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Luke Littler warns he can still get better after retaining World Matchplay title

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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)
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.”

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World champion Anahat Singh gives India fresh hope for Olympic squash glory | More sports News

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World champion Anahat Singh gives India fresh hope for Olympic squash glory

New Delhi : For five years, the World Junior Squash Championship remained the one mountain Anahat Singh chipped away at. The heartbreaks of quarterfinals and semifinals finishes became familiar scripts. But on her final appearance as a junior at the Niagara-on-the-Lake (Canada) event on Saturday, the fearless Delhi girl finally rewrote the ending, becoming the first Indian to be crowned world junior champion.More than a historic title, it was a statement from the country’s brightest squash talent as India can now begin dreaming of a medal at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, where the sport will make its Olympic debut.The 18-year-old top seed at the junior worlds and world No. 20 on the senior PSA Tour, ended Egypt’s 13time stranglehold on the girls’ title with a commanding 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 victory over second seed Ruqayya Salem in the final. Anahat also became the first nonEgyptian champion since Amanda Sobhy in 2010, while also going over Joshna Chinappa’s runner-up finish in 2005 to record India’s bestever result at the event.Her path to the title was anything but easy. After cruising through the early rounds, Anahat had to overcome three Egyptians in succession — Habiba Rizk in quarters, Barb Sameh in the semis and Salem in the title clash. Beating three Egyptians back-to-back underlined just how much the Delhi youngster has grown.The final showcased her maturity. She raced through the opening two games before Salem threatened a comeback by taking an 8-6 lead in the third. Undeterred, Anahat trusted her attacking instincts, fought back point by point and wrapped up the match in straight games.“I still feel like I’m dreaming,” Anahat said after the victory. “This tournament had almost become a curse for me. I’ve been losing in the semis and quarters over the last four years. This was my last year as a junior and my only chance to win it. It means the world.”That sense of relief was evident. Had she missed out this year, there would have been no second chance. She now moves full-time into the senior circuit as a world top-20 player carrying the confidence of a junior world champion. “I knew if I got stressed, I wouldn’t play well. I just focused on hitting my lines and enjoying every moment of playing a world championship final.”Coached by former world champion Gregory Gaultier, Anahat has evolved into one of the most exciting players on the circuit.Reflecting on her progress, Anahat said consistency has been the biggest change. “Earlier, I could raise my level for one big match but found it difficult to maintain that intensity throughout a tournament. Now I’ve learnt how to back up one tough match with another. Training harder, understanding the pace of the game and becoming more consistent have made all the difference,” she said.

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Opening Day of Galway Races Summer Festival 2026

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The Galmont Hotel & The Galway Bay Hotel Novice Hurdle at 5.10pm is the first of seven races on the opening evening card.

Trainer Willie Mullins has taken this race three times in the past five years, with Farout (2021), Mystical Power in 2023, and Davy Crockett last year.

The Closutton handler, and his main jockey Paul Townend, will be represented by the French-bred Witches Familiar, who won a fillies’ maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe on her last racecourse appearance in May.

The highest-rated runner in the field, at 123, is the Gordon Elliott handled Mino Des Mottes, winner of a Bellewstown Novice Hurdle last time under Josh Williamson.

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Three in-a-row for O’Brien & Lordan?

In the seven furlong Eventus Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden at 6.10pm, Aidan O’Brien will be represented by Fairyhouse fifth placer City Of Gold, the mount of Wayne Lordan.

The son of Wootton Bassett will try to emulate his half-brother Constitution River in breaking his maiden at Ballybrit, with the  latter subsequently going on to win the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly.

O’Brien, who is bidding to win the race for the third year in-a-row, may find his son Joseph’s American-bred One Number as his main challenger, having finished third in the Irish EBF Pat Smullen Stakes at Naas at the start of June.

Recent Mullins domination of Monday feature

The opening night feature race, the Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap over 2 miles and 179 yards has 23 runners declared. This race has been won by a Mullins-trained horse eight of the past nine years – Willie 5 times, Emmet twice and Tony once.

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Willie Mullins will be represented by Sirius – a 50/1 winner of the race in 2024 – Too Bossy For Us and Tounsivator this year, while Emmet will has Filey Bay and Teed Up. Only three favourites have won this race in the past 12 years.

