Until just a few years ago, the quiet community of Peyia on the western coast of Cyprus was known mainly for its banana plantations.

Over the past decade, however, the area has undergone a rapid transformation, driven largely by developments involving foreign investors, many of whom are Russian.

The most emblematic project of the development of this coastal community is the Cap St Georges complex, a luxury resort that includes a hotel and hundreds of beachfront villas.

Between March 28 and April 16, this high-end resort hosted some of the world’s greatest chess players, who gathered there to compete in the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament and the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament.

Grandmasters descended on Cyprus

These elite players were vying for the right to challenge the reigning world champions.

Among them were elite grandmasters such as Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Anish Giri, Matthias Blübaum and 20-year-old Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan, who emerged as the tournament’s standout performer and eventual winner.

His victory earned him the right to challenge reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju for the world title.

Winner of the Women’s Candidates Tournament was 24-year-old Vaishali Rameshbabu of India, who will challenge the reigning Women’s World Champion, Ju Wenjun.

Candidate’s withdrawal

The tournament took place within a broader international context that cannot be overlooked.

Ongoing tension and instability in the Middle East had a direct and tangible effect on the event itself. India’s Koneru Humpy withdrew from the Women’s Candidates Tournament, citing serious safety concerns connected to the evolving regional situation.

In a statement posted on X, she emphasized that “no tournament, no matter how important it may be, can take precedence over personal safety and well being.” She pointed to regional instability and disruptions to international travel as the main reasons behind her decision to step away from the competition.

Following her withdrawal, Humpy was replaced by Ukrainian Grandmaster Anna Muzychuk, who stepped into the lineup in her place.

The shadow of the war in Ukraine

Even more evident was the way Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine affected the tournament, both in practical and symbolic terms.

The war has led to sweeping sanctions against Russia across international sport — and chess has been no exception.

Following decisions by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Russian players have been required to compete under a neutral flag in official competitions, without national symbols, anthems or federation representation.

As a result, Russian players Andrey Esipenko and Aleksandra Goryachkina took part in the tournament under the FIDE flag.

‘Little Russia’ in Limassol

Despite the absence of Russian national symbols, the Russian presence in the tournament environment was still strong, especially in the audience.

As Vlad, a chess enthusiast, explained to DW, chess has always been very important in Russia. “My parents learned it at school,” he said, showing how deeply rooted the game is in Russian culture and education.

When asked whether he had come from Russia to watch the tournament, he replied with a smile: “From Little Russia: Limassol.”

Vlad was referring to the most cosmopolitan city in Cyprus, situated on the island’s southern coast, where the Russian presence is especially strong and highly visible.

It is estimated that around 40,000 Russian-speakers live on the island overall. The wider figure is even higher when dual nationals and long-term residents are taken into account.

Limassol has become the main center of the Russian-speaking community in Cyprus: More than 30,000 are believed to be based there alone.

Why Cyprus?

Cyprus’s Russian community began to grow after the collapse of the Soviet Union and continued in the decades that followed, driven by investment opportunities, real estate development and Cyprus’s attractive tax and residency framework.

Today, the Russian-speaking community forms an important part of life in the city, with a visible presence in business, education and everyday social activity.

The strong presence of the Russian-speaking community on the island may also explain FIDE’s decision to host the tournament in Cyprus — even though chess does not traditionally attract particularly strong interest among locals.

Although FIDE is an international governing body with members from over 190 national federations, Russia has historically held considerable influence within the chess world due to its deep-rooted connection to the game.

FIDE’s current president, Arkady Dvorkovich, and many staff members and contributors come from Russian or Russian-speaking backgrounds.

Chess deeply embedded in Russian culture

Sofia, who is currently studying maths at the Cyprus University of Technology in Limassol as part of an exchange program, was one of several Russian volunteers working at the tournament.

She too told DW that chess is deeply embedded in both Russian education and culture, with many people learning the game from a very young age.

This strong cultural connection is one of the reasons she chose to volunteer for the Candidates Tournament and, she said, why there are many Russian employees and contributors within FIDE.

The choice of Cyprus as a location certainly seems to have appealed to winner Javokhir Sindarov.

