Leading rider Tommy Berry stepped up to offer payment of the $44,000 late entry charge to lock in Storm Leopard’s place in the ATC Australian Derby after the gelding’s impressive staying performance in Saturday’s Group 2 $300,000 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens.
“I’ll offer to pay the late entry if they want,” Berry said.
“He’s so clean winded, he’s a real stayer. The team has done a great job with him, bringing him here in such great order.
“I only got on for the first time today so thanks to the Hayes boys for the opportunity and looking forward to hopefully riding him in the Derby.”
Advertisement
According to trainer Ben Hayes, Storm Leopard featured in the early nominations for next Saturday’s Group 1 $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m) at Royal Randwick, but they skipped the primary acceptance fee in the gelding’s prep.
“We took him out of the ‘noms’ and were looking at the South Australian Derby but we changed plans (again) because he started to go so well,” Hayes said.”It will be a discussion we need about next week but if he pulls up well, it’s definitely something that will be considered. It is a good problem to have.”
Storm Leopard ($4.20) took full advantage of the quick early speed, powering to the front mid-straight and winning by almost two lengths in decisive fashion.
Eureka Rebel at $81 shaped nicely as a Derby prospect, rallying late for second, with $5 elect Shangri La Boy third after dictating early.
Advertisement
The race was soured by favourite Arcora ($2.40) suffering a devastating near-foreleg injury mid-race.
Racing NSW officials quizzed jockey Nash Rawiller and trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young on Arcora before the colt was humanely put down.
Rawiller praised the colt’s stride which “felt amazing” prior to the incident, showing excellent control in withdrawing him.
“He got into a lovely rhythm during the race – this came out of nowhere,” Rawiller said.
Advertisement
Busuttin assured stewards Arcora was the “soundest horse you could ever find” entering the Tulloch Stakes.
Ben Hayes led with empathy in his immediate post-win interview.
“I feel for the connections of Arcora,” was Hayes’s first comment. “You never want to see that happen.”
Berry revealed his initial thoughts turned to Rawiller and Arcora amid the breakdown.
Advertisement
“My mind was on Nash (Rawiller – on retired runner Arcora) to make sure he was alright,” Berry said.”But then you’ve got to make sure you focus up again.”
Berry highlighted how Storm Leopard triumphed with a “lot of authority” notwithstanding some straight drifting.
“Storm Leopard got to the leader very quickly and was left in front a long way from home,” Berry said.
“I would’ve loved to have something challenge him halfway down the straight because he felt like he was floating where he was.
Advertisement
“I had enough looks to make it as soft as I could late just in case he had to back up. He’s trained by a bunch of gentlemen that send their horses to Sydney in such great order so if they decided to go that way it wouldn’t be an issue.”
Storm Leopard could now become the 10th to land the Tulloch Stakes-ATC Australian Derby double, matching Quick Thinker (2020), Angel Of Truth (2019), Levendi (2018), Jon Snow (2017), Starcraft (2004), Ivory’s Irish (1995), Mahogany (1994), Durbridge (1991) and Prolific (1984).
Without prior nomination, Storm Leopard was absent from TAB Fixed Odds Derby betting pre-Tulloch, but they quoted him at $4.50 afterwards, behind $3.50 joint faves Observer and Green Spaces.
Owner-trainer Matthew Smith was thrilled by Eureka Rebel’s second and Dezignation’s fifth as Derby trials. “Both horses are strong, young stayers and as long as they pull up well, I would like them to back up in the Derby,” Smith said.
Advertisement
Eureka Rebel’s jockey Kerrin McEvoy expects no trouble at the Derby distance next week.
“He ran really well,” McEvoy said. “I didn’t jump like we thought but he got a nice trip around and he goes to Randwick to enjoy the 2400m,” McEvoy said.
Third-place finisher Shangri La Boy improved per rider Adam Hyeronimus, but requires refinement.
“That is not the best version of him,” Hyeronimus said. “The best version of him is jump and relax in front then show his sharp turn of foot.”
Reigning and undisputed ONE bantamweight kickboxing world champion and former Muay Thai king, ‘The General’ Jonathan Haggerty of the United Kingdom, is known for his powerful teep kick, which he has worked on for his entire life.
