HUNGRY John Higgins believes a long-awaited 32nd ranking title is on the horizon after he lived to fight another day at the International Championship.

The four-time world champion forced a decider on a re-spotted black before being hauled off for slow play at 5-5 as he secured his quarter-final spot with a dramatic 6-5 win over Lyu Haotian in Nanjing. 

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Wishaw’s finest turns 50 next year but still has the burning determination that has unquestionably made him an all-time great of the sport.

Higgins has painfully come up short of success in recent years, with his last ranking crown coming at the 2021 Players Championship.

And the Scot, who lost in the British Open final earlier this season, needs to lift the title this week to qualify for next week’s Champion of Champions. 

But he stressed: “I do believe there are titles left in the tank.

“I do think I will be tasting silverware again before I finish. That’s maybe the reason I’m still doing it. 

“You never know what’s around the corner for you. You’ve just got to keep believing, keep putting the work it as much as you can at my age.”

Higgins won the first frame but had to fight back from 3-1 and 5-4 down to send the match to a decider with breaks of 54, 60 and 71.

And after winning the tenth frame on a re-spotted black, Higgins returned in the evening with a cool match-clinching run of 68.  

Meanwhile, Judd trump failed to reach a quarter-final for the first time this year as he was stunned 6-4 by maximum man Xu Si.

World champion Kyren Wilson hit three century breaks to beat Barry Hawkins 6-2. 

Meanwhile, seven-time former world champion Stephen Hendry reckons he could have won a lot more himself – had he ‘reined in’ his attacking instincts.

The 55-year old dominated the game during the 1990s, but ended up going on a SEVEN-YEAR spell without a ranking title between 2005 and 2012.

Hendry said: “Even when me game was on a downward trajectory I still played the same game.

“I still insisted on going for my shots. I would think it was the right shot and kept going for it and kept missing them.

“If I’d have reined it in in the early to mid noughties I could have had success.

“Whether I’d have won a couple of words titles more I don’t know. But I certainly would have been more competitive for longer. 

“The game’s changed. I see people turning down pots that I’d be taking on, but it’s because you get punished if you miss.

“Back when I first started playing that was my game. I was more aggressive than guys likes Si Jiahui.”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

In the letter – which has been seen by BBC Sport – clubs are told that the proposed changes are also the result of legal advice from a barrister.

One suggested amendment relates to the definition of ‘fair market value’, which is described in the current APT rules as “the amount for which an asset, right or other subject matter of the transaction would be sold, licensed or exchanged, a liability settled, or a service provided, between knowledgeable, willing parties engaging in an arm’s length transaction in normal market conditions”.

In what could be seen as a potential easing of the restrictions, it is proposed that the definition is amended to “the amount for which an asset, right or other subject matter of the transaction could be sold, licensed or exchanged, a liability settled, or a service provided, between knowledgeable, willing parties in an arm’s length transaction”.

If voted through, the softening of “would” to “could”, and the deletion of the words “in normal market conditions” could potentially give clubs more scope to agree commercial deals with associated parties.

It is also proposed that the exclusion of shareholder loans from APT rules is reversed.

It is unclear whether the suggested amendments will receive the required two-thirds majority to be passed.

Both City and the Premier League declined to comment.

Big East preseason player of the year Ryan Kalkbrenner scored a career-high 49 points and 15th-ranked Creighton needed just about every one of them in a season-opening 99-86 win over UT-Rio Grande Valley on Wednesday night.

Creighton, a Sweet 16 team three of the last four seasons, couldn’t shake off the Vaqueros of the Southland Conference until the final two minutes.

The 7-foot-1 Kalkbrenner’s point total was the second-highest in program history behind Bob Portman’s 51 against UW-Milwaukee in 1967. The fifth-year center was an astonishing 20 of 22 from the field, including 2 for 2 on 3-pointers, and he made 7 of 8 free throws. He also grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked three shots.

Steven Ashworth scored 25 points for the Bluejays.

Hasan Abdul-Hakim had 24 points and Cliff Davis and DK Thorn added 17 apiece for the Vaqueros (0-2), who were within 87-82 when Howie Fleming Jr. made a fifth-chance basket with 2:37 left.

Takeaways

UT Rio Grande Valley: The Vaqueros kept it close by going 14 of 35 on 3-pointers and outworking Creighton on the boards in the second half. They finished with 19 second-chance points. They dropped to 0-14 against Top 25 opponents and have lost 56 straight against power-conference opponents, according to Sportradar.

Creighton: The Bluejays were 30-point favorites, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, and got more than they bargained for against the Vaqueros. Coach Greg McDermott was forced to play his starters until the final minute.

Ryan Kalkbrenner drops a 49-point double-double in Creighton’s 99-86 win over UTRGV

Key moment

Kalkbrenner scored 10 straight points in a variety of ways in the first half. He made a free throw, hit a 3 from the wing, dunked a lob from Jamiya Neal, beat the player guarding him downcourt for a fast-break layup and showed some post moves for an easy bucket.

Key stat

Creighton won its 30th straight home opener, a streak that started in 1995.

Up next

Creighton hosts Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday in the second of four home games over 11 days. UT-Rio Grande Valley returns home to play Champion Christian College on Sunday.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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ARSENAL fans have been left seething after conceding a controversial penalty during their Champions League clash with Inter Milan.

