Luke Littler warned he can still get better after crushing Gerwyn Price 18-9 to retain his Betfred World Matchplay title in Blackpool.
Littler was in imperious form as he set a new record for the final with an average of 111.53, lifting his average for the tournament as a whole to 111.04 to break Phil Taylor’s previous high mark of 106.31.
Littler also broke his own competition record for 180s as he hit 12 in the final to reach 66 for the week.
The win keeps Littler on course for a clean sweep of trophies in 2026 having already won the World Championship, UK Open, Premier League and the Masters.
But while the 19-year-old said this was the best version of himself to date, there is still plenty more to come.
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“I can still get better,” Littler said. “I can get a lot better. Through the matches, I was up to a 120 average at one point and I didn’t make it stick. Maybe in a few years’ time I will stick it and go up to a 120 average.
“At the minute I’m playing some of the best stuff and I’ve just got to keep it there…
“The main goal was to win every major once. I don’t know how many years are left in me. We’re still only two and a half years into my professional career. It’s far from done.”
Littler suggested his relentless scoring reflected his deep desire to become only the third man to successfully defend the Matchplay title after Taylor and Michael van Gerwen, who achieved it 10 years ago.
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“I’ve come out with the best outcome there is in any tournament by lifting the trophy, but the way I’ve done it, I’ve definitely surprised myself but it’s down to the commitment I’ve got.
“I wanted to win this trophy more than anything, go back to back, put my name on that list and that’s what I’ve done. I wasn’t playing the best (in the World Series) but I’ve come here with a different mindset.”
Price, appearing in his first final since 2022 having never won the trophy, had said earlier in the week that if he brought his best to the final he could beat Littler, but it was not the case as, even averaging 104.97, the Welshman was blown away.
“Luke is one in a million,” Price said. “I think I played pretty decent.
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“In that game I missed a couple of opportunities but the bull checkouts, the 167, it was a big turning point even though it was early in the game.
Gerwyn Price (right) recognises Littler as “one in a million” (Bradley Collyer/PA) (PA Wire)
“I didn’t play brilliant, but I played decent.”
Earlier Beau Greaves claimed her third Women’s World Matchplay title in four years as she edged out Fallon Sherrock 6-5, taking the win with a checkout of 56 in the deciding leg.
“I’m not one to celebrate but it was relief in the end,” Greaves said. “Fallon is a great lass and an even better darts player. I knew I had to play well but to hit that last dart was an outpouring of relief.”
After a 53-year wait, the New York Knicks captured their first NBA championship, sparking celebrations across New York City. Thousands of fans lined the streets of Manhattan for a historic ticker-tape parade, turning a Thursday workday into a spontaneous holiday as the city honored its victorious team.
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There are levels to everything, even when you are a professional athlete.
Just look at what happened when Jalen Brunson, an NBA champion with the New York Knicks, and Michael Porter Jr., who stars for the Brooklyn Nets on the other side of town, arrived at a venue in a video that has since gone viral.
Brunson, who was alongside his wife, Ali, happened to arrive at a World Cup after-party hosted by Justin Bieber in New York City at the same time as Michael Porter Jr., who was with his former Denver Nuggets teammate Peyton Watson.
New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson and Brooklyn Nets star Michael Porter Jr. had two different experiences at a nightclub in New York City.(GETTY)
Porter may make more than Brunson per season ($40.8 million per season compared to $37.7 million), but the latter has achieved the ultra-rare “King of New York” status.
That means Brunson and his wife don’t need to wait in a queue or make sure they’re on a guest list when arriving anywhere. Porter, on the other hand, had to do just that.
The video shows Porter and Watson, who are both champions in their own right after winning the NBA title in 2023 with the Nuggets, needing to check in at the front door of the venue.
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Meanwhile, the Brunson couple walked right through the front door, as camera flashes lit up the area right away.
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks drives on Michael Porter Jr. of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Thursday, March 21, 2024.(Denver Post)
“Mr. Brunson, how are you?” the security guard at the front door said to the NBA Finals MVP.
In New York lore, playing for the Knicks carries a certain weight compared to being in Brooklyn with the Nets. For one, the Knicks are the more iconic franchise, playing in “The Mecca” that is Madison Square Garden. The history, the rabid fans, and of course, this particular group led by Brunson winning the first title in 53 years, has electrified the city more than the Nets have.
