Latest news with #Matchroom
Arab News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Arab News
Defending titleholder Fedor Gorst strikes on first day of World Pool Championship
JEDDAH: Defending titleholder Fedor Gorst won his first game on the opening day of the World Pool Championship here by defeating American Sam Henderson 9-3. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The championship opened with a vibrant and colorful ceremony on Monday night. Nayef Aljawini, president of the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation, delivered a speech at the event. Deputy Minister of Sports Khalid Al-Muawad, and Emily Frazer, CEO of Matchroom, were also present. In other matches, Jayson Shaw from Scotland barely broke a sweat against his Saudi Arabia opponent Khalid Al-Otaibi. In a major shock, Vietnam's Luong Duc Thien defeated one of the world's best, America's Shane van Boening, 9-8 after a long and thrilling match. Meanwhile, two-time junior European Pool Championship winner Wojciech Szewczyk from Poland began his tournament with a 9-7 win over Taipei's Fu Che Wei. The competition has a double elimination format, where players must win two matches in race-to-nine racks to progress. From there, the final 64 enter a single elimination phase of race-to-11 racks, culminating in Saturday's final, a race-to-15 showdown. In addition, the Saudi Junior Championship begins on Tuesday with 16 players, including eight representing the Kingdom. The Saudi Arabia players are Abdulaziz Al-Aswad, Ibrahim Al-Aswad, Ibrahim Khazindar, Youssef Bukhari, Abdullah Al-Qabbani, Ziad Al-Qabbani, Hassan Al-Saleh, and Basil Hamida. Running until July 26 at the Green Hall venue, the tournament features a record-breaking $1 million prize pool. The contestants include 128 elite players from more than 40 countries, including powerhouses from the US, Taiwan, Germany, Philippines, UK, and host nation Saudi Arabia.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Sport
- Arab News
Jeddah set to host $1m World Pool Championship as global stars descend on Saudi Arabia
JEDDAH: The 2025 World Pool Championship, the most lucrative tournament in nine-ball history, is set to break new ground in Jeddah on Monday, marking the return of the sport's flagship event to Saudi Arabia for the second consecutive year. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Being held from July 21 to 26 at the Green Hall venue, the tournament features a record-breaking $1 million prize pool and brings together 128 elite players from more than 40 countries, including powerhouses such as the US, Taiwan, Germany, the Philippines, the UK, and host nation Saudi Arabia. Organized in partnership with the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation (SBSF), the Saudi Ministry of Sport and the World Nineball Tour, the event highlights the Kingdom's growing stature in the global sporting calendar. A press conference on Sunday officially launched the tournament, with top players and organizers expressing excitement and anticipation ahead of the opening matches. Emily Frazer, CEO of Matchroom, unveiled the tournament's striking new trophy and hailed Saudi Arabia's growing role in cue sports. 'It is really an honor to be here in Saudi Arabia for the second year in a row,' she said. 'We are all super excited to get this tournament rolling tomorrow with the participation of the world's finest players,' she added. Nayef Aljawini, President of the SBSF, spoke of the tournament's wider significance for sports development in the Kingdom. 'Today, we are witnessing a comprehensive renaissance in billiards and snooker, as is happening in all other sports within the Kingdom,' he said. 'The great support from the Ministry of Sports reflects our deep belief in the capabilities of our youth, and these hosting events are only the beginning of a promising future for this game and other sports. 'We look forward to warmly welcoming the very best snooker and pool players in the world to the Kingdom and taking their sports into the heart of our communities, while also giving emerging young Saudi players the chance to compete at this level for the second time at home,' he added. Among the leading names in attendance was Fedor Gorst, the reigning world champion and current world number one. 'I am back in Jeddah to defend my title and I'm very much looking forward to competing amidst the best in the world,' he said. Filipino star Johann Chua, winner of the Hanoi Open, said he would approach the event with positivity and calm. 'I'm really excited about it and I don't think about the pressure at all. I'm looking forward to it and will just try and enjoy as much of it as possible.' American legend Shane Van Boening, one of the sport's most successful players, was equally confident. 'Yes, I am ready and looking forward to compete with other players and hope to win it this year,' he said. Representing the host nation, Saudi rising star Khalid Al-Ghamdi expressed pride in taking part. 'We are really so excited to be part of the tournament which gathers the best in the world and we all hope to raise our level and reach good positions. Simply, we are all looking forward to be there among the best,' he said. The competition will begin with a double elimination format, where players must win two matches in race-to-nine racks to progress. From there, the final 64 enter a single elimination phase of race-to-11 racks, culminating in Saturday's final, a race-to-15 showdown. Fans around the world will be able to follow the action live. Sky Sports will provide daily coverage from 7pm local time, while DAZN (USA, Spain), Vietcontent (Vietnam) and TAP (Philippines) are among several international broadcasters carrying the event.