Power Of Knowledge to debut

Power Of Knowledge, Annie Power’s third foal, will make his racecourse debut in the Ray Dooley Monami Construction Flat Race at 8.20pm – the final race on Monday’s card.

Carrying the colours of J.P. McManus, the Willie Mullins-trained four-year-old son of Camelot is still a colt, and will be the mount of the handler’s son, Patrick, who won this bumper in 2024 aboard My Great Mate.

The son of Nathaniel, Primer Contender, has changed trainer since his Dromahane Point-to-Point victory in April. Prepared on that occasion by Seán Doyle, the gelding is now handled by Gordon Elliott.

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White Sox acquire RHP Jose Urquidy in trade with Pirates

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Mar 9, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jose Urquidy (65) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees in the third inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn ImagesMar 9, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jose Urquidy (65) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees in the third inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The Chicago White Sox acquired right-hander Jose Urquidy from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday in exchange for minor league pitcher Felix Doroteo.

Pittsburgh designated Urquidy for assignment Friday after he struggled during a brief five-game stint with the Pirates. The 31-year-old went 0-1 with an 8.53 ERA and six strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.

Urquidy spent most of the year with Triple-A Indianapolis, posting a 5-4 record and 3.66 ERA across 17 starts. He struck out 73 batters over 83 2/3 innings.

The former Houston Astros starter owns a 27-17 record and 4.07 ERA in 86 major league appearances, including 70 starts, over seven seasons with the Astros, Detroit Tigers and Pirates.

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Urquidy underwent his second Tommy John surgery in 2024 before returning with Detroit last season.

Pittsburgh receives Doroteo, a 21-year-old right-hander in his first professional season. He went 3-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 18 innings across 16 appearances for the Arizona Complex League White Sox.

–Field Level Media

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Rising star Jackson Koivun flexes ‘superpower’ in first pro win

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Mystery WWE NXT Star Makes AAA Debut With Attack on Psycho Clown

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A mystery WWE NXT talent made an explosive first impression at the latest Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide television tapings, laying out one of the promotion’s biggest stars in a shocking angle that left fans with more questions than answers.

AAA held its Verano de Escándalo television tapings on July 25 at Arena San Marcos in Aguascalientes, Mexico, where three weeks of upcoming programming were recorded. During one of the show’s closing moments, a masked man wearing overalls stormed the ring and attacked Psycho Clown. While AAA did not identify the attacker during the segment, details of the angle quickly surfaced following the tapings.

The mystery assailant was revealed to be Drake Morreaux, a WWE developmental talent. Although his identity was kept hidden on camera, his distinctive tattoos, along with comments made during WWE LFG, confirmed that it was Morreaux making his first appearance for AAA.

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You can watch the clip of Morreaux attacking Psycho Clown in the post below:

The debut also brought an end to a mystery that had been unfolding on AAA programming for weeks. An unknown attacker had previously assaulted members of Los Psycho Circus, including Murder Clown, Panic Clown, and Dave the Clown. On the June 27 episode of AAA television, Pagano was found bloodied backstage, while a message reading “Psycho is next!” was left on a locker room mirror. Morreaux’s attack confirmed he was the person behind the string of assaults.

His move to AAA had been teased months earlier during an episode of WWE LFG that aired on May 3. In the segment, Shawn Michaels informed Morreaux that there was no place for him in NXT at that time, but assured him that a major opportunity awaited him in AAA.


Drake Morreaux’s WWE journey before his AAA debut

Drake Morreaux spent close to three years developing his craft under the WWE banner. He trained at the Performance Center and was mentored by The Undertaker on the inaugural season of LFG, where he was viewed as one of the show’s promising prospects.

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Although he gained experience across NXT Level Up, EVOLVE, and numerous live events, Morreaux was never able to establish himself as a regular on weekly NXT programming. His only main roster appearance came on the February 16, 2024, episode of SmackDown, where he teamed with Javier Bernal and faced The Authors of Pain, but it did not lead to a permanent role.

After Shawn Michaels informed him on WWE LFG that there was no immediate place for him in NXT, Morreaux was presented with an opportunity to continue his career in AAA – a move that has now culminated in his surprise debut.

It will be interesting to see what’s next for the 28-year-old star, now that he will work alongside The Undertaker in AAA, who serves as a coach and booker for the brand.