10th - 14th April
Ding Liren Strikes Back
The biggest chess match of the year so far is currently underway in Astana, Kazakhstan's capital city. Ding Liren, the Chinese Grandmaster, is locked at 2:2 against well known Ian Nepomniachtchi for the ultimate prize in the World Chess Championship. Liren scored his first victory on Thursday after a blunder move by Nepomniachtchi. The championship started on the 7th April and is scheduled to finish the 1st May, still a very long time to go.
The fast growing sport of Wing Foiling completed another major competition earlier in the week. Leucate in France hosted the GWA Wingfoil World Cup Surf-Freestyle with Bowien van der Linden (NZL) and Alan Fedit de and Xavi Corr (ESP) winning the women's and men's titles. Jorge Prado (ESP) claimed Race 1, while Maxime Renaux (FRA) was victorious in Race 2 of the MXGP of Switzerland, the third round of the FIM Motocross World Championship held in Frauenfeld.
The village of Gawthorpe, located in the West Yorkshire in England, hosted a very unusual annual event. This year we had the 60th Anniversary of the World Coal Carrying Championships. Despite the rainy day, competitors turned out in numbers to compete in four adult categories, including a children's race.
Road cycling resumed on Wednesday with De Brabantse Pijl - La Flèche Brabançonne, a UCI ProSeries race for both men and women. Silvia Persico (ITA) and Dorian Godon (FRA) were the elite winners. Snooker's greatest tournament gets underway tomorrow at The Crucible in Sheffield. The first match of the Snooker World Championship starts at 10am.
Gerwyn Price (WAL) became the first elite darts player to win four of the Professional Darts Corporation Premier League Nights with his latest win in Brighton, England, on Thursday. It was Australian dominance as Ethan Ewing and Tyler Wright win at Bells Beach in Australia, the next event of the World Surf League. While Astana is entertaining chess fans, it was also the location for the United World Wrestling Asian Championships of various weight categories in Freestyle, Greco Roman, and Women's Wrestling. Follow the link for full results:
In waterpolo news, the United States and Italy topped the standings in Rotterdam in the Women’s Water Polo World Cup 2023, Division 1. They both qualify for the Super Final in Long Beach in June. Finally, Nicholas Pooran (TTO) hit the fastest Indian Premier League 50 this year, needing only 15 balls. Pooran went on to make 62 off 19 balls before being caught in the deep.
Until next time, have a great weekend in sport.