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Surging Sabres bring buzz back to Buffalo, closing in on playoff berth in 15 years

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BUFFALO, N.Y. — Josh Norris’ father had never steered him wrong before. And yet the Sabres forward was somewhat skeptical of just how passionate Buffalo was as a hockey market upon his arrival in a trade from Ottawa a year ago.

Sidelined by an injury, Norris would sit in the press box staring out at a half-empty arena, and hearing a chorus of boos and derogatory chants directed at the team and now former general manager Kevyn Adams, who was fired in December and replaced by Jarmo Kekalainen.

This wasn’t the rollicking atmosphere his dad, Dwayne Norris, recalled of Buffalo during his brief NHL playing days in the mid-1990s, before spending 11 more seasons in Germany.

“I knew he wasn’t lying,” Norris said of his father’s recollections, which have suddenly been realized by a Sabres team enjoying a remarkable turnaround that’s unmistakably revived the hockey buzz in Buffalo this season.

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“I feel like they’re getting let out of a cage in a sense — and I mean that in the best way possible,” Norris said of an energized fanbase that’s filling the 19,000-plus seat KeyBank Center, and bringing back memorable chants such as, “Ooh! Ahh! Sabres on the warpath.”

“Now that we’re in this spot, I think it’s hard to miss,” he added. “It’s right in front of you. And it’s incredible to be a part of.”

Winning has a way of flipping the script for a franchise mired in an NHL-record 14-season playoff drought.

In the span of three-plus months, the Sabres have gone from sitting last in the Eastern Conference standings to sharing top spot with Carolina following their 4-3 overtime loss to Boston on Wednesday. The Sabres enter Friday riding a 33-6-4 run that’s all but assured them of clinching their first playoff berth since 2011.

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And the fans are coming back in hordes.

A season after selling out just five of 40 home games (not including an NHL Global Series outing in Europe), the Sabres have enjoyed 17 sellouts this year, including their past 11 straight.

“You can’t beat it. It’s unbelievable. We have some of the best fans in the league and they deserve the success,” said forward Alex Tuch, who was a Sabres fan growing up in Syracuse, New York.

Now 29, Tuch was 14 the last time the Sabres qualified for the playoffs, and had just turned 11 the last time Buffalo won a playoff series in 2007.

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“It’s pretty cool, honestly,” Tuch said of what his younger self might think. “I’d be pretty proud of myself right now. But like I’ve said, job not done.”

The Sabres, to a man, have taken a stay-the-course approach in avoiding getting caught up in the wave of excitement they’ve generated. Past frustrations and collapses are still too recent to allow players and coach Lindy Ruff to be drawn into a sense of overconfidence.

Though there are enough comparisons to the team’s last heydays in 2005-07, when Buffalo twice reached and lost in the East finals, Ruff has kept the focus firmly on the present.

“You guys are going to get tired of this,” he said, referring to reporters, “but we’re focusing on the next game.”

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And yet Ruff, now in the second season of his second stint in Buffalo, can appreciate how the atmosphere has changed during home games — reminiscent of his first tenure coaching the team from 1997-2013.

“The energy in the building has really been great for our group. I mean, it’s probably the first time they’ve experienced it,” Ruff said. “So embrace it but know there’s a lot of work to do.”

With 10 games left, Buffalo’s magic number to clinch a playoff berth is 10 points entering Thursday.

Leading scorer Tage Thompson had only known frustration during his previous seven seasons in Buffalo.

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“I think everyone in the room has a big level of pride for where we’ve gotten ourselves up to this point. It’s been an extremely hard road to get here,” Thompson said. “I think that gives you a little bit more appreciation for where you’re at. And I think it makes you not want to take it for granted.”

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Cardinals match Rays’ sixth-inning uprising with their own, win 9-7

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MLB: Tampa Bay Rays at St. Louis CardinalsMar 26, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Nathan Church (27) leaps at the wall and robs a home run from Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Ryan Vilade (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Alec Burleson capped an eight-run sixth inning with a two-run homer to help the St. Louis Cardinals rally for a 9-7 victory against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays in the season opener for both teams on Thursday afternoon.