The Nets moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn in 2012, and though they’ve had some teams with solid NBA All-Stars since then, they are never expected to take over the percentage of Knicks fans across the five boroughs.
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The Nets have been in rebuild mode for the past three seasons, including Porter Jr.’s first during the 2025-26 campaign with Brooklyn. While he enjoyed career highs in points (24.2 per game) and assists (3), the team went 20-62 to finish third-to-last in the Eastern Conference.
Jalen Brunson, his wife Ali Marks and their daughter, Jordyn James Brunson, are seen at the New York Knicks ticker-tape parade along the Canyon of Heroes on June 18, 2026, in New York City.(GC Images)
Porter Jr. and Watson didn’t have trouble getting in after checking with the guest list coordinator, but the comparison between the Knicks and Nets got its latest debate topic.
Trainer Nick Ryan decided to debut Doubt Time at Caulfield after a convincing midweek gallop at Flemington.
The stable was also keen to support the two-year-old gelding, which saw a significant market shift from $31 to $8 before it secured a victory in the Stow Robotics Handicap (1100m) on Saturday.
With apprentice Luke Cartwright in the saddle, Doubt Time triumphed by a nose over the $3.50 favourite Resolutely, with Stakes ($5) a further 1-¾ lengths back.
The colt, a son of Doubtland who was a dual Stakes winner before retiring to stud, was ridden conservatively by Cartwright before unleashing a strong finishing run.
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“He’s very much like his father,” Ryan stated. “His father won his first start on a Soft 7 at Kensington, and he came from back and swamped them.”
“We trialled here last week, and then I galloped him on Thursday morning on the inside grass at Flemington. I pushed the button a little bit in the last 50 (metres) and I nearly fell off the back of him. The penny has finally dropped, and I said to Luke to keep him in your hands, bounce, squeeze, travel, and if you’re a bit back, don’t panic.”
“He’s got an 8.05 metre stride on the data, and he’s not fully developed and I said it’s very important for you to get room to the outside. He’s never had one with the whip, and when you shake him up, he’s going to launch, whether that’s running home to finish fourth or fifth, or winning, I had a feeling of what he was going to do.”
Ryan indicated that the gelding would not be rushed back to the track and would likely be sent for a spell.
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“He’s two, so we’ll have to see how he is in the morning, how his shins are,” Ryan added. “He’ll definitely be in the paddock next week, for how long, I don’t know. He’s had three jump-outs and two trials, and he had come here (Caulfield) twice. I did dual accept for Wodonga on Sunday, but we were always coming here, so we’ll see how he pulls up, but that was pretty impressive.”
Explore the latest racing markets for the Stow Robotics Handicap at Australia’s top racing betting markets.
Brad Widdup finds himself contemplating the considerable future potential of Satono Jasmine, a filly who has now recorded her fourth successive triumph at Randwick, leaving the trainer unsure of her ultimate limits.
Having commenced Satono Jasmine’s racing campaign with modest expectations, Brad Widdup is now uncertain about the filly’s ultimate capabilities after she achieved her fourth win in succession at Randwick.
In her second racing campaign, Satono Jasmine transitioned seamlessly into Saturday grade, producing a brilliant turn of foot from the rear of the field to secure the B & K Group Australia Handicap (1800m) at Randwick.
“I don’t know where it’s coming from,” Widdup commented on the filly’s acceleration.
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“I thought she could win a maiden and maybe a class one, but not many do what she is doing.”
Satono Jasmine’s Randwick victory followed a sequence of provincial wins and a midweek city success.
Despite it being off-season racing, few horses manage to achieve a four-win streak, leading Widdup to ponder how much further the daughter of Japanese sire Satono Aladdin might progress.
“I really don’t know. That stallion is a pretty good stallion, and she might be the one,” Widdup said.
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“She has come a long way, and she’s got a bit to learn.
“We don’t (know where her ceiling is). We’ll give her a break and see what happens.
“I won’t be charging into the spring now. I’ll probably get her back for the early autumn and have a look, try to win a couple of races after Christmas and see where that leads to.”
Chad Schofield has been the jockey for three of Satono Jasmine’s four wins and rated Saturday’s effort as her most impressive.
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“That was her best one yet,” Schofield stated.