Irish Daily Mirror
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Katie Taylor retirement latest as Eddie Hearn makes admission
Eddie Hearn says he 'would be very happy' if Katie Taylor decided to retire from boxing this week. The 39-year-old produced a brilliant performance to beat Amanda Serrano for a third time over the weekend and now has a decision to make on her future. Hearn, who has been Taylor's promoter for all 26 of her professional fights, is unsure what the undisputed super-lightweight champion will ultimately decide to do. But he admits she might have fought for the last time, with her majority-decision win at Madison Square Garden following two other victories over Serrano at the same venue in 2022 and in Texas last November. "It's the first time I've ever heard her say 'I'll see if I fight again'. I think at the moment, I honestly couldn't tell you with any confidence if she'll fight again," Hearn told the Irish Mirror. "But it was one of her best ever performances and it's very difficult to finish when you feel like 'I boxed really well'. "Her legs looked better than ever, her sharpness was better than ever so I honestly don't know. "If she turns around this week and says 'I'm done', I'd be very happy." On Taylor's performance, the Matchroom boss added: "We've never really experienced that sort of performance before or we haven't for many, many years. It was just phenomenal." Hearn was speaking after watching Andy Lee's newest fighter make a massive statement at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Flushing Meadows, Queens on Saturday. Hamzah Sheeraz knocked out Edgar Berlanga in the fifth round of their super-middleweight main event on the Turki Al-Sheikh-backed Ring Magazine card, having also knocked him down twice in the fourth. The Saudi promoter suggested after the bout that Sheeraz, having his first fight under Lee, could face Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez next year if the Mexican beats Terence Crawford in September. "It's just an unbelievable, unforgettable night," a very proud Lee said afterwards. "It's something that will last forever. That's the thing about boxing, when you have a great night like that it lasts forever." The Limerick man and former WBO world middleweight champion also paid tribute to Taylor following her MSG heroics. "Her legend grows and grows and grows," Lee added. "She was a legend years ago. You can't say anything but good things about her. "What a performance. She made it look easy. It was probably her best performance in years. She just breezed it."
The Irish Sun
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Kellie Harrington reveals terrifying health scare that left beloved dog ‘paralysed from the back down' in emotional post
KELLIE HARRINGTON revealed her dog had to have surgery after being "paralysed from the back down." The Advertisement 2 Kellie Harrington revealed her dog's health scare on instagram She said: "Biggest shock this week. "Gus became paralysed from his back down on Tuesday, thankfully we got him into UCD quickly and they done surgery and now he is on the road to recovery." The Dubliner praised the work of those who helped her pooch so quickly. She added: "Long recovery road ahead but just so thankful to the brilliant Cristina in UCD who acted so quickly for us that we got him home today and he is on the mend." Advertisement Read More on Kellie Harrington Harrington retired from boxing after the 2024 Olympics at which she retained her lightweight gold medal. However, she recently got fans talking with a cryptic post on social media that She shared a photo from She was snapped with James Doyle of Monkstown BC and Lynne McEnery of St Paul's BC in Advertisement Most read in Boxing All three were bound for Harrington tagged Matchroom supremo Hearn and cheekily added a boxing glove emoji and a contract icon - all of which hinted at a stunning return could be on the cards. RTE DWTS viewers left 'crying' as Jack Woolley dedicates 'breathtaking' dance to Olympian Kellie Harrington Her long-time friend and coach Lynne re-shared the photo to her own Instagram. Advertisement She simply penned: 'Exciting times.' Before She explained: 'There is a lot more to life than sport. I'm slowly getting to realise that again.' But the Dubliner also left the door open to a shock return to the ring. Advertisement She added: 'If I don't like life without boxing, I can always get back to coaching – or boxing.' Her words from that interview - and the social media post had fans very excited about a potential return. 2 An emotional Kellie Harrington of Team Ireland with her gold medal at the 2024 Olympics Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Irish Daily Mirror
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Katie Taylor hailed as 'Ireland's greatest sportsperson' after Serrano win