Burleson’s home run came after the Rays had scored six runs in the top half of the sixth to take a 7-1 lead.

Burleson had three hits, scored twice and drove in two runs. Nathan Church had three hits, drove in two and robbed a home run in left field, Victor Scott II also had three hits and JJ Wetherholt homered in his major league debut for St. Louis.

Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore allowed one run and seven hits in five innings.

Jonathan Aranda homered and singled while Yandy Diaz, Ben Williamson and Nick Fortes each had three hits and one run and Jonny DeLuca added two hits and two RBIs for Tampa Bay.

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Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen also allowed one run over five innings, scattering four hits and one walk.

Wetherholt, the seventh overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, led off the third in his second MLB at-bat and blasted a 425-foot homer to center on an 0-2 pitch to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.

Church leaped to rob Ryan Vilade of a home run for the second out in the fifth, but Aranda came up next and cleared the fence in right-center field to tie it 1-1.

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Liberatore departed and the Rays loaded the bases with one out in the sixth. Justin Bruihl surrendered a pinch-hit RBI single to left by Chandler Simpson to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead.

After a sacrifice fly by Aranda, Williamson drove in another run with an infield single to extend the lead to 4-1. DeLuca then rolled a full-count grounder up the middle with the bases loaded, scoring two more runs.

Fortes came up for the second time in the inning and beat out another slow roller to score Williamson for a 7-1 lead.

Nolan Gorman cut it to 7-3 in the bottom half of the sixth with a groundball single up the middle that scored two.

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Jordan Walker doubled over the head of center fielder Cedric Mullins, bringing up Church, who lined an opposite-field two-run single to left to cut it to 7-5.

With the bases still loaded and nobody out, Wetherholt lifted a sacrifice fly to deep right to cut it to 7-6.

After Ivan Herrera tacked on another sacrifice fly to tie it 7-7, Burleson stepped up and blasted a two-run homer to deep right to put St. Louis in front.

JoJo Romero, Riley O’Brien and Ryne Stanek combined to blank Tampa Bay over the final three innings.

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–Field Level Media

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Coco Gauff storms into First Miami Final

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Coco Gauff ran through Karolina Muchova 6–1, 6–1 at the Miami Open 2026 to reach her first final in Miami.

After a week of long, good matches, Gauff produced her most straightforward performance when it mattered most.

She’s now: 6–0 against Muchova, into her first Miami Open final and into her 6th WTA 1000 final.

  • Jannik Sinner crushes Tiafoe to continue historic RunJannik Sinner crushes Tiafoe to continue historic Run

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She came into this tournament off an injury and a retirement at Indian Wells. No expectations. Just trying to feel good on court again.

Now she’s in the final.

After the match, she said:

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“I’m super excited to be in the final of this tournament.” Like I’ve said the whole week, I didn’t expect to be here . I’m really happy.”  “I’ve just been trying to find the joy in the sport.” “Through the battles I was having fun.”“It’s nice to get through in 2 sets today.”

She becomes the youngest American woman to reach the Miami final since Serena Williams (2003) and will move up to World No. 3, overtaking Iga Swiatek.

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On the Canvas: the art behind Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz II – Clash on the Dunes

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Boxing art collector Ingo Wegerich explores the stories behind iconic fight artwork, drawing on his extensive private collection. This piece centres on Anthony Joshua’s redemption win over Andy Ruiz Jr.

Following the tragic accident on December 29, 2025, on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State, Nigeria – in which two close friends and team members of Anthony Joshua, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, lost their lives – there has been a period of quiet around the two-time unified heavyweight champion.

Joshua has since returned to training, spending the past week in camp alongside Oleksandr Usyk, with discussions ongoing over a potential summer fight.

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As attention turns back to ‘AJ’s next move, we revisit one of the defining moments of his career – and the artwork that captured it.