“I just let her travel, albeit on a slow speed, but geez, when I pulled her to the outside in the straight she accelerated hard and fast. Every time I ride her she has felt better.”
Satono Jasmine ($3.80 favourite) won by a margin of 1-1/4 lengths from Horizons ($3.90), with the Victorian mare Oraqua ($12) finishing with vigour for third, another long neck behind.
Check out the latest Sydney racing markets with Australia’s leading betting sites.
MONTREAL — Jose Maltos Diaz kicked two fields and a single with just under three minutes left in the final quarter as the Montreal Alouettes beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 31-18 in front of 21,014 fans at Percival Molson Stadium on Sunday.
Trailing 18-17 late in the game, Alouettes linebacker AlexandreGagné blocked Hamilton punter Mitch McCarthy’s kick, giving Maltos Diaz prime field position deep in the Hamilton zone. He kicked a 35-yard field goal to give the Alouettes a 20-18 lead.
Maltos Diaz added another field goal less than a minute later from 46 yards out, his third in as many tries during the game.
Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander was 21-for-29, throwing for 187 yards in the win. Alexander also threw his first interception of the season late in the first half. The American had not thrown a pick in a CFL-record 356 regular-season passing attempts, a mark he set just last week.
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Short-yardage quarterback Terry Wilson scored a pair of touchdowns from the one-yard line in his Montreal debut.
Wilson signed with Montreal on July 6 after spending the past two seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Running back Travis Theis scored a touchdown with 24 seconds remaining on the clock to seal the win for Montreal. He also rushed for 156 yards, his second consecutive 100-plus rushing yard game of the season.
DeVonte Dedmon, playing in his first game of the season, accounted for 100 yards off kick returns for the Alouettes.
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Montreal (6-1) won its fourth straight home game and moved six points ahead of both Hamilton (3-4) and Toronto atop the East Division standings. The win also gave the Alouettes the season-series and tiebreaker, should both teams finish with the same record at the end of the regular season.
Tiger-Cats quarterback Tre Ford completed 15 of his 23 pass attempts for 164 yards and a touchdown. He was also intercepted once. Ford also rushed for an additional 24 yards and was sacked three times in the contest.
The 28-year-old Niagara Falls, Ont., native started his second straight game for the Tiger-Cats following an ankle injury to starter Bo Levi Mitchell earlier this month that required surgery.
Hamilton kicker Marc Liegghio made his lone field goal attempt from 46 yards.
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Montreal found itself in the red zone on their opening drive of the game, thanks to a 33-yard kickoff return by Dedmon and consecutive 20-plus yard rushes by Theis. The Alouettes, however, were forced to settle for a 17-yard Maltos Diaz field goal.
The Tiger-Cats responded in a big way thanks to their special teams’ unit.
Isaiah Wooden Sr. returned Joseph Zema’s punt 100 yards for his first touchdown of the season that gave Hamilton the lead. It was the first punt return touchdown given up by Montreal since Aug. 4, 2022.
The Alouettes regained the lead early in the second quarter following an 11-play drive that began at Montreal’s own nine-yard line. It culminated in a one-yard score by Wilson.
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Hamilton wasted little time getting on the board to begin the second half, as Ford found wide receiver Kenny Lawler for a 33-yard touchdown pass that gave Hamilton the lead.
The lead would prove to be short-lived, however, thanks to Hamilton’s lack of discipline. The Tiger-Cats took back-to-back penalties for a total of 31 yards, including a 21-yard roughing infraction by linebacker Wynton McManis that led to his ejection.
With the ball placed at the Montreal one-yard line, Wilson once again ran the ball into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game.
Liegghio added a field goal late in the third quarter.
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Tiger-Cats: Host the Calgary Stampeders (3-4) on Saturday.
Alouettes: Visit the Ottawa Redblacks (0-6) on Friday.
England’s Adam Ramsay-Peaty will have the chance to defend his men’s 50m breaststroke title at the Commonwealth Games after qualifying third fastest for the final.
The 31-year-old, who broke down in tears after taking bronze in the 100m on Saturday night, finished second in his semi-final with a time of 26.82 seconds.
World record holder Ramsay-Peaty will have to close the gap to South Africa’s Michael Houlie – who set the pace with 26.61 – when he races in the final on Monday at 20:07 BST.