But that kick didn’t come about naturally. It was painstakingly developed over the years through repetition and practice.
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
‘The General’ said:
“My teeps were just part of my game from a very young age. I was building that technique from the very beginning. I was quite tall for my weight category growing up through the ranks in the UK, and using the teep was quite effective. So I just continued building it brick by brick. Why stop if it’s working, you know? I just kept building what works, really.”
‘The General’ Jonathan Haggerty is set to defend his ONE bantamweight kickboxing world championship against Japanese star Yuki Yoza at ONE SAMURAI 1, which will take place live at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, April 29.
Advertisement
Fans in the United States and Canada can visit ONE Championship’s official website for more information on how to watch the event live from their location.
Jonathan Haggerty admits that ‘getting in that ring is very scary’: “I fight better with fear”
‘The General’ Jonathan Haggerty will be the first to admit that climbing into the ONE Championship ring is one of the most harrowing ordeals a fighter can experience. But because of that fear, he says he can fight at his best.
“When I think of fear, I think of my body shaking, adrenaline, and like scared. To overcome it, just block it out. I just block it out. As I said, getting in that ring is very scary. It’s a lot of fear. And getting past that. I need fear to fight. I fight better with fear.”
Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the latest news and updates surrounding Jonathan Haggerty’s next fight.
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa kicked off his campaign at the prestigious Candidates Tournament by breaking through the defenses of Dutchman Anish Giri to secure a full point and now shares the lead after the first round with American GM Fabiano Caruana and Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov in Paphos. In an eventful first round, World Cup champion Sindarov showcased his excellent tactical skill to turn the tables on Russia’s Andrey Esipenko, while pre-event favourite Caruana stunned fellow American Hikaru Nakamura. The other game of the eight-player double round-robin tournament between Germany’s Matthias Bluebaum and China’s Wei Yi ended in a stalemate with both players sharing a point.
In the women’s section being held simultaneously, Indian Grandmaster and Women’s World Cup champion Divya Deshmukh drew with Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk, a last-minute replacement for Koneru Humpy, while R. Vaishali survived some anxious moments before sharing the point with Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva.
It was, in fact, a day of stalemates in the womens’ section as Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina drew with compatriot Kateryna Lagno and the all-Chinese clash between Zhu Jiner and Tan Zhongyi also ended in a shared point.
Advertisement
Praggnanandhaa had been struggling in recent months leading up to the Candidates but has now bounced back in style, and Giri, one of the most consistent and solid players on the circuit, was simply no match for him on Saturday.
It was a battle of nerves as the Indian began with the Grand Prix Aatack to challenge Giri’s Sicilian Defense with the black pieces, and whether the opening achieved its intended effect is debatable, but it certainly gave Praggnanandhaa a valuable lead on the clock.
Giri is not used to surprises and while he was resourceful enough in the early middle game and equalised, Praggnanandhaa won a pawn in the ensuing rook-and-minor-pieces endgame.
Giri, running low on time, blundered in a lost rook-and-pawns endgame with a pawn less. The rest was easy for Praggnanandhaa.
Advertisement
But perhaps the most impressive game was played by Caruana who used his white pieces to perfection.
Nakamura was close to levelling the game as the middle game arrived, but the American, who is currently more active as a streamer than as a player, found himself in an opposite-coloured bishops middle game where his bishop was restricted to a passive role.
Caruana sealed the game with precise calculation in the endgame.
The Candidates is being contested in both the Open and Women’s sections to determine the challengers for the next World Championship matches against reigning champions D Gukesh and Ju Wenjun of China.
Women: Aleksandra Goryachkina (Rus) drew with Kateryna Lagno (Rus); R Vaishali (Ind) drew with Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kaz); Divya Deshmukh (Ind) drew with Anna Muzychuk (Ukr); Jiner Zhu (Chn) drew with Zhongyi Tan (Chn).
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
As Arizona prepares to play in its fifth all-time Final Four on Saturday, we’ve compiled a list of all such appearances by schools in the West.
The region boasts 19 Final Four teams, 12 of which have made two or more appearances, led by UCLA with 19, Arizona with five, and Utah and UNLV each with four.
But before we get to the list, for those who may be interested, a little history.
Advertisement
The NCAA recognizes Final Four appearances since the first tournament in 1939, even though only eight teams participated in the tournament from 1939 to 1950.