The Fight

The rematch between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr. on December 7, 2019, in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, was an event of extremes – sporting, financial and logistical.

Six months earlier, late-replacement Andy Ruiz Jr. had stunned the boxing world at Madison Square Garden, knocking Joshua down four times in seven rounds to claim the WBC, WBA, IBF and IBO titles. Comparisons to Mike Tyson’s defeat by Buster Douglas were inevitable.

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The rematch, titled Clash on the Dunes, was not only the first heavyweight world championship staged in Saudi Arabia, but also an early marker of what has since become a new boxing Mecca.

The event came with an extraordinary financial package. Joshua reportedly earned between $60 million and $85 million, while Ruiz earned between $10 million and $13 million. The Diriyah Arena – an open-air stadium in the desert – was constructed in just six weeks and held 15,000 spectators.

At the weigh-in, the contrast was clear. Ruiz tipped the scales at 283.7lbs, more than 15lbs heavier than in the first fight, prompting suggestions he had celebrated too long. Joshua, by contrast, came in at 237¾lbs – over 10lbs lighter than before.

Inside the ring, the fight was controlled and clinical. Joshua dictated the distance, stayed disciplined, and scored consistently behind his jab and footwork. Ruiz struggled to close the gap or land anything meaningful.

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After 12 rounds, Joshua reclaimed his titles via unanimous decision. The fight generated approximately 1.5 million pay-per-view buys in the UK, making it one of the best-selling events in British boxing history.

More importantly, Joshua had answered every question with a tactical masterclass.

The Artwork

Boxing News marked Clash on the Dunes with a striking painted cover in vibrant shades of yellow, gold and brown, depicting both fighters in action. The artwork was created by Hall of Fame artist Richard T. Slone.

Joshua vs Ruiz painting. Slone
Image credit: Richard T. Slone

The colour palette carries symbolic weight. Yellow, often associated with tension and inner unrest, reflects the nervous energy before the fight. Gold represents ambition, wealth and grandeur, while also evoking the Saudi setting. The tones collectively mirror desert sand – a deliberate reference to the event’s title. Brown adds a sense of tradition and timelessness.

The painting was completed before the fight, which explains why it does not reflect the eventual physical disparity between the fighters. In Slone’s depiction, Joshua appears compact and powerful, almost gladiatorial, with sharply defined musculature.

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Both fighters are captured mid-exchange. Their expressions convey focus and intensity. Joshua’s eyes are closed, suggesting deep concentration, while his punch appears to drive through Ruiz with force and intent. Ruiz, mouth open, embodies exertion and determination.

The word “Destroyer” is visible on Ruiz’s shorts – a nod to his nickname, earned through his aggressive, high-output style.

The Roman numeral “II” references the rematch, but also symbolises Joshua’s attempt to rebuild after defeat — mentally as much as physically. The loss had shaken his identity as champion. Here, he appears composed, focused and resolute.

Slone’s brushwork is expressive and energetic. Through colour, movement and symbolism, he transforms a sporting moment into visual history with psychological depth.

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The Artist

Richard T. Slone, a British-born artist now based in Las Vegas, is widely regarded as one of boxing’s foremost painters.

A former protégé of Joe Frazier and a member of the famed Kronk Gym, Slone has served as the official artist of the International Boxing Hall of Fame since 1996.

He has been commissioned for some of the sport’s biggest events, including Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather vs Canelo Alvarez, Canelo vs Gennadiy Golovkin, and most recently Canelo vs Terence Crawford.

His work has featured on numerous Ring Magazine and Boxing News covers, capturing the drama and emotion of boxing at the highest level.

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Personal Note

I have a personal connection to this painting. I not only own it, but was also present at the fight in Saudi Arabia.

At the time, the experience felt like an adventure. The outdoor weigh-in was sparsely attended compared to other major events, and much of the atmosphere centred around the fighters’ hotel – intense, but intimate.

Shortly before the fight, light rain began to fall. It reminded me of The Rumble in the Jungle, where a heavy downpour followed shortly after the bout.