Australia’s 100m breaststroke gold medallist Sam Williamson and Jersey’s silver medallist Filip Nowacki will also line up in the final.
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“I think I’ve still got a little bit more to grow. I think there was a massive lesson in yesterday,” three-time Olympic gold medallist Ramsay-Peaty told BBC Sport.
“I can’t change anything obviously, so we have to get over it. I also know the trajectory I have to be on now and it’s a little bit different to what I thought it was.
“I’ve also got to remind myself that I haven’t swam a championships in two years. I put a lot of expectation on myself coming into this games.
“But as you know, the best athletes in the world, you don’t do it in training, you have to actually compete well and that is a skill on its own and we have to get used to that.
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“I’m enjoying it and we’ll have to see what that result is tomorrow.”
Ramsay-Peaty’s team-mate Max Morgan finished sixth in the same semi-final race and was eliminated.
Cristiano Ronaldo takes on acting and producing role in new football drama featuring Thierry Henry and Damian Lewis/ Iamge: Instagram
Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing to add another chapter to his post-playing career after signing on to executive produce and appear in a new television drama centred on British football.The Manchester United and Real Madrid legend, who now captains Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr and Portugal, will feature in the series titled Day 1s, with fellow Premier League great Thierry Henry also set to appear in the production. The project marks Ronaldo’s first major move into television drama following his success on the pitch and his growing business ventures away from football.
Ronaldo takes first major step into television drama
The 41-year-old will serve as an executive producer on Day 1s while also appearing in the series, which explores the intricacies of British football through the story of a powerful football agent.Speaking when announcing the project, Ronaldo described the venture as another milestone beyond his playing career.“This is an exciting chapter for me, as I look ahead to new ventures,” Ronaldo said.The series is being produced by UR•Marv Studios, the production company Ronaldo co-founded earlier this year with filmmaker Matthew Vaughn, whose directing credits include the Kingsman and Kick-Ass franchises.
CJP Jantar Mantar Protest Updates
When announcing the launch of independent film studio UR•Marv alongside soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo in April last year, British film director Matthew Vaughn said the venture was created to challenge the conventional model of film and television production. Speaking to ESPN, Vaughn added: “Cristiano has created stories on the pitch that I could never have written, and I look forward to creating inspiring movies with him.”
Thierry Henry also joins the project
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Ronaldo will be joined by former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry, adding another high-profile football figure to the production.The two former Premier League rivals, whose careers frequently fuelled debates over the league’s greatest-ever players, are now collaborating away from the football pitch.According to The Sun, filming has already begun at Barnet FC’s stadium in north-west London, where Henry was recently photographed during production. An exclusive insider source told The Sun that cameras are already rolling on location, with production quietly underway at the non-league ground.
Hollywood star Damian Lewis and football icon Thierry Henry lead the cast of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Day 1s, with filming now underway/ Credit: Click News and Media via The Sun
The series is expected to feature an ensemble cast that also includes British actor Damian Lewis, rapper Dave and newcomer Carlotta Banat.
Fictional football agent at the heart of the story
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Rather than focusing on real footballers, Day 1s centres on Stanley Dalton, a fictional elite football agent portrayed by Homeland and Billions star Damian Lewis.The concept was created by football agent Darren Dein, who also serves as an executive producer on the series. Dein is well known within football circles and represents Henry.According to The Sun, the drama aims to present a more authentic look at the modern football industry, contrasting with the lighter comedic approach of series such as Ted Lasso.A television industry source told the publication that the project is expected to attract significant attention from streaming platforms.“It’s likely to spark a bidding war between the streamers,” the source told The Sun.“The sheer calibre of figures behind it, not to mention the cast, means it’s a prestige project, albeit a surprising one for Ronaldo as he crosses into making dramas.”The same source added that the show’s timing could prove significant following the recent FIFA World Cup.“After the World Cup, there’s a renewed international interest, particularly in the States, in British football. It’s one that’s been growing for some time with shows like Ted Lasso.“But this isn’t a sitcom. It’s definitely a drama, with some comedic elements, and has some serious names backing it.”
