Zhang Anda shocked world number three Zhao Xintong with a thrilling 6-5 victory by potting a respotted black ball in round one of the China Open.

Zhang, who was down 3-0 in frames, fought back to eventually lead 5-4.

However, last year’s world champion Zhao forced a deciding frame that ended in dramatic fashion.

“Today was just my day,” Zhang said. “I hope that I can go far [in this tournament], I don’t want them [two pots of the black] again. I was too nervous.”

Zhang, ranked 19th in the world, was in control at 57-0 up, but Zhao fought back to lead with both players on the black.

The black was eventually potted by Zhang to force a respot – used as a tie-breaker when a frame ends with the scores level – with the 34-year-old prevailing.

He will now face England’s Chris Wakelin.

“I made far too many mistakes today and I probably didn’t deserve to win,” Zhao added.

“I had prepared well for coming to Shanxi this time, and I didn’t expect to lose in the first round. I played too badly and there was nothing I could do about it.”

World number five John Higgins also lost in the first round after he was defeated 6-4 by 2015 world champion Stuart Bingham.

Great Britain’s Romell Glave wins the men’s 100m gold medal and is joined by compatriot Jeremiah Azu on the podium, who finishes in second place at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

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Connections of the highly-rated stayer Tazima are anticipating a rewarding performance as the horse seeks a fourth consecutive victory at Randwick.

The gelding has been strategically rested since securing his third win on July 11, with trainer Chris Waller confirming the deliberate choice to target Saturday’s Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m) at Randwick.

“He’s at the end of his ‘prep’, but he’s four weeks between runs, and we’ve had this race in mind,” Waller commented.

“He has won with authority at his last couple, and he’s pretty versatile on all tracks.

“The 1800 metre distance is just perfect so no excuses. He should be very hard to beat.”

Bookmakers concur with this assessment, listing Tazima as the firm $1.95 favourite, with OTI Racing’s Boniface ($3.30) the next in the betting, having finished second to the favourite in his last two starts.

While apprentice Siena Grima has partnered Tazima to his past three wins, James McDonald is booked for the ride this weekend, with Grima to partner stablemate Matusalem ($7) in the same race.

Matusalem’s previous outing saw him finish strongly when sixth in the Winter Stakes (1400m) last month, a run that caught Waller’s eye.

“Matusalem’s first-up run was great. He had a trial last week so he’s ready for 1800 second-up,” he said.

“Tazima is the top seed, clearly, and unfortunately that’s why Siena isn’t riding him. James (McDonald) is our top seed. She’s got a great record with the horse, and she still gets a ride in the race.”

Elliptical ($17) and Unlimited ($26) represent the remainder of Waller’s runners in the Premier’s Cup Prelude. He expects Elliptical to appreciate firmer ground, while Unlimited faces a disadvantage from an outside gate.

The race also features the return of Sam Hawkens ($13), a former stayer trained by William Haggas.

The gelding did not quite perform to expectations in three starts for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton earlier this year but looked strong winning a recent trial and is considered a significant improver in his second full Australian campaign.

Get involved with the Premier’s Cup Prelude by exploring these online bookmakers.

Manchester United have been one of several sides linked with a summer move for Roma midfielder Manu Kone as they look to strengthen an area of concern in Michael Carrick’s squad

Chelsea could be set to rival Manchester United for Roma star Manu Kone this summer. It comes amid uncertainty over the future of £100million-rated Enzo Fernandez at Stamford Bridge.

The Reds have been heavily linked with Kone in their search for midfield reinforcements. It comes after Casemiro’s exit, and with Manuel Ugarte facing a lengthy period out injured.

Kone impressed with his performances for France at the World Cup this summer. The 25-year-old helped his nation to a fourth-placed finish in North America – losing to England in the third-placed play-off after being beaten by Spain in the semi-finals. Reports in France last month claimed that United had opened talks with Roma over a deal, but faced competition from Premier League champions Arsenal.

And now Italian publication Il Messaggero, via Voce Giallo Rossa, have claimed that Chelsea could be in the mix for Kone’s signature. It is said that the Blues have been monitoring him for months amid uncertainty over Fernandez’s future in west London.

Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini has recently addressed questions over whether players could leave, but remained uncertain.

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He said: “I don’t know. We have a CEO now, and you’ll have to ask him these transfer market questions.

“Asking him what Roma can and can’t do. As for the numbers and transfer market possibilities, the ball is in his court.”

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Kone made 37 appearances across all competitions for Roma last term – helping the Italian side finish third in Serie A and qualify for the Champions League.

Italian publication Corriere dello Sport have previously claimed that the Giallorossi’s stance on their star midfielder remains firm, with €55million (£47m) set as the absolute minimum asking price. The report added that even an offer of €50m (£42.5m) would not be enough.

It followed reports in mid-June that Premier League champions Arsenal agreed personal terms. According to Italian outlet Corriere della Sera, the Gunners held talks with Kone’s representatives, but no agreement has been reached with Roma.

Last September, Terence Crawford dethroned Canelo Alvarez in an iconic win that will be forever etched into the history of boxing, but despite Canelo’s continuous call-outs, a rematch never has or will take place. Now, Crawford’s trainer, Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, has explained why.