It’s a trip I will never forget – and this painting remains a vivid reminder of that experience.

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Artwork Details

Ruiz Jr. vs Joshua II
Original, 2019
Richard T. Slone
Acrylic on canvas
36″ × 40″

Copyright Richard T. Slone. More of the collection can be viewed via Ingo Wegerich Fine Art Collection, or on Instagram.

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Houston Open: England’s Paul Waring leads with career-best PGA Tour round

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England’s Paul Waring shot a seven-under 63 to lead after the first round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open.

The 41-year-old, who is playing on a medical exemption and was a late entry to the field was five under at the turn and his bogey-free round was his lowest ever on the PGA Tour.

Waring, who has only made six cuts from 26 events on the PGA Tour, is one shot clear of former US Open champion Gary Woodland, while Sam Burns, Tom Hoge, and Michael Brennan are two shots behind at five under.

Englishman Marco Penge is a stroke further back at four under alongside his compatriot Matt Wallace.

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World number Scottie Scheffler is not competing due to the imminent birth of his second child, while Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is also missing as he prepares to defend his Masters crown in April.

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World Cup play-offs: Wales are beaten by Bosnia Herzegovina on penalties – Craig Bellamy reaction

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Wales manager Craig Bellamy says he’s “disappointed” his side couldn’t hold on for victory in their World Cup play-off semi final against Bosnia-Herzegovina, as they conceded an 86th minute equaliser, before going on to lose on penalties after extra time.

READ MORE: Wales suffer agonising World Cup play-off shootout loss to Bosnia

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Kai Rooney’s heartbreaking news, support from Wayne and Coleen and Man United statement

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Kai Rooney has received some unwelcome news just days after his latest Manchester United success

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Kai Rooney has confirmed he will miss the rest of the season after picking up an injury.

The 16-year-old had been on a major rise in trajectory for Manchester United after making seven appearances and finding the net twice. The teenager was part of the U16s side that won the Premier League Shield and has featured for Darren Fletcher’s U18s team throughout this campaign.

Kai is aiming to follow in his father Wayne’s footsteps at Old Trafford. The forward became an icon at United, scoring 253 goals and assisting 143 times in 559 appearances for the 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.

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He won a plethora of silverware, including five Premier League titles, one Champions League, a Europa League trophy and plenty of domestic cups.

Kai had been developing well at United this season but a spanner has now been thrown into the works. Here, The Manchester Evening News has all the latest on the teenage superstar.

FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page

Heartbreaking injury

Kai Rooney confirmed he has sustained an injury that will rule him out for the rest of the season. This will in turn deny the teenager the chance of featuring in the U18s bid for glory in the FA Youth Cup.

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In a sad post on his Instagram story, the 16-year-old wrote: “Disappointed to be out for the rest of the season. Back stronger next pre-season,” alongside a red love heart emoji. The caption was written on top of a black-and-white image of Kai in a United kit during a game.

The United youth side have been finding success with Kai in the squad, as he made his first appearance at Old Trafford in a FA Youth Cup fourth-round win over Derby County. The team will face Crystal Palace in the semi-finals and will face the same opponents at Selhurst Park in the Premier League Cup final.

The U18s are locked in a battle at the top of the league with Manchester City but Kai will now no longer be able to participate in the run-in.

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Support from within

Parents Wayne and Coleen were on hand to support Kai at his final appearance before his injury was confirmed. The 16-year-old helped the U16s to a statement 2-0 win in the Premier League Shield on Tuesday.

The Rooney clan were in attendance to cheer Kai on as Wayne posted a picture of the teenager with a medal around his neck on social media. Youngest brother Cass was also there to take in the victory.

Despite previously banning his famous dad from attending the games as per Coleen, the young star’s mother admitted he is used to handling fame. Speaking to The Times, Coleen said: “He’s lived it from a young age.

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“When we used to go to matches when he was younger and he’d get a lot of people coming up saying, ‘Oh, are you Wayne Rooney’s son?’