Expanding beyond football
The television project is the latest example of Ronaldo expanding his portfolio beyond football while continuing his playing career.The Portugal captain remains one of the sport’s biggest global figures, with more than one billion followers across social media platforms. He also continues to captain Al-Nassr and represented Portugal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring three goals during the tournament.Away from the pitch, however, his ambitions continue to grow through UR•Marv Studios, with Day 1s becoming one of the company’s first flagship productions.The series represents an unusual crossover between elite football and scripted television, bringing together decorated footballers, established Hollywood talent and experienced industry figures in a project that could become one of the sport’s most high-profile entertainment ventures. While Ronaldo is no stranger to the spotlight, having fronted global advertising campaigns, featured in feature-length documentaries and built the CR7 brand into a worldwide business, this project marks a different chapter in his career. Rather than simply being the face of a production, the Portugal star is helping create it, taking on roles behind the camera as a producer while also appearing on screen in a scripted drama.With filming already underway and Ronaldo, Henry, Damian Lewis and Matthew Vaughn among the leading names attached, Day 1s is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched football-themed television productions currently in development.
Cristiano Ronaldo takes on acting and producing role in new football drama featuring Thierry Henry and Damian Lewis/ Iamge: Instagram
Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing to add another chapter to his post-playing career after signing on to executive produce and appear in a new television drama centred on British football.The Manchester United and Real Madrid legend, who now captains Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr and Portugal, will feature in the series titled Day 1s, with fellow Premier League great Thierry Henry also set to appear in the production. The project marks Ronaldo’s first major move into television drama following his success on the pitch and his growing business ventures away from football.
Ronaldo takes first major step into television drama
The 41-year-old will serve as an executive producer on Day 1s while also appearing in the series, which explores the intricacies of British football through the story of a powerful football agent.Speaking when announcing the project, Ronaldo described the venture as another milestone beyond his playing career.“This is an exciting chapter for me, as I look ahead to new ventures,” Ronaldo said.The series is being produced by UR•Marv Studios, the production company Ronaldo co-founded earlier this year with filmmaker Matthew Vaughn, whose directing credits include the Kingsman and Kick-Ass franchises.
CJP Jantar Mantar Protest Updates
When announcing the launch of independent film studio UR•Marv alongside soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo in April last year, British film director Matthew Vaughn said the venture was created to challenge the conventional model of film and television production. Speaking to ESPN, Vaughn added: “Cristiano has created stories on the pitch that I could never have written, and I look forward to creating inspiring movies with him.”
Thierry Henry also joins the project
Advertisement
Ronaldo will be joined by former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry, adding another high-profile football figure to the production.The two former Premier League rivals, whose careers frequently fuelled debates over the league’s greatest-ever players, are now collaborating away from the football pitch.According to The Sun, filming has already begun at Barnet FC’s stadium in north-west London, where Henry was recently photographed during production. An exclusive insider source told The Sun that cameras are already rolling on location, with production quietly underway at the non-league ground.
Hollywood star Damian Lewis and football icon Thierry Henry lead the cast of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Day 1s, with filming now underway/ Credit: Click News and Media via The Sun
The series is expected to feature an ensemble cast that also includes British actor Damian Lewis, rapper Dave and newcomer Carlotta Banat.
Fictional football agent at the heart of the story
Advertisement
Rather than focusing on real footballers, Day 1s centres on Stanley Dalton, a fictional elite football agent portrayed by Homeland and Billions star Damian Lewis.The concept was created by football agent Darren Dein, who also serves as an executive producer on the series. Dein is well known within football circles and represents Henry.According to The Sun, the drama aims to present a more authentic look at the modern football industry, contrasting with the lighter comedic approach of series such as Ted Lasso.A television industry source told the publication that the project is expected to attract significant attention from streaming platforms.“It’s likely to spark a bidding war between the streamers,” the source told The Sun.“The sheer calibre of figures behind it, not to mention the cast, means it’s a prestige project, albeit a surprising one for Ronaldo as he crosses into making dramas.”The same source added that the show’s timing could prove significant following the recent FIFA World Cup.“After the World Cup, there’s a renewed international interest, particularly in the States, in British football. It’s one that’s been growing for some time with shows like Ted Lasso.“But this isn’t a sitcom. It’s definitely a drama, with some comedic elements, and has some serious names backing it.”