Between 1939 and 1950, there were only eight teams in the tournament, so half of the teams can claim a Final Four appearance.
However, since 1985, all have been required to play at least three games to make the Final Four.
Here is the list of participating schools from the region.
Advertisement
All-Time Final Four Appearances by Schools in the West
NEW DELHI: Former India captain Anil Kumble believes a resurgent Rohit Sharma could spell trouble for the rest of the IPL, after the Mumbai Indians opener announced his return in style with a match-winning knock against Kolkata Knight Riders.Rohit smashed a scintillating 78 off just 38 balls to power MI to a six-wicket win in their season opener at the Wankhede Stadium, ending their long-standing jinx of losing the first match of an IPL campaign.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Kumble was particularly struck by the authority and ease with which Rohit dominated quality bowling, calling it a sign of a dangerous new phase in his career.“Rohit Sharma seems to have arrived in his 2.0 avatar, and his innings showed he is ready to dominate again. The way he hit the ball all around the ground reminded me of his prime,” Kumble said on Star Sports.The former India coach highlighted how Rohit made light work of a potent spin attack featuring Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, along with pacer Blessing Muzarabani.“It is not easy to hit sixes against bowlers like Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine and Blessing Muzarabani, but he made it look easy. He has worked a lot on his fitness… when you come back after a short break, it takes time to find rhythm,” Kumble noted.“This was a fantastic innings… the six-hitting looked easy, and even though the boundaries were small, those shots were going into the stands. This knock shows that Rohit means business and this version of him will worry all IPL teams,” he added.KKR’s spin strategy under scrutinyWhile praising Rohit, Kumble also pointed out tactical lapses from Kolkata Knight Riders, particularly their under-utilisation of key spinners.“KKR are relying too much on Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, and Narine did not even complete his quota, which was surprising. The disappointing part was that Ajinkya Rahane did not bring him on in the Powerplay,” he said.According to Kumble, the delay in introducing Narine proved costly as Mumbai’s openers had already taken control.“By the time Narine came on, the damage was already done… they need to use their resources better. When you have two world-class spinners, you need to use them well,” he added.
Terence Crawford‘s long-term trainer Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre believes there is one man that all other fighters would be wise to avoid sharing the ring with.
For many years Crawford was a fighter who appeared to be avoided himself, before finally landing the big fight he craved when he took on Errol Spence in an undisputed welterweight title showdown in July 2023.
Crawford dominated that bout and claimed a ninth round stoppage win, and that was seen as the biggest win of his career until he stepped up to 168lbs and dethroned Canelo Alvarez to become undisputed super-middleweight champion in September.
Crawford’s well-respected coach BoMac appears to found someone who possesses the skills to do just that, as he told Fight Hub TV that other fighters should avoid Shakur Stevenson due to the skill level of the unbeaten star.
“Shakur has got a great boxing mind. That’s just it. Once he put his mind to it he gets the job done. You probably want to stay away from that kid man.”
BoMac also heaped praise on Stevenson for the performance he produced in his recent victory over Teofimo Lopez to become WBO super-lightweight champion.
“He looked so smooth, calm and relaxed. It was a boxing lesson. The future young guys in the amateurs just turning pro, watch that, it was beautiful.”
That win saw Stevenson become a four-weight world champion, and at just 28-years-old, it certainly appears he can go on to achieve plenty more within the sport.
The Minnesota Vikings set sail on the 2026 NFL Draft in 25 days, so let’s take a look at the past to size up the best selections in franchise history. Next week, we’ll profile the naughty list: the worst selections by Minnesota since 1961.
Ranking the Franchise Picks That Delivered the Biggest Payoff
The criteria are simple: the Vikings players who put the biggest thumbprint on the team.