“But he is strong-minded and he always has been. I’ve got no worries about the way he deals with it. It’s nice that we know what to expect.

“And we can try to guide him. Obviously, it’s his life, his passion. He can decide what he wants to do. But I think it’s good we’ve got the knowledge.”

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Statement made

Kai has been enjoying a great year so far in the youth brackets of United’s academy set-up. After scoring for the U18s, the teenager has been offered a scholarship in the youth system and will be able to sign a professional deal next campaign.

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The youngster has also signed with Triple S Sports, an agency that secured a long-term deal with dad Wayne. Other United first-team stars, including Harry Maguire, are among the agency’s clients.

They announced the signing on Instagram with a caption that said: “Delighted to announce the signing of @kairooney.10 to Triple S Sports! We’re excited to begin working with the Manchester United forward as he continues his journey in the game. A bright future ahead.”

The left-winger signed a boot deal with Puma in 2022 when he was just 12 years old, too. However, Kai is not allowed to wear his Puma boots when playing for the U16s due to a longstanding club policy.

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Speaking to the Smith Brothers: Not A Podcast, dad Wayne said: “He’s obviously with Puma but when he plays for the Manchester United U16s, something which I really like is he can’t wear his Puma boots.

“All the academy have to wear the same boots. They do it because there’s people from areas where they can’t afford certain boots so I think it’s really good. But he’s played for the U18s a few times and he can then wear his Puma boots. He’s doing well to be fair to him.”

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Ravichandran Ashwin’s Definitive Take On MS Dhoni’s Place In Chennai Super Kings XI At IPL 2026

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What will MS Dhoni‘s role be for Chennai Super Kings? The former captain’s presence is always a confidence booster for the five-time champions. But even his ardent fans would agree that the Dhoni of now is not the same as the Dhoni of five years ago. Dhoni only plays the IPL, and from the videos available on social media, it’s clear that the legendary captain is putting in all the effort to turn up in top shape for Chennai Super Kings. But will he be used as an Impact Player?

Former India and CSK star Ravichandran Ashwin was asked whether he sees MS Dhoni playing all the matches and keeping wickets. Ashwin’s reply was interesting.

“I think Dhoni will have a critical role in supporting this new bowling line-up on the field. What happened last year with MS? I was also there last year. MS wanted to play the last three overs, but the top order did not score much, and he had to come in around the 10th to 12th overs. This time, they have added power in the top order to avoid this. Maybe this time, out of 14 games, he will get to bat higher only in 3-4 games; otherwise, he will only come in at the end. His biggest role will be in keeping, setting the field, and giving a shoulder to Ruturaj. He can be the big brother,” he said on Ash ki Baat.

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“I do not agree that he has to stay on the Impact list. If he is in the squad, he has to play. If he does not want to, he should not play the entire season, that is it. I am not in agreement with him being an Impact Player. He 100 per cent believes he can contribute, and that’s why MS is playing. Otherwise, he is the sort of guy who will not hang around.

“We are seeing his videos. He has been practising for the last three months. ‘Mujhe khelna hai, aap ko jo bhi sochna hai socho’ (I will play, you can think whatever you want). That is the message he is giving. I don’t think he is your top-six batter, but he can play a double role. He can be a compass for Ruturaj. If he wouldn’t be playing, he wouldn’t be practising this hard. I think MS will keep wickets and will bat at No. 7.”

Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra said that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and India icon MS Dhoni cannot play as an Impact Player – and if he does, it is time for the 44-year-old to “hang up his boots.”

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Yandex, Tundra kick off ESL One Birmingham playoffs with wins

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Syndication: Arizona RepublicA backlit keyboard is part of the gear online video game streamer Jordan Woodruff uses in his Gilbert home.

Jordan Woodruff

Team Yandex and Tundra Esports advanced to the upper-bracket final of the ESL One Birmingham event with victories Thursday in England.