Katie Taylor cemented her place as the greatest ever female boxer and arguably Ireland's best sportsperson of all-time by beating Amanda Serrano for a third time at the Mecca of Boxing. On a night when herself and Serrano made more history inside Madison Square Garden, Taylor produced a performance for the ages on the biggest stage. Streamed around the world on Netflix, the all-women's event broke the Guinness World Record for the number of world titles on the line on a single card, male or female, with 17 contested over the course of the evening. A sold-out crowd of 19,721 packed into the iconic New York venue, with the gate and viewership set to smash records when the figures are released. "It just means the world. Honestly, I can't believe that this is my life," a delighted Taylor said after beating Serrano by majority decision."I'm headlining a show in Madison Square Garden, all-female card. Looking back on the whole journey, what an amazing life."These are nights that I dreamed of as a kid and to be sitting here again as a winner, I'm so happy, so grateful." Taylor successfully defended her super-lightweight world titles against her great rival, with two of the judges scoring the bout 97-93 to the Irish fighter. The other had it a 95-95 draw. It was a dominant display from the 2012 Olympic champion, who kept Serrano at distance throughout the ten-round contest, carefully choosing her punches as the Puerto Rican failed to land much of her own. Many expected Taylor to call time on her career after the trilogy fight, but she admitted she still wants that Croke Park bout. When asked if she could ease her fans' minds by telling them she would fight in Ireland one last time, she responded by saying: "Maybe in Croke Park. That would be unbelievable." Unfortunately, the chances of a Croke Park fight realistically taking place are slim at best. Taylor's promoters Matchroom have explored the idea a number of times in recent years, but the cost of renting the stadium and the security costs that go with it have been massive stumbling blocks. Without some sort of financial help from the government, it seems very unlikely that an event at GAA Headquarters will take place. And the magnitude of the New York event would be very difficult to follow up, with Taylor saying she will make a decision on her future 'very soon'. "Absolutely unbelievable to be part of a show like this and to be headlining an all-female card. It was an absolute privilege," stated Taylor. "These are the sort of opportunities that people didn't think were even possible a few years ago."Just seeing the atmosphere, seeing the amount of people that came out to support an event like this. The atmosphere was absolutely electric again tonight. "I didn't think it could get even any louder than the first time we were here, but it was an unbelievable atmosphere, amazing event and I'm very, very proud to be headlining such an important event for women's sport." The win took the Bray native's record to 3-0 against Serrano following victories over her at MSG in 2022 and in Texas last November. "'I'm just so grateful for Amanda Serrano. What an amazing champion and we created history together three times," Taylor said of the Puerto Rican. "My name will always be embedded with hers forever. I'm very, very happy about that. What we've been able to create over these last few years has been unbelievable. "It's amazing to have a rival like that in the sport and this has brought an event like this tonight, like an all-female card because of what myself and Amanda have been able to do, to produce over the last few years so I think both myself and Amanda are just sitting back very, very proud right now." Serrano also paid tribute to Taylor, posting on X: "So blessed to have shared the ring with such an amazing fighter Katie Taylor. To be considered the greatest you have to act like one. She does that both in & out the ring. Thank you truly." Promoter Eddie Hearn believes the win cements Taylor's legacy as the greatest female fighter of all-time - and he can see her continuing to fight. "I feel like Katie could do another 20 or 30 rounds. She'll decide if she's going to fight again. For me, I think she's got at least 11 or 12 left, to be honest with you," he joked. The victory saw Mike Tyson win a $1million bet with Serrano's manager Jake Paul, which the YouTuber-turned-boxer offered him ahead of the fight. "Congrats to Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano on the trilogy fight on Netflix. Jake Paul see you at dinner to collect my million," the heavyweight great wrote on social media. The second instalment of Taylor v Serrano came on the Tyson v Paul card last year. Fellow Irish boxer Michael Conlan paid tribute to his former Olympic teammate, writing: "The greatest Irish athlete of our time. Congrats champ." Many had Taylor clearly winning the fight, but Netflix's unofficial scoring had it as a 95-95 draw, which angered plenty of viewers. "True champion without a doubt regardless of the totally biased production and narrative," former Ireland footballer Kevin Kilbane said afterwards. "Katie Taylor is our greatest sportsperson."