Expanding beyond football
The television project is the latest example of Ronaldo expanding his portfolio beyond football while continuing his playing career.The Portugal captain remains one of the sport’s biggest global figures, with more than one billion followers across social media platforms. He also continues to captain Al-Nassr and represented Portugal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring three goals during the tournament.Away from the pitch, however, his ambitions continue to grow through UR•Marv Studios, with Day 1s becoming one of the company’s first flagship productions.The series represents an unusual crossover between elite football and scripted television, bringing together decorated footballers, established Hollywood talent and experienced industry figures in a project that could become one of the sport’s most high-profile entertainment ventures. While Ronaldo is no stranger to the spotlight, having fronted global advertising campaigns, featured in feature-length documentaries and built the CR7 brand into a worldwide business, this project marks a different chapter in his career. Rather than simply being the face of a production, the Portugal star is helping create it, taking on roles behind the camera as a producer while also appearing on screen in a scripted drama.With filming already underway and Ronaldo, Henry, Damian Lewis and Matthew Vaughn among the leading names attached, Day 1s is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched football-themed television productions currently in development.
Hosts Morocco made a flying start to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Kenya in their opening Group A match on Sunday night in Rabat.
The Atlas Lionesses took control early and opened the scoring in the 19th minute through Sakina Ouzraoui. Maryame Atiq Ez-Zity doubled the lead nine minutes later to put Morocco firmly in charge.
Experienced striker Ibtissam Jraïdi then scored twice, finding the net in the 32nd minute before adding her second just two minutes into the second half to complete the 4-0 win.
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Kenya made three changes at half-time in an attempt to turn the game around, but Morocco remained in control and created more chances before comfortably seeing out the match.
The result puts Morocco at the top end of Group A after the opening round of matches. Earlier on Sunday, Algeria defeated Senegal 2-0 in the group’s other fixture.
Morocco will now look to build on the impressive victory in their next group match, while Kenya must respond quickly to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive.
Jul 26, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) celebrates with center fielder Jackson Merrill (3) after hitting a two-run home run against the Miami Marlins during the eighth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill homered in the four-run eighth inning to help the visiting San Diego Padres rally for a 5-3 win on Sunday and extend the Miami Marlins’ losing streak to a franchise-record 12 straight games.
Machado also had an RBI double in the fifth that sparked the comeback after being down 3-0. Jake Cronenworth contributed three hits and scored twice, and Ty France, Luis Rengifo and Merrill had two hits each for San Diego, which swept the three-game series.
Padres starter Walker Buehler surrendered three runs (two earned) and four hits in 5 1/3 innings. The veteran right-hander struck out seven and walked two. Mason Miller pitched the ninth for his 27th save.
Kyle Stowers doubled and homered for the Marlins, who had lost 11 in a row three other times in team history, most recently in June 2011. Miami starter Janson Junk went 4 2/3 innings, allowing one run and scattering seven hits before Lake Bachar (1-2) allowed two homers in the first four at-bats of the eighth.
Rays 1, Guardians 0
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Drew Rasmussen allowed one hit over seven shutout innings while Chandler Simpson manufactured the game’s lone run as Tampa Bay completed a three-game sweep of Cleveland in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Rasmussen (9-5) walked one and struck out nine after allowing Steven Kwan’s double to begin the game. Simpson (two hits) led off the Rays’ fifth with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and then to third on Ben Williamson’s groundout before scoring on Cedric Mullins’ bunt single.
Parker Messick (8-6) was a hard-luck loser for the Guardians after giving up one run on six hits over 7 2/3 innings. He struck out six with zero walks.
Braves 3, Orioles 2 (11 innings)
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Austin Riley doubled in the go-ahead run, Tyler Kinley protected the lead and Atlanta beat host Baltimore in the rubber game of the three-game series.
Dominic Smith drove in two runs with a pair of singles and finished with three hits while starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez threw 5 2/3 shutout innings for the Braves, who won for the eighth time in their last 11 games. Kinley delivered 1 1/3 scoreless innings, leaving the bases loaded in both the 10th and 11th innings.
Pete Alonso homered for the Orioles, who tied the game in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a costly Ozzie Albies error but then wasted game-winning opportunities in the next two innings. Andrew Kittredge (1-3) took the loss after Shane Baz allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits over 4 1/3 innings.
Pirates 8, Cubs 7
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Ryan O’Hearn celebrated his 33rd birthday by belting his second grand slam of the season and fourth of his career as host Pittsburgh held on to beat Chicago.