Yandex defeated Team Spirit and Tundra topped Aurora Gaming, both by 2-1 scores, to get one step closer to the grand final. The losing sides are not out of the running yet, but they dropped into the lower bracket of the playoffs and will pick up in the lower-bracket quarterfinals.

The $1 million Dota 2 tournament, featuring 16 teams, will award $750,000 in prize money and $250,000 in club rewards as well as 35,460 ESL Pro Tour points spread among all participants.

The competition began with a group stage, with teams split into two groups of eight. The top two teams from each group advanced to the upper bracket of the playoffs. The third- and fourth-place teams were delegated to the lower-bracket playoffs, with the remaining eight teams eliminated.

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The playoffs will be contested Thursday through Sunday with a double-elimination bracket. All matches are best-of-three except for the grand final, which is best-of-five.

On Thursday, Yandex sandwiched a 50-minute win on red and a 35-minute win on green around a setback to Spirit in 44 minutes on red. Kazakhstan’s Alimzhan “watson” Islambekov led the way with an average kills-deaths-assists ratio of 13.7-2.3-11.3.

Similarly, Tundra opened its match against Aurora with a 36-minute win on green, dropped the next map in 55 minutes on red and bounced back with a clinching 44-minute win on green. Bulgaria’s Bozhidar “bzm” Bogdanov paced Tundra with an average K-D-A of 8.7-2.3-13.7.

The tournament continues Friday with three matches:

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–MOUZ vs. Xtreme Gaming (lower-bracket Round 1)

–Team Falcons vs. PARIVISION (lower-bracket Round 1)

–Team Spirit vs. MOUZ-Xtreme Gaming winner (lower-bracket quarterfinals)

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ESL One Birmingham prize pool (prize money, club reward)

1. TBD — $250,000, $40,000

2. TBD — $100,000, $30,000

3. TBD — $80,000, $25,000

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4. TBD — $60,000, $20,000

5-6. TBD — $40,000, $15,000

7-8. TBD — $27,500, $12,500

9-10. GamerLegion, Virtus.pro — $20,000, $10,000

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11-12. BetBoom Team, paiN Gaming — $17,500, $10,000

13-14. Yakult Brothers, OG — $15,000, $10,000

15-16. REKONIX, Nigma Galaxy — $10,000, $10,000

–Field Level Media

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Pirates ace Paul Skenes shelled in ‘frustrating’ Opening Day start against the Mets

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NEW YORK — Paul Skenes stared out toward the mound from the third-base dugout, motionless. Only his fingers moved, scratching beneath his dark, full beard. This was unfamiliar territory.

Thursday was supposed to be his day. Another step in a rise that already included a Cy Young award in 2025 and a World Baseball Classic that pushed him onto an international stage, flexing as the best in the world. He’s the easy favorite to repeat as Cy Young winner this year.

Instead, on Opening Day at Citi Field against the Mets, Skenes failed to get out of the first, yielding five earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning. It matched the most runs he’s allowed in a start and marked the shortest outing of his career. He allowed more runs Thursday than he did in the first inning of all 32 starts combined last year.

“They did a really good job in the moment,” Skenes said after his club’s 11-7 loss. “I don’t know, maybe a little frustrating, but I just got to execute. But they did a good job.”

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It wasn’t all on Skenes. Center fielder Oneil Cruz misread a Brett Baty line drive, breaking in before it carried over his head. Three runs scored on a bases-clearing triple. Then, on the very next play, Cruz lost a Marcus Semien fly ball in the sun, making it a 5-2 game.

Even so, Skenes didn’t have his best stuff. He lacked command of his seven-pitch mix, walking two and hitting a batter in the nine plate appearances he made it through. He had little feel for his breaking pitches. When he got ahead, he couldn’t put hitters away. The Mets, one of the best lineups in baseball, wouldn’t give in. Wouldn’t chase his mistakes. Seven of the first eight batters reached base.

After 37 pitches in the inning, in the unseasonable warmth of Flushing, manager Don Kelly made the call to remove his ace.

