Magnus Carlsen clinched his seventh Norway Chess title after D Gukesh’s loss to Fabiano Caruana in the final round. Carlsen secured the championship with 16 points, closely followed by Caruana and Gukesh. In the women’s section, Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine emerged victorious, despite losing the Armageddon tie-break, while Koneru Humpy finished as the runner-up.
Following his semi-final defeat by Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros, Novak Djokovic hinted at a possible farewell to the Parisian crowd. The 38-year-old, a three-time champion, expressed gratitude for the support he received, stating it might be his last match there.
KL Rahul, known for his adaptability and resilience, faces a significant opportunity in the upcoming England series. With senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma absent, Rahul emerges as the most experienced Indian batter on English soil. His childhood coach emphasises his mental fortitude and technical foundation built on red-ball cricket, expecting a matured performance.
Jannik Sinner defeated Novak Djokovic in a thrilling French Open semi-final, setting up a Grand Slam final clash with Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner’s victory, 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), denied Djokovic a record 25th Grand Slam title. Alcaraz advanced after Lorenzo Musetti retired due to injury.
India A reached 316/7 against England Lions on Day 1 of the second unofficial Test after a shaky start. Chris Woakes’ early strikes left India A at 40/2, but KL Rahul’s fluent 116 and Karun Nair’s 40 steadied the innings. Dhruv Jurel (52) and Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed, though wickets fell regularly.
Ange Postecoglou’s tenure as Tottenham manager ended abruptly despite securing the Europa League title, ending a 17-year trophy drought. The victory over Manchester United in Bilbao marked Tottenham’s first European prize in 41 years and secured a Champions League spot. However, a dismal domestic season, with 22 Premier League losses and a 17th-place finish, led to his dismissal.
India A faced early setbacks in the second unofficial Test against England Lions as their top-order faltered, with skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran’s poor form continuing. Chris Woakes’s early breakthroughs put India A under pressure, but KL Rahul’s century and Dhruv Jurel’s contribution helped them recover. Easwaran’s failure at No. 3 has raised concerns about his international readiness.
KL Rahul showcased his batting prowess on Day 1 of the 2nd Unofficial Test against England Lions, scoring a century off 151 balls at the County Ground in Northampton. The experienced right-hander’s innings included 13 boundaries and a six. With 58 Test appearances for India, Rahul is a key player in English conditions, having previously scored two centuries in England.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke speculates that Virat Kohli might reconsider his Test retirement if India faces a significant defeat in the upcoming England series. Clarke believes that strong fan and team management support could entice Kohli, who deeply values Test cricket, to return. He also noted Rohit Sharma’s Test retirement, highlighting the tactical loss for the team.
Reigning World Champion Gukesh is challenging World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen at the Norway Chess tournament. Carlsen, with 15 points, is closely trailed by Gukesh at 14.5. Following a loss to Gukesh, a frustrated Carlsen expressed his disillusionment with classical chess, even hinting at quitting. Despite a win against Caruana, Carlsen admits the tournament’s enjoyment diminished after the Gukesh game.