The Pirates’ Shawn Ross launched a two-run homer in his second MLB game while rookie Esmerlyn Valdez also went deep and added an RBI single. Brandon Lowe collected three hits and two runs as Pittsburgh snapped a three-game losing streak.
Seiya Suzuki hit a two-run homer in the ninth for the Cubs. Pete Crow-Armstrong ripped an RBI triple and Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner and Pedro Ramirez each added an RBI single.
Nationals 10, Diamondbacks 7
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CJ Abrams and James Wood each homered twice as Washington beat visiting Arizona to take the rubber game in the series between National League wild-card contenders.
Abrams finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs to boost his numbers to seven homers and 14 RBIs in his last seven games. Wood became the fifth MLB player to reach the 30-homer mark this season, while Dylan Crews added three hits.
Geraldo Perdomo and Ketel Marte homered for the Diamondbacks and Gabriel Moreno had two doubles and a sacrifice fly.
Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 1
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Boston starter Ranger Suarez and four relievers combined to shut down visiting Toronto to clinch the team’s sixth straight series win.
Suarez, pitching for the first time since July 5 due to a groin strain, was taken out after four scoreless innings and 64 pitches, allowing four hits. Jarren Duran and Jahmai Jones each delivered two-run hits to give the Red Sox pitching staff plenty of run support. Boston has won 17 of its last 19 games.
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman (4-10) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. Toronto has lost eight straight Gausman starts, and the 35-year-old has not won since May 22. Andres Gimenez prevented the shutout with an RBI single which plated Daulton Varsho with two outs in the ninth.
Royals 5, Tigers 4
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Michael Massey hit a two-out, two-run homer in the eighth inning and visiting Kansas City hung on for a win over Detroit.
Massey’s eighth homer made a winner of Nate Pearson (2-0), who was making his Royals debut after being acquired in a trade with Houston. Lane Thomas had a solo homer and Luke Maile added an RBI double as the Royals salvaged a split of the four-game series.
Dillon Dingler had two hits and drove in two runs for the Tigers.
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Mets 8, Dodgers 3
Tyrone Taylor’s go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning propelled New York to the victory over visiting Los Angeles.
The veteran outfielder greeted reliever Evan Phillips with a 405-foot blast into the left field seats for his eighth homer of the season and fifth since July 4. Marcus Semien added another three-run shot for the Mets as they snapped a three-game skid.
Freddie Freeman had an RBI while going 2-for-4 for his fourth straight multi-hit game. Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernandez also went 2-for-4.
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White Sox 12, Astros 3
Miguel Vargas hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the sixth inning and Munetaka Murakami added a pair of homers as host Chicago routed Houston to avoid a series sweep.
Murakami went 3-for-5 with a career-high six RBIs. Sean Newcomb (1-2) worked around a hit and walk to get the final two outs in the sixth to notch the victory.
Jeremy Pena cracked solo homers in his first two at-bats and Taylor Trammell added a solo homer for the Astros, whose five-game winning streak came to a close. In his second start since returning from Tommy John surgery, Ronel Blanco (0-1) scattered five runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings with three walks and four strikeouts.
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Twins 11, Athletics 8
Ryan Jeffers went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, and Minnesota held on to beat the Athletics in Minneapolis.
Ryan Kreidler finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI for the Twins, who won the rubber match of the three-game series. Kody Clemens went 3-for-5 with two triples and an RBI.
Nick Kurtz hit a three-run home run to lead the Athletics. Jeff McNeil was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
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Brewers 11, Rockies 2
Jacob Misiorowski retired the first 14 batters he faced and finished with 12 strikeouts, Andrew Vaughn homered and host Milwaukee beat Colorado to take the rubber match in the series.
Misiorowski (11-4) struck out seven in a row to start the game and 12 of the first 13 batters he faced with pitches consistently above 100 mph. Cole Carrigg ended the bid for a perfect game with an opposite-field homer to left in the fifth inning.
Carrigg’s home run was his fifth of the season and Willi Castro hit a solo home run in the seventh for the Rockies, who finished with five hits and fanned 15 times.
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Reds 5, Cardinals 3 (10 innings)
Cincinnati scored three times in the top of the 10th inning to take the rubber match over host St. Louis.