Advertisement
Ranking the Franchise Picks That Delivered the Biggest Payoff
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates after converting a first down in the opening quarter, Oct. 30, 2022, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, against the Arizona Cardinals as he signals to the crowd and energizes the offense during an early-game scoring drive. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
8. Justin Jefferson | WR
Total Years as a Starter in NFL: 6 Drafted: Round 1 (2020) 1st-Team All-Pro: 2 Pro Bowls: 4
Here’s the stat to know about Jefferson:
Most Receiving Yards thru First 6 Seasons of Career:
Advertisement
Justin Jefferson (8,480) Randy Moss (8,375) Torry Holt (8,156) Jerry Rice (7,866) Calvin Johnson (7,836) Julio Jones (7,610) DeAndre Hopkins (7,437) CeeDee Lamb (7,416) Mike Evans (7,260) A.J. Green (7,135) Antonio Brown (7,093) Marvin Harrison (7,078) Larry Fitzgerald (7,067) A.J. Brown (7,026) Sterling Sharpe (7,015)
Not bad.
7. Adrian Peterson | RB
Total Years as a Starter in NFL: 15 Drafted: Round 1 (2007) 1st-Team All-Pro: 4 Pro Bowls: 7
Peterson’s off-the-field antics have turned wacky as of late, but before that, he was the best running back of his era in the NFL. In fact, no one has quite replicated him stylistically since he left the sport in 2021. Derrick Henry came close, but he’s just not quite as fast.
Advertisement
The only player with more rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in NFL history than Peterson is Emmitt Smith, who was an obvious Hall of Famer.
Peterson will be up for Hall of Fame Consideration soon; he better get in right away without any voter shenanigans.
6. Chris Doleman | DE
Total Years as a Starter in NFL: 15 Drafted: Round 1 (1985) 1st-Team All-Pro: 3 Pro Bowls: 8
Doleman spent 10 years in Minnesota, appearing in 154 games and logging 96.5 sacks along the way. He navigated the rough stretch of mid-1980s Vikings football and helped get the Dennis Green era off the ground in style.
Advertisement
He ranks seventh all-time in sacks on the “unofficial” leaderboard and fifth on the official version. He would’ve ranked No. 5 on this list, but No. 5 fundamentally changed how the sport is played.
5. Randy Moss | WR
Total Years as a Starter in NFL:12 Drafted: Round 1 (1998) 1st-Team All-Pro: 4 Pro Bowls: 6
Moss is widely known for revolutionizing the passing game in both the NFL and during his exciting 7.5 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.
Jerry Rice is the only wide receiver in NFL history with more receiving yards and receiving touchdowns than Moss.
Advertisement
4. Randall McDaniel | G
Total Years as a Starter in NFL:14 1st-Team All-Pro:7 Drafted: Round 1 (1988) Pro Bowls: 12
Though offensive guards rarely receive top billing, McDaniel’s accomplishments warrant consideration, as his resume speaks for itself.
Former Minnesota Vikings guard Randall McDaniel delivers his induction speech during the Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony, Aug. 8, 2009, at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, as he addresses the crowd and reflects on his career during enshrinement into the sport’s most prestigious honor. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports.
From 1988 to 1999, McDaniel anchored Minnesota’s offensive line with remarkable consistency and versatility. After his departure to Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl the following season.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
3. Carl Eller | DE
Total Years as a Starter in NFL:15 Drafted: Round 1 (1964) 1st-Team All-Pro:5 Pro Bowls: 6
Advertisement
Eller was a cornerstone of the Purple People Eaters and a Hall of Famer. Before joining the Vikings, Page starred at the University of Minnesota, further enhancing his already impressive credentials.
He ranks 19th all-time in sacks on the unofficial leaderboard, which includes numbers from before 1982, when official sack tracking began.
2. Alan Page | DT
Total Years as a Starter in NFL:15 Drafted: Round 1 (1967) All-Pro:5 Pro Bowls: 9
Page’s 148.5 sacks rank eighth all-time, a remarkable achievement for a defensive tackle. While the choice between him and Eller for this spot was extremely close, Page’s statistics give him a slight edge, earning him the No. 2 spot.
Advertisement
He also served on the Minnesota Supreme Court from 1993 to 2015.
1. Fran Tarkenton | QB
Total Years as a Starter in NFL:18 Drafted: Round 3 (1961) All-Pro: 1 Pro Bowls: 9
Tarkenton’s No. 1 spot stems from three key factors: his position as quarterback, the most impactful on the field; his unexpected arrival to the Vikings as a 3rd-Round pick 65 years ago; and his remarkable longevity with the team.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton (10) lines up at the line of scrimmage alongside guard Ed White (62) and tackle Grady Alderman (67), date and location unknown, as the offense prepares for the snap during a classic era moment captured in this archival file photo. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports.