“Paul is a competitor,” Kelly said after the game. “He wants to stay out there and pitch. It’s a really tough thing going to get him in the first inning right there. But at the bottom of it is Paul’s health. When you get up close to 40 pitches in an inning, you’re into dangerous territory with a starting pitcher.”

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The physical danger is one thing. The box score is another: when Skenes isn’t stellar, the Pirates don’t have a chance. Often, even when he is stellar, they still find ways to spoil his starts with a lack of run support.

For all the supposed growth of the Pirates, adding Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn as veterans to the mix, too much of the belief still runs through Skenes. He’s not just their anchor. Not just their stability. He’s their credibility. Their relevance. He’s the reason the most optimistic people in Pittsburgh — and inside that clubhouse — can cling to the idea that this team has a path to the playoffs.

“Paul means a ton to Pittsburgh,” added Kelly. “I mean, he embodies it every single day that he shows up. We talked about a lot too. It’s the days in between his starts that really separate him and make him great. And he lives it out every single day.”

Yet baseball has a way of making even the giants look human, like it did Thursday. 

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You felt it when Kelly walked to the mound. You felt it when the collective gasp from the Citi Field crowd cut through the moment, louder than some of the cheers. Because this wasn’t supposed to happen. As much as Mets fans came to see their team, there was something else, too. They came to see the best in the world.

He was supposed to last longer than this. Instead, it unraveled.

“It’s nice to get it out the way,” Skenes said with a smirk.

This is the burden that comes with greatness. He has lived up to every bit of the hype. The learning curve that usually comes with the big leagues never touched him.

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“He’s can’t-miss TV,” said teammate and fellow starter Mitch Keller. “I want to be locked in for everything. He’s so special. You just never know when you’re watching this type of talent. You’re locked in and always watching.”

Thursday offered nothing to lock in on.

Inside the clubhouse, Skenes draped himself in a blue towel. The outing was over. There’s no reason to dwell. Not when you’ve established yourself as the most prominent starter in baseball. Not when it’s only your first start of the season.

“Just got to look at it, kind of pitch by pitch,” he said. “I’ll rewatch it at some point, but I’m not as upset about this, for me personally, as people would probably think.”

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You can question the Pirates.

But you can’t question Skenes. 

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Hardik Pandya wins hearts with promise kept, rewards Wankhede groundstaff | Cricket News

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Hardik Pandya wins hearts with promise kept, rewards Wankhede groundstaff
Hardik Pandya with MCA groundsmen

NEW DELHI: Team India all-rounder and Mumbai Indians Hardik Pandya once again showed that his impact goes beyond cricket, winning hearts with a thoughtful gesture off the field. During his preparation for the T20 World Cup, Pandya spent long nights training at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, often practising till almost midnight. During that phase, he had made a promise to the groundstaff who supported him tirelessly that he would reward them when he returned.

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IPL 2026: Ishan Kishan steals the show at captains meet

Pandya has now kept that promise. The Indian all-rounder on Thursday rewarded the MCA groundstaff at Wankhede, acknowledging their role in helping him train under demanding conditions. His gesture stood out as a reminder of the often-unseen contributions of groundstaff in a cricketer’s journey. By fulfilling his word, Pandya not only showed gratitude but also reinforced his image as someone who values people behind the scenes.This moment comes after a successful period in Pandya’s career, having played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup triumphs. Now a two-time champion, he continues to aim higher. Speaking about his personal life and motivation after the recent T20 World Cup win, the Mumbai Indians captain said, “Jab se Mahieka aayi hai, life mein bas jeet hi jeet hai. (Since Mahieka came into my life, it’s been nothing but wins)”Pandya also made it clear that he is far from done in international cricket. “I have 10 more years left in me, and I want to win 10 more ICC titles. That’s my goal,” he said, highlighting his ambition for the future.From dominating on the field to keeping promises off it, Pandya’s journey reflects both determination and humility. His recent gesture at Wankhede shows that even small acts of appreciation can leave a lasting impact.

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