Crawford got his hands on the undisputed welterweight title before reports of a three-weight jump and a showdown with undisputed super-middleweight champion, Canelo, began to emerge.

On his way up to 168lbs. ‘Bud’ trumped Israil Madrimov to claim the WBA super-welterweight world title but then made the leap up into Canelo’s division and became the first man to defeat the Mexican superstar at his natural weight, outthinking and outboxing Alvarez in a career-best win.

Almost immediately, Canelo called for a rematch, but the Omaha southpaw instead opted to vacate all four of the super-middleweight marbles and retire from the sport, with his 42-fight undefeated record intact. 

Since then, Crawford has refused to be tempted into a return, despite receiving a lucrative offer in order to collide with Canelo for a second time. On ‘The Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer’, McIntyre said Alvarez was at fault for never inserting a rematch clause into the contract.

“I believe that the champion has the option to say that he wants a rematch [clause], but it was never brought up. It was never in the contract, so that is his fault, it ain’t ours.”

Canelo has shared a similar opinion during the aftermath of the defeat, admitting that it was a mistake on his part to not insert a rematch-clause into the contract of the fight.

Yorkshire secured second spot in Group B with a seven-wicket win over Essex to book a home quarter-final at York on Friday.

Captain Dom Bess (3-32) and seamer Ben Coad (3-22) helped bowl out already-eliminated Essex for 151 inside 41 overs.

The Tykes then slipped to 15-2, but a second first-team half-century for England Under-19s man Will Bennison, who hit 60 off 59 balls, helped the visitors to their sixth win in eight group matches with more than 18 overs to spare – and a second quarter-final place in successive seasons.

Durham gained third place in the group but not before some late dramatic twists against the holders Worcestershire at New Road.

Worcestershire won the game by 77 runs on the back of being bowled out for a competitive 291, thanks largely to Tom Taylor’s quickfire 86.

Ben McKinney then plundered 82 from just 70 balls but when he was out with Durham on 141-6, they still needed a further 63 to be sure of finishing above the hosts in the group.

When three more wickets went down in eight balls for the addition of just five runs, at 199-9, Durham still needed five more to reach that initial target of 204. They got them but not long before being bowled out for 214.

Hampshire had their hopes of reaching the knockout stages for a fifth successive year ended by Derbyshire in a thriller at Southampton.

Martin Andersson made 125, his fourth hundred of the summer across all formats, enjoying century stands with Harry Came (62) and Brooke Guest (67) as Derbyshire totalled 317-5.

But former Hertfordshire player Andrew Neal then almost turned the game on its head in Hampshire’s reply.

Coming to the crease at 134-6, with 183 still required, he smashed 10 sixes in a 63-ball 110, his maiden professional century at the age of 26, before being caught on the boundary edge with nine runs still needed as Hants were bowled out for 309, with 10 overs to spare.

James Cracknell shared a third-wicket partnership of 202 with Nathan Fernandes (92) as Middlesex recovered from losing two early wickets to post a formidable 354-8 as they cruised to a 92-run win over Sussex at Radlett.

Half-centuries by former Middlesex man John Simpson (65) and Oli Carter (58) enabled Sussex to mount a respectable reply, but they were dismissed for 262 to finish bottom of Group B with just one win.

Trainer Jason Warren is nurturing a significant ambition: to have Grand Pierro participate in the 2026 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.

The clock has started ticking, with Grand Pierro resuming his campaign last month in the Mildura Cup, where he finished fourth. His progression now leads him to the Travis Harrison Cup (1800m) at Caulfield this Saturday.

Warren’s goal is to have Grand Pierro ready for the next Melbourne Cup qualifying event, The Archer (2500m), set to take place at Flemington on September 12.

Victoria features four more Cup qualifiers: The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on October 3, the Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 21, and the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) – this year held at Flemington – on October 24, all following The Archer.

Nominations for the Melbourne Cup close on September 1.

“He will be entered in the chance that he could qualify,” Warren commented.

“He’s proven over the distance in the Bagot and Adelaide Cup.”

“He’s not that obvious Melbourne Cup horse, but he stays and he could finish in the first half of the field if he got the chance.”

Grand Pierro’s spring campaign last year commenced in Melbourne, including a third-place finish behind Half Yours in the Naturalism Stakes.

Last year, Warren pursued a Melbourne Cup entry via The Bart Cummings (eighth) and the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (fifth) before the stayer travelled interstate. He had a three-start campaign in Newcastle and then Perth, culminating in the Perth Cup on January 1.

After completing three jump-outs, Grand Pierro competed first-up at Mildura, a run that satisfied Warren.

“I thought his run in the Mildura Cup was terrific,” Warren stated.

“He drops in weight again for Saturday and I think it’s a nice race for him as the 1800 (metres) will suit him and it will give him the chance to get into a nice rhythm.

“He’s worked very well since his first-up run and he would need another run between now and The Archer, and I’ve planned to run him over 2000 metres at Caulfield in three weeks which would then give him two weeks to that race.

“If he could win on Saturday, or win in three weeks’ time, he could be well placed in The Archer.”

Consider the available betting markets for the upcoming Melbourne Cup.