Tarkenton’s career spanned roughly the length of Harrison Smith’s current tenure, plus another rookie contract — all while playing quarterback. Imagine Smith playing until 2029; that’s Tarkenton’s career.
Upon his retirement in 1978, he held the league’s top records in major passing categories, marking the end of an era closely tied to Minnesota’s Super Bowl aspirations.
CHICAGO — Even back in November, when the nascent college basketball season was barely a ripple on the national sports radar, Michigan and Arizona were eying each other like boxers in opposite corners, waiting for the bell to ring.
Though their paths did not cross, they were practically mirror images, their dominance made obvious by the wins they were racking up against quality teams — often by big margins. As far back as Thanksgiving week, when Michigan polished off the Players Era tournament with a 40-point win over Gonzaga while Arizona had already banked wins over Florida, UConn and UCLA, it would not have been a hot take to suggest they would be on a collision course for the Final Four.
Advertisement
“There were glimpses of this happening,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said Sunday amid the net-cutting celebration at United Center, where the Wolverines had dominated Tennessee, 95-62. “But there was a long season.”
Advertisement
A long season that will end much as it began: With the two teams who flashed the earliest Final Four potential facing each other in the Final Four.
“We always wanted to play against that team,” Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg said. “That’s what everybody goes to college basketball for, to play those blockbuster-type games. They got a bunch of NBA guys. We got a bunch of NBA guys. It’s gonna be a fun matchup, man, and I hope everybody’s ready to play because I am.”
Yaxel Lendeborg and the Michigan Wolverines have won every game this NCAA tournament by more than 20 points. (Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERS)
Is it the de facto national championship game? That’s probably unfair. UConn and Illinois, who will be paired in the other semifinal, are excellent teams.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Should the Final Four be reseeded? Now that’s a good debate topic because it certainly appears that the two best teams — and the two best teams all season long — are going to be playing Saturday night rather than Monday.
How hard is it to be as good as Michigan and Arizona from start to finish? Well, you saw it Sunday when Duke, the overall No. 1 seed, melted down in the second half against UConn.
College basketball deciding its champion with a single-elimination, six-round tournament has long been the sport’s blessing and curse. It makes the stakes of every game sky high and creates Cinderella storylines out of nowhere. It also means the national champion is sometimes not the best team but rather the team that got hot at the right time and avoided bad luck or injury. The uniqueness of March Madness has made that tradeoff worthwhile.
But thanks to Michigan and Arizona making it this far, there will be no such caveats this year.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Even before conference play began, you could have reasonably watched those two teams shred everyone in sight and conclude they were on a level above everyone else.
This wire-to-wire trend, however, goes against much of what we’ve learned over the decades about college basketball. Sure, there have been a handful of outlier teams that were locked and loaded from the beginning, but coaches have generally looked at the season as a way to prepare and peak for March.
When a team flashes national championship potential so early the way Michigan did — there was a 10-game stretch in November and December when the Wolverines were beating teams by an average of 34.5 points, including some true quality opponents — it’s almost problematic.
Advertisement
“The most difficult part is that everyone starts getting so much more attention, advice — literally everything they get more of,” Michigan coach Dusty May said. “And it’s difficult not to make it about you because the people you’re talking to are making it about you. There’s just a lot of distracting information, and if you’re not mature and you’re not connected to this group and not willing to be held accountable by the staff and each other, then it’s not going to work.
Advertisement
“And once it creeps in, it’s almost impossible to weed it out. So our guys never let it in. And trust me, they all had different fires that were ignited.”
Brayden Burries and the Arizona Wildcats haven’t lost since Feb. 14. (Eakin Howard-Imagn Images)
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERS)
If you lump this tournament in with last year, where all four No. 1 seeds made it to the Final Four, it seems like we may be moving away from an era of parity in college basketball and toward a cluster of superpowers. Michigan won its four tournament games by an average of 22.5 points, while Arizona’s margin was 20.5. Neither faced a true second-half challenge on their way to winning their regional.
Advertisement
Tennessee was a top-15 team in the predictive metrics and not some overachieving mid-major, but it was almost comical how overmatched the Vols looked trying to generate decent offense against this Michigan squad.