When asked at the press conference following his victory where he would like the World Championship match to take place, he replied that, if it were up to him, he would choose a warm country like Cyprus, adding that he would not like to play such an important match in cold conditions.

Edited by: Aingeal Flanagan

Another day, another on-field gender reveal in Major League Baseball.

Continuing what has become a trend in the early weeks of the 2026 season, Cleveland Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee took the field for Friday’s matchup with the Baltimore Orioles sporting pink shoelaces to reveal that his brother and sister-in-law are expecting a baby girl.

Undefeated southpaw Shakur Stevenson delivered one of the performances of the year when he became super-lightweight world champion in January, but there is one up-and-coming 140lb contender who believes he knows how to beat the Newark phenomenon.

Stevenson put together a world-class showing when he outpointed Teofimo Lopez to capture the WBO super-lightweight crown and become a four-division world champion. Although, his plans to return to lightweight were scuppered when he was stripped of his WBC 135lb title.

Instead, despite rumours of a move up to welterweight for potential showdowns with Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn, it appears as those two will instead face one another, and that Stevenson will remain at super-lightweight for the foreseeable future.

In his new division, there are a host of hot prospects that are desperate to dethrone him, none more popular than Nevada-based Emiliano Vargas, son of two-time super-lightweight world champion, Fernando Vargas.

Speaking to Ring Magazine, Emiliano Vargas explained the weakness in Stevenson’s game which he believes he spotted during his clash with Lopez.

“I think that every fighter has a different approach that you have to take towards them. Shakur looked amazing in his last fight, he honestly surprised me and a lot of other people so I give my kudos to him.

“But, at the end of the day, I understand that, the right time, God already has it picked. So, if we were to fight with Shakur down the line, we would have to obviously solve that puzzle.

“Honestly, Teofimo was doing a great job when he was going to the body and really, after that, he had his moments to the body and then Shakur would keep him on the outside.

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“Shakur even said it himself, that he got hit with a body shot one time and he wanted to throw up. I have been hit to the body before and it doesn’t feel good. So, I think that no fighters like body shots.”

With the WBO, where Stevenson reigns as champion, 21-year-old Vargas is rated as the #5 contender and subsequently could be given the chance to exploit that weakness and replicate his father’s achievements in the near future.

Shawn Mathrick, trainer, eagerly awaits pitting his new stable charge Corniche in a further Stakes race.

The Godolphin cast-off secured success at Flemington on his third appearance for Mathrick, gearing up for the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington come Saturday.

Encouraging results could direct Mathrick to Adelaide and the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville, May 9.

Since Corniche’s victory in the Listed Bob Hoysted Stakes (1000m) March 28, Mathrick mulled over the Hareeba Stakes en route to a potential Listed Wangoom Handicap (1200m) at Warrnambool, May 6.

But The Goodwood’s proximity just three days later poses a dilemma for Mathrick.

“I would prefer to go to The Goodwood,” Mathrick said.

“Warrnambool can so tricky. Some just hate it, and you never know until you go there, but I would like to win a Group 1, and he’s definitely got the quality to do that.

“Joliestar won the other day, and she only beat him a length-and-a-bit one day and his wet track form is terrific.”

Mathrick detailed his persistent work to cure the gelding’s ongoing troubles from his early days in the stable.

Corniche gallops solely post-rain at Cranbourne Training Centre, complemented by plentiful beach time.

“I had to get the pain out of his knees, and his feet and he had heart arrythmia but that has all settled down and he seems good,” Mathrick said.

“You never know when those things can flare up again, but he’s been super.

“He worked like Manikato on Tuesday. He’s a weapon.”

On another note, stablemate Unflinching is bound for Brisbane and the Listed Ascot Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm Saturday.

Unflinching trailed Corniche at Flemington, with Mathrick calling the sprinter a pure 1000m horse.

“That’s his distance,” Mathrick said.

“His run the other day was good, but Corniche was just too good in the last bit.”

The journey for Unflinching involved floating to Sydney Tuesday night, a layover at Rosehill, and arrival in Brisbane Wednesday night, Mathrick shared.