Nathaniel Lowe went 3-for-5, including a two-run RBI single in the 10th. Elly De La Cruz added a home run for the Reds. Starter Andrew Abbott allowed two runs on three hits and fanned four in six innings. Brock Burke (4-4) retired all four batters he faced in the eighth and ninth, and Julian Garcia picked up his first career save.
Cardinals starter Kyle Leahy struck out a career-high nine batters while holding Cincinnati to two runs on six hits in six innings. Reliever Matt Svanson (2-3) allowed all three runs (two earned) in the 10th. Alec Burleson went 3-for-5 for St. Louis, scoring once and driving in a run.
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Mariners 6, Rangers 4
Dominic Canzone and Randy Arozarena hit back-to-back homers in the seventh inning as Seattle rallied to defeat Texas in an American League West showdown at Arlington, Texas.
Reliever Gabe Speier (2-2) pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings with three strikeouts to earn the victory, and Andres Munoz struck out the side in the ninth for his 18th save of the season. The Mariners snapped a four-game skid and moved past Houston to regain second place in the division, 1 1/2 games behind the Rangers.
Ezequiel Duran went deep for Texas, which had won the first two games in the four-game series that concludes Monday.
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Angels 4, Giants 3
Jorge Soler and Jo Adell hit fourth-inning home runs, Jose Soriano threw five sharp innings and Los Angeles salvaged one game in their road interleague series against San Francisco.
Mike Trout went 4-for-4 for the Angels, who snapped a three-game losing streak. The four-hit game was Trout’s first since April 2021 and 21st of his career. His other three hits were singles.
Both starters went five innings. Soriano (9-6) allowed just the unearned run and three hits, with three walks and five strikeouts. The Giants’ Carson Whisenhunt (2-1) was charged with all four Los Angeles runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out seven.
The 19-year-old averaged 111.53 in the final, setting an average for the tournament as a whole of 111.04 to break Phil Taylor’s record of 106.31.
Littler also broke his own competition record for 180s as he hit 12 in the final to reach 66 for the week.
Littler became only the third man to successfully defend the Matchplay final after Taylor and Michael van Gerwen, who did it most recently in 2016.
It keeps Littler on course for a clean sweep of trophies in 2026, having already won the World Championship, UK Open, Premier League and the Masters, while he will defend the Grand Slam, Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals.
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Littler was on a charge from the start, taking a 3-1 lead with a 167 checkout to leave Price feeding on crumbs.
A third bullseye finish of the night made it 11-3, but he twice missed double 10 to allow Price a brief moment of hope, as the Welshman cut the deficit to 14-7.
Price hit a nine-darter to get to 15-9 but Littler responded with a 148 before finishing it off in short order.
“It’s been a crazy week, one of the best weeks of my life with the darts I’ve played,” Littler said. “It’s not been easy, it’s been tough.
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“The stats make it look easy but when you’re on this stage with how hot it is, I’ve definitely played some of the best darts of my life.
“I feel like it’s the best version of myself. I have just played so well.”
Littler is eyeing a clean sweep of the majors, and will now turn his attention to the Pro Tour in order to qualify for the Player Championship Finals.
“I don’t think my dad is too happy because we were meant to be going to Spain but now we will be going to Leicester for some Pro Tours!” he said.
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Gerwyn Price (right) recognises Littler as “one in a million” (Bradley Collyer/PA) (PA Wire)
Price, appearing in his first final since 2022 having never won the trophy, had said earlier in the week that if he brought his best to the final he could beat Littler, but it was not the case as, even averaging 104.97, the Welshman was blown away.
“Luke is one in a million,” Price said. “I think I played pretty decent.
“In that game I missed a couple of opportunities but the bull checkouts, the 167, it was a big turning point even though it was early in the game.
“I didn’t play brilliant, but I played decent.”
Earlier Beau Greaves claimed her third Women’s World Matchplay title in four years as she edged out Fallon Sherrock 6-5.
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Greaves started the final with finishes of 148 and 144 in consecutive legs, but Sherrock kept pushing, and took back-to-back legs to level at 5-5 and force a decider.
They shared maximums but Greaves came out on top with a checkout of 56 to secure the crown.
“I’m not one to celebrate but it was relief in the end,” Greaves said. “Fallon is a great lass and an even better darts player. I knew I had to play well but to hit that last dart was an outpouring of relief.”
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