Advertisement
“Some teams have a little more room for error than others,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said.
In a way, college basketball and college football have switched roles in the NIL era. Whereas there used to be no parity at all in college football because of how stacked the superpowers like Alabama and Georgia used to be, conference commissioners are now talking about expanding the playoff beyond 12 because we might be leaving out viable teams.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, March Madness has played out pretty true-to-form for two straight years.
It’s hard to know exactly what to make of that. You can point to the transfer portal and the ability for a program like Michigan to go get an established star like the 23-year-old Lendeborg out of UAB, but here’s Arizona with three freshmen in its starting lineup. Perhaps there’s something to the idea that teams like Michigan and Arizona, which play big frontcourt lineups and don’t rely on making a bunch of 3-pointers to win, aren’t as susceptible to being upset.
Advertisement
Still, college basketball programs are judged by what happens in March. And we have decades of history telling us that it’s extremely hard, and rare, for two teams to be on a collision course all season and actually end up playing each other in the Final Four.
Advertisement
“This was obviously one of the goals because of the talent we had,” May said. “We have a sign in our locker room — “April Habits” — and from Day 1 we’ve challenged these guys to develop championship-level habits that would allow us to win a Big Ten championship and would also allow us to turn the calendar from March until April. Now we put ourselves in position to do that.”
Advertisement
Even though Michigan and Arizona showed four months ago that they were probably on a level above almost everyone else in college basketball, there was no guarantee they’d actually get to settle it on the floor. So many obstacles to overcome and landmines to avoid.
But they will finally touch gloves next Saturday in Indianapolis. Let’s get ready to rumble.
FaZe Vegas rebounded from a loss to OpTic Texas earlier in the day to win the rematch in the grand final 4-1 on Sunday of the Call of Duty League’s Stage 2 Major.
OpTic Texas took a 3-1 victory in the best-of-five upper-bracket final in Marston Green, England. That sent FaZe Vegas to the lower-bracket final, where they beat Toronto KOI 3-1 to earn a spot opposite OpTic Texas in the best-of-seven grand final.
Toronto KOI had eliminated the Los Angeles Thieves 3-0 in the lower-bracket semifinal on Sunday.
The Stage 2 Major, part of the DreamHack Birmingham event, awarded $150,000 and 100 Call of Duty League points to champion FaZe Vegas. OpTic Texas, as the first runner-up collected $90,000 and 75 CDL points.
Advertisement
Vegas’ Jovan “04” Rodriguez of the United States was selected the match MVP. He had a kill-death differential of 118-84 to lead all players. American teammate Chris “Simp” Lehr had 109 kills and a plus-20 differential.
Their team opened the grand final with a 250-184 win on Colossus Hardpoint. Texas drew even with a 6-2 victory on Raid Search and Destroy. But FaZe Vegas then reeled off wins on Scar Overload (4-3), Exposure Hardpoint (250-207) and Exposure Search and Destroy (6-5).
No OpTic Texas players had positive numbers.
The teams met in the upper-bracket final, which OpTic opened with a 250-192 win on Exposure Hardpoint. FaZe Vegas came back with a 6-4 win on Raid Search and Destroy, then Texas took it with wins on Den Overload (6-3) and Scar Hardpoint (250-112).
Advertisement
Cuyler “Huke” Garland of the United States was the match MVP with 101 kills and a plus-26 differential for Texas. All players for Vegas had negative differentials.
FaZe Vegas recovered in the double-elimination playoff format by defeating Toronto KOI 3-1 in the lower-bracket final. Vegas won on Den Hardpoint (250-240), then Toronto triumphed on Exposure Search and Destroy (6-3) before FaZe won on Exposure Overload (5-3) and Exposure Hardpoint (250-225).
Jordan “Abuzah” Francois of Belgium was match MVP with 89 kills and a plus-18 differential for FaZe Vegas.
Advertisement
In the lower-bracket semifinal, Toronto KOI swept the Los Angeles Thieves, winning 250-188 on Den Hardpoint, 6-3 on Colossus Search and Destroy and 4-3 on Exposure Overload.
Jamie “Insight” Craven of England was the match MVP for Toronto with 61 kills and a plus-12 differential.