“It’s worth $92,000 to the winner, so if he wins, I can afford to fly him home if I have to,” Mathrick said.

Head to betting sites to check the latest on Hareeba Stakes markets.

The gelding Headley Grange has rewarded Adam Hyeronimus with six wins across eight outings, prompting his owners to back the jockey for top results in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick.

Opening his latest preparation with flair, the five-year-old stormed to fourth close to Joliestar in his return in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) and followed with another bold finish for fifth to Autumn Glow in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m).

On the downside, during his last start in the Doncaster Mile (1600m), behavioral issues surfaced as he became unsettled and hard to box, ending up seventh.

Joe Pride, trainer of the horse, expects Hyeronimus’s presence to promote a calmer approach this coming Saturday.

“Adam is back on, and Adam seems to get on really well with him and it’s the pre-race antics that cost him,” Pride said.

“Hopefully Adam can make a fair difference for us on Saturday.

“He is capable at his best. In the weight-for-age Canterbury Stakes over 1300 metres he ran a terrific race first-up and it’s a similar set-up here. It’s around that trip and weight-for-age, so I think he can be competitive. But I want to see him do the little things right.”

Headley Grange acts like “a kid’s pony” at the stable, Pride observed, but race-day nerves sometimes overwhelm him.

Complementing Hyeronimus’s return – marked by six victories on board, notably the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) from barrier 17 last spring – Pride will utilize pacifiers prior to running.

“It’s the little percentages we’re trying to play,” he said.

“They’re pretty simple creatures, horses. You’ve got to continue changing things for them if they’re doing things wrong. If they’re not, don’t change anything.

“It’s not an easy task on Saturay. It’s a hot field. As good an All Aged field as I can remember seeing, to be honest.”

In the All Aged Stakes (1400m), Headley Grange jumps from barrier 14 on the outside, with Pride planning for him to stride early and hold a prominent spot.

Reinforcing Pride’s take on an elite field are the competitors: only Headley Grange and Angel Capital lack Group 1 wins, while Jimmysstar, Magic Time and Giga Kick, the last three race winners, line up again Saturday.

Find the finest betting sites for All Aged Stakes betting markets.

New Zealand’s fast bowlers were clinical in high humidity in a 26-run victory against Bangladesh in the opening game of the three-match ODI series on Friday. Nathan Smith undermined Bangladesh’s chase early then Blair Tickner triggered a collapse as Bangladesh was bowled out for 221 in 48.3 overs. Bangladesh was on track at 194-5 in the 44th over when Tickner took four wickets for five runs, starting with getting captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz to nick behind on 6. New Zealand chose to bat first and posted a challenging 247-8 on a slow pitch, riding a patient 68 from opener Henry Nicholls and a brisk 59 from Dean Foxcroft, who was the player of the match.

“We thought 240 (247) is pretty chaseable so we had to bowl well,” Foxcroft said. “It’s not an easy place to come here and win games. It was extremely hot and we’re not used to it. It’s winter in New Zealand now.”

Nicholls added 73 runs with Will Young (30), defying a superb spell by pacer Shoriful Islam.

Shoriful, who was playing his first ODI since December 2024 after replacing the injured Mustafizur Rahman, claimed 2-27 in 10 overs.

New Zealand’s pace attack then unsettled the Bangladesh batters.

Smith produced the initial blow, dismissing Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Najmul Hossain Shanto in consecutive deliveries. Tickner ended with 4-40, claiming all four wickets in his last four overs. Smith wrapped up the Bangladesh innings with the wicket of Towhid Hridoy for 55 to finish with 3-45.

Bangladesh regrouped from 21-2 through Saif Hassan and Litton Das, whose combined 93 for the third wicket kept the side firmly on course.

“The wicket was a bit challenging from the beginning but once a batter got set it became easier,” Hassan said. “It was tougher for new batters. If I could have stayed longer, things might have been easier for the team.”

Will O’Rourke broke through by dismissing Saif, who made a team-best 57 after surviving on 1. Foxcroft bowled Litton for 46 but Hridoy and Afif Hossain resisted.

Left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox broke the partnership by sending back Afif for 27, leaving Hridoy to dig deep.