The Gunners fell 1-0 down just before half-time after Mikel Merino deemed to have handled the ball inside the area, resulting in a penalty for Inter.

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That penalty was tucked away confidently by Hakan Calhanoglu and Inter took the lead with their first shot on target.

But Arsenal fans don’t think that the Italian giants should have had a penalty in the first place, slamming the decision as “diabolical”.

The ball clearly struck Merino on the hand, but the Spaniard was in close proximity to Mehdi Taremi when the ball bounced onto his arm.

And Arsenal fans think that Inter star Lautaro Martinez should have been dismissed too, just moments before the spot-kick was awarded.

The Argentine was booked in the 16th minute for some pushing and shoving in the box, but risked a second yellow when he gestured to the referee to book William Saliba later in the half.

Fortunately for Martinez, Romanian official István Kovács chose not to reach into his pocket and dismiss him for the offence.

That left Arsenal fans seething with many reacting on social media.

One fan wrote: “Am I dreaming or did Lautaro ask the ref to book Saliba which is a bookable offence while being on a booking?”

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While another fumed: “Lautaro waving for the imaginary yellow is suppose to be a card I thought.. A second for him.”

A third commented: “Never a penalty that for Inter Milan. And if we are going down the ‘letter of the law’, then Lautaro Martinez should have received a second yellow card for asking for an opponent to be booked.”

And a fourth blasted: “Lautaro waving imaginary yellow and doesn’t get his second for it. They then get a ridiculously soft pen… what’s Merino supposed to do???”

Arsenal fans had felt hard done by earlier in the half too, claiming they deserved a penalty themselves.

Merino was involved once again as the summer signing leapt up for a header at a corner kick and collided with Yann Sommer.

The Swiss shot-stopper jumped up to try and punch the ball away from trouble and ended up punching Merino in the head instead.

But after a swift VAR review it was deemed that there was no significant error.

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Manchester United and Chelsea target Viktor Gyokeres, Real Madrid eye January move for Trent Alexander-Arnold, Al-Hilal could cancel Neymar contract and move for Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United and Chelsea will lead the race for 26-year-old Sweden and Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres next summer. (Star), external

Gyokeres will be available for around £63m next summer – £20m less than his release clause. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Manchester United are also monitoring Bayern Munich’s 29-year-old Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka. (Florian Plettenberg), external

Real Madrid will make a January move for Liverpool’s 26-year-old England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is out of contract at the end of the season (Marca – in Spanish), external

But Liverpool are prepared to block any offers for their first-team players in January. (Football Insider), external

Al-Hilal are considering cancelling the contract of 32-year-old Brazil forward Neymar in January and replacing him with rival Saudi club Al-Nassr’s 39-year-old Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo. (Sport – in Spanish), external

Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham are interested in Eintracht Frankfurt’s 20-year-old Sweden midfielder Hugo Larsson. (Caught Offside), external

Crystal Palace are planning a £20m January bid for Sunderland’s 17-year-old England Under-18 midfielder Chris Rigg. (Sun), external

Everton have expressed an interest in signing Brighton’s Ghana right-back Tariq Lamptey on a free transfer when the 24-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season. (Africa Foot – in French), external

A consortium led by US businessman Steve Rosen is close to completing a £105m takeover of Sheffield United. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Tottenham are considering a move for 23-year-old Nottingham Forest and England winger Callum Hudson-Odoi. (Football Insider), external

AC Milan, Inter Milan and Napoli are interested in Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior, 24, but the Gunners will only consider letting him leave permanently for a fee, not a loan switch. (Tutto Mercarto – in Italian), external

Brentford are among the admirers of Greece and Celta Vigo striker Anastasios Douvikas, 25. (Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish), external

West Ham will review the position of manager Julen Lopetegui if the struggling Hammers lose at home to Everton on Saturday. (Guardian), external

ARSENAL have been forced to shift their Women’s Champions League battle with Bayern Munich from the Emirates due to a rescheduled Carabao Cup game. 

Fixture clash issues have left the Gunners seeking new alternatives for the December 18 match with the German giants. 

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In May Arsenal announced plans to host all its Women’s Champions League home games at the Emirates, should the team progress beyond the contest qualifiers.

However they are facing a venue dilemma.

Earlier today the EFL confirmed December 18 as the chosen date for their men’s team’s League Cup quarters battle with Crystal Palace. 

This means the club have the dilemma of looking for a new venue for their clash with Germany’s top-flight leaders. 

SunSport understands officials are looking into solutions including the possibility of using Meadow Park as an alternative. 

The stadium, which is home to National League South side Boreham Wood FC, does not meet Uefa Infrastructure Regulations for Women’s Champions League group games.  

However it is thought the extenuating circumstances of their match being moved from the Emirates could lead to use of the ground being considered. 

One Gunners fan group expressed dismay at the match being moved from the Emirates. 

The Arsenal Women’s Supporters Trust stated they were “really disappointed by the change in priorities for this game”. 

In a post published on the social media platform X they wrote: “It’s been set in stone for a while.

“Now shifting the date affects so many people, especially travelling and international Gooners who have already booked flights and hotels.”

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Aside from their European fixtures Arsenal are hosting all their WSL home games at the Emirates this term. 

Last May the Gunners drew the largest ever crowd to a women’s club match in England.

A crowd of 60,063 attended their Champions League semi-final second leg defeat of Wolfsburg.