Sports Archives - Page 15 of 15

Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi Lead the Pack as Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Enters Knockout Stage

The preliminary phase of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, hosted in Paris, concluded on Tuesday after an intense eleven-round competition. Twelve world-class players battled it out for eight coveted spots in the knockout phase, with several dramatic turns shaping the leaderboard. Ian Nepomniachtchi and Magnus Carlsen emerged as joint leaders, each finishing with 8.5 points. However, Nepomniachtchi was declared the top finisher due to superior tiebreak scores. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave claimed the third spot with a strong performance, collecting a total of 7 points. Arjun Erigaisi and Nodirbek Abdusattorov also advanced to the knockouts, securing 6.5 points each. Hikaru Nakamura, a fan favorite, qualified with 6 points after a critical draw against Abdusattorov, where he demonstrated resilient endgame defense under severe time pressure. German prodigy Vincent Keymer clinched a place in the top eight with a clutch victory over Fabiano Caruana in the final round, bringing his total to 5.5 points. Despite his defeat to Keymer, Caruana managed to secure a spot in the knockout phase with 4.5 points, largely thanks to Nakamura’s final-round win over Richard Rapport. One of the most surprising developments was the elimination of reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju. The 18-year-old struggled throughout the final day, finishing with just 1.5 points. His hopes were dashed early in the eleventh round after a critical blunder against Nepomniachtchi, which left him on the back foot from the seventh move. Several other prominent players also bowed out, including Praggnanandhaa, Richard Rapport, and Vidit Gujrathi. Gujrathi, who recently got married, delivered a memorable tactical victory over Caruana, featuring a brilliant mating combination, but his earlier losses hindered his overall standing. Rapport, known for his creative flair, showcased a remarkable queen sacrifice for mate, yet fell short of qualification. As the knockout stage approaches, anticipation builds around whether Hikaru Nakamura can carry his momentum forward and potentially claim the title amidst fierce competition.

IPL 2025: Emotional Hardik Pandya Consoles by Brother Krunal After MI’s Narrow Loss to RCB

New Delhi: It was another heartbreaking outing for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2025, as they faced their fourth defeat in five matches. The latest loss came against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Wankhede Stadium, where RCB secured a rare and historic win — their first at the venue in 10 years. MI skipper Hardik Pandya was visibly emotional after the 12-run defeat, which saw his team slip to the eighth position on the points table. In a heartwarming moment, his elder brother and RCB all-rounder Krunal Pandya was seen comforting him after the match. The brothers shared a long embrace before the post-match presentation and were later spotted having a candid conversation on the field. “We knew only one Pandya would win. But the love and affection we share is very natural,” Krunal said in the post-match interaction. “He batted well, and we both wanted to win. I feel for him.” Adding to the drama of the match, Krunal was the one who sealed the game for RCB, defending 19 runs in the final over. He dismissed Mitchell Santner and Deepak Chahar with the first two deliveries and kept the pressure on with a disciplined line and length throughout the over. Hardik, who initially smiled during the over, appeared stunned as the tide turned in RCB’s favor. Reflecting on the loss, Hardik said, “We fell short by two hits. Don’t know what to say — it came down to execution.” Both Pandya brothers played stellar roles in the match. Hardik smashed a quickfire 42 off 15 balls and took two wickets, while Krunal dismantled MI’s chase with a four-wicket haul and a match-winning final over. With this being MI’s second straight defeat by a 12-run margin, the team will be eager to bounce back in their upcoming matches and regain momentum in the tournament. 4o

Mohammed Siraj and Mahira Sharma Deny Dating Rumors

Speculation surrounding a romantic relationship between Indian cricketer Mohammed Siraj and actress Mahira Sharma has finally been addressed by both celebrities. On Friday, Mahira took to her Instagram stories to put an end to the rumors. She wrote, “Stop spreading rumours, I’m not dating anyone.” Her statement came amidst growing chatter about her alleged relationship with Siraj. Shortly before Mahira’s post, Siraj had also denied the rumors through his Instagram account. His statement read, “I request paparazzi to stop asking questions around me. It is completely untrue and baseless. I hope this ends.” However, the cricketer later deleted his post, further fueling speculation. The rumors gained momentum after Mahira attended an event in Mumbai on March 20, where paparazzi playfully questioned her about her IPL team preference. In a viral video, photographers could be heard asking, “Kal se IPL start ho raha hai. Mahira ji kiske side ho aap? Kaunse team ko support kar rahe ho? Aapke favourite team?” (From tomorrow, IPL is starting. Whose side are you on? Which team are you supporting? Which is your favorite team?). Reports of their alleged romance had been circulating for months. ETimes previously claimed that the duo was “romantically involved,” citing sources who suggested that Siraj and Mahira had been quietly getting to know each other over recent months. The dating speculation initially started when fans noticed Siraj liking one of Mahira’s Instagram posts. This was followed by both of them following each other on social media, leading to widespread fan theories about a possible relationship. However, with both Siraj and Mahira now categorically denying the rumors, it seems the speculation may finally be put to rest.