Tickner, who was bit erratic in his first spell, came back strong to clean up the tail.

The second ODI is on Monday.

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IPL 2026 News | Shami’s Sensation Leads Lucknow to First Win of Season

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the Delhi Capitals (DC) will face off in the 26th match of IPL 2026 on Saturday, April 18, at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

The decision to back Jos Buttler and Sunil Narine over Shubman Gill and Prasidh Krishna didn’t exactly pay dividends.

Players playing in Match 25: Sai Sudharsan (GT) (BAT) (10 Credits), Jos Buttler (GT) (WK) (10 Credits), and Sunil Narine (KKR) (ALL) (10.5 Credits).

Captain: Sai Sudharsan | Vice-Captain: Jos Buttler.

Total Points: 6426.5.

Transfer Deadline: Saturday, April 18, 3.30 pm IST.

Note: The suggested team may change depending on the toss or other unexpected team news. Any such changes will be updated for the next match day.

Transfers

Transfers Made: 5 | Transfers Remaining: 100

Credits Remaining: 0.

1) Sai Sudharsan (GT) (BAT) (10 Credits) – OUT | KL Rahul (DC) (WK) (10 Credits) – IN

2) Jos Buttler (GT) (WK) (10 Credits) – OUT | Sameer Rizvi (DC) (BAT) (8.5 Credits) – IN

3) Sunil Narine (KKR) (ALL) (10.5 Credits) – OUT | Axar Patel (DC) (ALL) (9.5 Credits) – IN

4) Cooper Connolly (PBKS) (ALL) (7.5 Credits) – OUT | T Natarajan (DC) (BOWL) (9 Credits) – IN

5) Prince Yadav (LSG) (BOWL) (7 Credits) – OUT | Kuldeep Yadav (DC) (BOWL) (9.5 Credits) – IN

With six RCB players, five of them Indian, already on the team, coming into this fixture, it made sense to make the most of it and take this opportunity to play the Indian Warriors booster, with DC also possessing a plethora of Indian talent.

Chief among them is KL Rahul, who hasn’t made the best of starts by his high standards. However, he enjoys an excellent record against RCB, averaging 70.4 in 17 innings, and offers a solid captaincy option for this clash. Sameer Rizvi started the season brilliantly with back-to-back POTM awards, but has recorded a couple of single-digit scores since then. He’ll be key to DC building their innings against a well-built RCB bowling attack.

Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav’s overs of spin will be crucial in DC’s attempts to restrict the powerful RCB batting order. Axar could also contribute plenty with the bat, with the DC skipper due for a good outing with the bat.

Lastly, it’s a toss-up between Mukesh Kumar, Auqib Nabi, and T Natarajan for the final bowler’s spot on the team. Right now, we’re leaning towards the left-arm seamer, but depending on the toss and the pitch report, we could even sacrifice Rizvi to pick another bowler.

IPL Fantasy 2026 – Fantasy XI for Match 26 – RCB vs DC: Thoughts and Captaincy Tips

Players playing in Match 26: Rajat Patidar (RCB) (BAT) (9 Credits), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (RCB) (BOWL) (9 Credits), Devdutt Padikkal (RCB) (BAT) (9 Credits), Virat Kohli (RCB) (BAT) (11 Credits), Phil Salt (RCB) (WK) (9.5 Credits), KL Rahul (DC) (WK) (10 Credits), T Natarajan (DC) (BOWL) (7.5 Credits), Kuldeep Yadav (DC) (BOWL) (9.5 Credits), Sameer Rizvi (DC) (BAT) (8.5 Credits), Axar Patel (DC) (ALL) (9.5 Credits), and Rasikh Salam (RCB) (BOWL) (7.5 Credits).

Booster Played: Indian Warriors.

Captaincy is the most important part of playing any booster, and we feel like keeping it simple and backing the big guns with the bat in either team is the way to go for this fixture. KL Rahul and Virat Kohli are rightfully the first-choice captaincy picks, while the in-form Rajat Patidar isn’t far behind.

Devdutt Padikkal and Axar Patel are decent differential options, although we’re unlikely to go there unless the pitch report suggests something other than a high-scoring game.