Call of Duty League’s Stage 2 Major prize pool, with money winnings and CDL points
1. $150,000, 100 — FaZe Vegas
Advertisement
2. $90,000, 75 — OpTic Texas
3. $50,000, 60 — Toronto KOI
4. $30,000, 45 — Los Angeles Thieves
5-6. $15,000, 30 — Paris Gentle Mates, G2 Minnesota
Advertisement
7-8. $7,500, 15 — Riyadh Falcons, Miami Heretics
9-10. no money, no points — Vancouver Surge, Carolina Royal Ravens
The 31-year-old, in excellent form once again this season, has registered eight goals and 17 assists in all competitions so far. But despite his output and his strong bond with both the club and its supporters, speculation over a potential departure has persisted.
Advertisement
That sense of uncertainty was heightened during Ruben Amorim’s time at United when reports emerged that the club were open to a lucrative sale to Saudi Arabia, temporarily straining the relationship between player and club.
Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.
However, with the Portugal international now back to his best and firmly in the conversation for PFA Player of the Year, the situation appears to have stabilised – at least for the time being.
Here, MEN examines the wider picture surrounding Fernandes, including the details of a mammoth contract proposal and a little-known release clause in his deal at Old Trafford.
Advertisement
£700k-a-week offer
Last year, it was reported that Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal were prepared to submit a £100m offer to sign Fernandes, alongside a staggering £700,000-per-week contract that would have placed him among the highest earners in world sport.
With the midfielder approaching the twilight of his career and United working to carefully balance their finances, the club were open to sanctioning a sale. However, the stance did not sit well with Fernandes, who was understood to be “hurt” that United were willing to cut ties with him.
Ultimately, the bid was never officially tabled, allowing United to keep their captain but simultaneously denying them what would have been a club-record sale.
Release clause
While Fernandes has made it clear that he wants to stay at United, the club are technically powerless to stop him from him leaving. That’s because of a new £56.68million release clause in his contract, one that can only be triggered by foreign clubs.
While that sum may deter some European teams from signing a player who turns 32 in September and has little resale value, it would not be a problem for the Saudis.
Al-Hilal were prepared to offer £100m because they were desperate to sign Fernandes ahead of last year’s Club World Cup, which began in June before the clause came into effect and there is expected to be renewed interest from the Middle East this summer.
Should Fernandes stay put, United are expected to open discussions over a new contract, with his current deal running out in 2027. They do, however, have the option to extend it by a further 12 months.
Advertisement
United want to keep Bruno
Despite previous links to a move away, the club’s stance has shifted firmly towards keeping Fernandes. While there is an ongoing push to reduce the wage bill – Fernandes is earning £300,000-a-week – United remain intent on retaining their captain’s influence on the pitch.
That position has reportedly been communicated directly to the player in an effort to ease any doubts over his future. He is also believed to be more settled since Michael Carrick took charge in January.
His appointment comes after the club dismissed former Wimbledon midfielder Neal Ardley earlier this month and is the 43-year-old’s first permanent role as a club manager.
The former Spurs striker has previous experience working in Tottenham’s academy as well as on the interim coaching staff at Rangers in 2021.
Woking’s own interim coach, Craig Ross, will lead the club for Tuesday’s match against Altrincham before Defoe takes over the full-time role. Ross has overseen four wins, three draws and one defeat in his eight matches in charge so Defoe will pick up a team in good form.
Woking’s club chairman Todd Johnson said: “Jermain’s achievements as a player speak for themselves, but what stood out to us during the process was how he sees the game, how he drives standards, and his approach to leadership and player development.
Advertisement
“We have a clear plan for where we want to go as a club, and we believe Jermain is the right person to build on the strong foundations already in place and help take us forward in the next phase of that journey.”
Defoe will be assisted by former Fulham and Halifax manager Paul Bracewell, with Ross and Jake Hyde remaining on the club’s coaching staff.
Defoe scored 305 goals in 763 senior appearances and won 57 England caps, representing his country at the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championships. He retired from playing in 2022 and began to work on his coaching badges.
He earned his Uefa A-licence while working in the Spurs academy for two years but left his former club in the summer of 2024 to pursue a full-time managerial role.
Advertisement
“Woking is a historic club with huge potential, and I’m thrilled to be part of this exciting project,” said Defoe. “I can’t wait to get started.”
You must be logged in to post a comment Login