose to Salford, Mark Hughes’ second-bottom Cumbrians, who are six points behind Accrington and have a lower goal difference, might need to play snooker.

If they win, Vale will be assured of at least a play-off spot, though losing to Colchester or Grimsby at home to Swindon, which former boss Ian Holloway controls, could cement a spot there even in defeat.

If Bromley loses to Accrington, Accrington wins, and fourth-bottomed Tranmere defeats Doncaster, bottom club Morecambe, a point behind Carlisle, would be relegated to the National League.

Guinness Women’s Six Nations: England v Scotland

Venue: Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium, Leicester Date: Saturday, 19 April Kick-off: 16:45 BST

Captain Rachel Malcolm misses out with a concussion as Scotland make two changes for their Six Nations trip to England on Saturday.

Malcolm suffered a head knock in the 25-17 home defeat by Italy last weekend, as did scrum-half Leia Brebner-Holden.

Fly-half Helen Nelson will lead the team in Malcolm’s absence.

Caity Mattinson takes over at number nine and Jade Konkel comes in at number eight as Evie Gallagher moves to blindside flanker in place of Malcolm.

Rachel McLachlan joins those two in the back row and will earn her 50th cap, while lock Becky Boyd stays in the team after making her first start against the Italians.

There are a trio of uncapped players on the bench, with Gemma Bell among the forward options, while Rhea Clarke provides scrum-half cover and centre Rachel Philipps could also make a potential debut.

Scotland opened with victory over Wales but are now fifth in the table after defeats by France and Italy.

England, aiming for a seventh successive title, lead the way with three bonus-point wins.

England have won all 23 Six Nations meetings with Scotland, the past five encounters settled by an aggregate score of 266-22.

“England have the ability to go through you physically, they also have the ability to go round you,” said head coach Bryan Easson. “They can suffocate you defensively.

“They have such a good team, one to 15, or should I say one to 40. No matter what changes they make, they have world class players coming in.

“It’s a huge task but one we are certainly up for.

England: Kildunne; Dow, Jones, Shekells, MacDonald; Aitchison, L Packer; Clifford, Atkin-Davies, Bern, Galligan, Ward, Aldcroft (capt), M Packer, Feaunati.

Replacements: Campbell, Botterman, Muir, Talling, Matthews, Hunt, Rowland, Scarratt.

Scotland: Rollie; Lloyd, Orr, Thomson, McGhie; Nelson (capt), Mattison; Young, Skeldon, Clarke, Bonar, Boyd, Gallagher, McLachlan, Konkel.

Back row Erin King will miss the remainder of Ireland’s Women’s Six Nations campaign and the World Cup later this year because of a knee injury, the Irish Rugby Football Union has confirmed.

The 21-year-old sustained the injury during last week’s defeat by England in Cork and is to undergo surgery in Dublin on Thursday before beginning her rehabilitation.

King, who was named World Rugby Women’s XV’s Breakthrough Player of the Year last November, will miss the forthcoming matches away to Wales and Scotland, as well as the World Cup, which takes place in England in August and September.

“I’m heartbroken”, said Australia-born King.

“It feels very unfair right now but I’ve had the best few months with this team and I can’t wait to support in every way I can from the sidelines.

The news will come as a major blow to Ireland as they prepare to make their return to World Cup action in a few months after failing to qualify for the previous edition of the tournament.

The Ireland Sevens international made her debut in the XVs format in September’s win over Australia at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast and has subsequently cemented her place in head coach Scott Bemand’s squad.

Her performances in WXV1 in Canada in September, including scoring two tries in a memorable win over world champions New Zealand, helped her pick up the Breakthrough Player of the Year accolade.

King had played every minute of Ireland’s first three games in this year’s Six Nations before her setback.

She made her debut for Ireland sevens at the Dubai Sevens in December 2021 and played a significant part in the Irish women’s team becoming the first ever to win a World Series silver medal in February 2022 in Spain.

King was named in the squad for the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens – Women’s tournament held in Cape Town, South Africa, and represented Ireland at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.