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2026 World Snooker Championship: Zhao Xintong v Ding Junhui could break TV viewing records

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Last year, Zhao came through four rounds of qualifying and then defeated 2024 runner-up Jak Jones, compatriot Lei Peifan and England’s Chris Wakelin before thrashing seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 17-7 to reach the final.

Zhao’s 18-12 success over Mark Williams was a pivotal moment in the sport, instantly making the winner a national hero, and inspiring youngsters to take up snooker.

According to World Snooker Tour figures, more than 24.5 million unique viewers watched the third session of the final alone in China and during the whole 2025 tournament, it had a cumulative audience of 180 million on national broadcaster CCTV5.

The event also had 1.5 billion social media impressions in China over its 17 days.

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“When I go to China I’m famous now and when I’m walking around the street lots of people want to take pictures of me,” said 29-year-old Zhao. “It’s amazing and a big difference to before but I’m really happy to do it and I’m trying to becoming a great player.

“Before, older people would want to take pictures of me because they are snooker fans, but now it is their son or daughter that takes pictures – and I’m really happy for it.”

If Zhao is to retain his title, he has to do something none of the previous 20 first-time winners at the Crucible have done, by winning it again the following year.

But Zhao showed no signs of falling to the so-called ‘Crucible Curse’ in his first-round match, as he saw off English qualifier Liam Highfield 10-7.

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Before the tournament started, seven-time winner Stephen Hendry, speaking on BBC Television, said Zhao was his favourite to lift the trophy on Monday, 4 May.

“I think Xintong can retain his title,” said Hendry. “He is the future of the game for the next 10-15 years – he is going to dominate, no-one scores like him.

“He is not paying any attention to this stupid ‘curse’. Other Chinese players have got a huge lift from seeing their countryman lift the trophy.”

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McLaughlin: Do the Ducks Have the Nation’s Best QB Room?

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Big Ten logoOregon’s quarterback room blends a mix of talent, experience, and depth, unlike most in college football.

The Ducks have the best room in the country.

On today’s episode of Locked On Ducks, I break down the tight end room that Oregon’s QBs will throw the ball to this Fall.

Jamari Johnson is going to have a lot of weight on his shoulders.

espn%2Bohio%2Bstate.pngJosh Pate recently discussed the Oregon-Ohio State matchup this Fall and said that it feels like a rivalry.

Is that really the case, or is that title only reserved for Washington?

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00:00 Oregon’s quarterback lineup details
03:03 Dylan Raiola as Oregon’s backup
07:29 Quarterback depth chart discussion
13:15 Analyzing Oregon’s tight end options
17:28 Evaluating tight end performance
23:24 Oregon vs Ohio State analysis

/ @lockedoncollegefootball  

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David Benavidez says one man ‘must face him’ after Zurdo Ramirez: “I’m taking all his belts”

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David Benavidez challenges for Gilberto Ramirez’s unified cruiserweight crown next weekend and should he pass that test, there is only one man on the mind of ‘The Mexican Monster’.

Benavidez has established himself as one of the most fan-friendly fighters in the sport, not only through his enthralling fight style but also because of his mentality to take on all comers and accept the most arduous challenges.

Having ruled at both super-middleweight and light-heavyweight, the reigning WBC 175lb champion is now stepping up to cruiserweight, hoping to hand ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez a second career defeat, in what will be the titleholder’s 50th career outing.

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The only other man to have defeated Ramirez is unified light-heavyweight ruler, Dmitry Bivol, and in an interview with Ariel Helwani, Benavidez made it clear that he intends to move back down to light-heavyweight and take on the Russian next.

“I don’t want to make it seem like he is scared or nothing, but he knows what it is when it comes to David Benavidez. He has seen me up close and personal and I have seen him up close and personal, as well.

“He is a great fighter, we have had some great sparring sessions but he knows I am not coming to play. He knows that, when David Benavidez steps in that ring, all of those belts are leaving with David Benavidez.

“I think that he knows the dangers and the severity of this fight and that is why he took a tune-up fight first. I respect Dmitry Bivol, he is a great fighter, but he is definitely going to have to come see me after this fight.”

Whilst Benavidez fights next weekend, Bivol makes a mandatory defence of his titles against Germany’s Michael Eifert on Saturday, May 23, in what will be his first fight on home soil since 2021.

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Date, teams, prize pool, and FFWS slots

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The Grand Finals of the Free Fire Bangladesh Pro League (FFBPL) Season 2 are scheduled for April 24, 2026, where the top 12 teams from the Knockout Stage will compete in a Champion Rush format. The top six teams from the overall rankings will progress to the World Series (FFWS) 2026 Bangladesh Spring. The FFBPL event boasts a total prize pool of 8,100 US dollars.

The Knockout Stage of the Free Fire Bangladesh Pro League was held from April 20 to 22, 2026. A total of 18 teams battled across three days in 12 matches each. The top 12 teams moved to the Grand Finals, while the remaining six were eliminated from the FFBPL S2.


Qualified teams for Free Fire Pro League Bangladesh S2 Finals

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Here are the 12 finalists:

  1. Team 2XD
  2. Red Hawks
  3. Enternal Dominators
  4. Extreme Ex
  5. The Goat
  6. Reflex United
  7. Straw Hats Esports
  8. Team Unionized
  9. Max Gang
  10. Team Electro
  11. Flame Esports
  12. Team Infinity

Prize pool distribution

All 18 teams that participated in the Knockout Stage are entitled to a share of the total prize pool in the FFBPL S2, with the bottom six receiving 122 US dollars each. Here is the prize pool distribution:

  • 1st Place – 2,444 US dollars
  • 2nd Place – 1,222 US dollars
  • 3rd Place – 814 US dollars
  • 4th Place – 488 US dollars
  • 5th Place – 448 US dollars
  • 6th Place – 448 US dollars
  • 7th Place – 366 US dollars
  • 8th Place – 366 US dollars
  • 9th Place – 244 US dollars
  • 10th Place – 244 US dollars
  • 11th Place – 162 US dollars
  • 12th Place – 162 US dollars
  • 13th Place – 122 US dollars – Neo Flash
  • 14th Place – 122 US dollars – VEXIS
  • 15th Place – 122 US dollars – Bangladesh Top 1
  • 16th Place – 122 US dollars – From The Future
  • 17th Place – 122 US dollars – Shadow X Phantoms
  • 18th Place – 122 US dollars – GE Esports

How to watch

The official YouTube channel of Free Fire Esports Bangladesh will broadcast all matches of the finale live from 15:00 BST onwards.

Team 2XD had a brilliant run in the Knockout Stage of the Free Fire Bangladesh Pro League. The squad ranked first after playing consistently well across 12 games.

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Defending champion Red Hawks placed second in the previous stage. The club has been performing well in regional competitions in the past few years, and recently earned third place in the Ramadan Cup 2026.

Enternal Dominators and Extreme Ex were third and fourth, respectively, in the Knockout Stage. Team Goat and Reflex United also did well in their last six matches of the stage.

Meanwhile, Straw Hats and Unionized had an average run in the Knockout Stage. Flame and Team Infinity ranked 11th and 12th, respectively, and entered the Grand Finals of this Free Fire contest.