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StarCraft II semifinal lineup takes shape at Esports World Cup

StarCraft II semifinal lineup takes shape at Esports World Cup
StarCraft II, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and EA Sports FC 24 took center-stage at Esports World Cup on Friday in Riyadh (Supplied)
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Updated 17 August 2024
Arab News
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StarCraft II semifinal lineup takes shape at Esports World Cup

StarCraft II semifinal lineup takes shape at Esports World Cup
  • Teams and players competed in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and EA Sports FC 24 in Riyadh on Friday
Updated 17 August 2024
Arab News
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RIYADH: Saturday is set for more elimination action at the Esports World Cup as players and teams move closer to the grand finals across three tournaments on Sunday.

On Friday at Boulevard Riyadh City, the first StarCraft II semifinalists were confirmed. After a series of winning performances since the 16-player competition progressed to the last four, Talon Esports’ “Dark” and Team Liquid’s “Clem” are just two wins away from claiming the $400,000 first prize. The quest continues on Sunday in the best-of-five semifinals, with their opponents still to be determined.

Another tournament edging closer to its conclusion is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. Audiences at the SEF Arena on Friday saw OpTic Gaming, Vancouver Surge, Toronto Ultra and Atlanta FaZe win their respective groups to reach the quarter-finals, where the second-best teams from Groups A-D await.

Elsewhere on Friday, the other tournament that attracted the most attention was EA Sports FC 24. Luna Galaxy’s “jafonso” and Cloud9’s “nicolas99fc” progressed to the next stage as winners of Groups A and B respectively — solidifying themselves among the favorites to win the 16-player, $1 million competition.

Topics: Esports World Cup

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Argentina goalkeeper Martinez under fire for hitting TV cameraman after loss to Colombia

Argentina goalkeeper Martinez under fire for hitting TV cameraman after loss to Colombia
Updated 46 sec ago
AP
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Argentina goalkeeper Martinez under fire for hitting TV cameraman after loss to Colombia

Argentina goalkeeper Martinez under fire for hitting TV cameraman after loss to Colombia
  • Jackson: Out of the blue he slapped me. I felt angry, very angry. I was working, just like he was
  • Footballers have been suspended from games in similar situations, and that is what Colombia’s association of sports journalists — known as ACORD — wants FIFA to do
  • Martinez and South American soccer body CONMEBOL did not make comments
Updated 46 sec ago
AP

BOGOTA, Colombia: A TV cameraman said Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez “slapped me” after Colombia’s 2-1 win in a World Cup qualifying match.

Jhonny Jackson told Colombian media he approached Martinez after the final whistle in Barranquilla on Tuesday as the goalkeeper greeted another player. Footage he captured shows the World Cup winner who Argentines know as Dibu hitting the camera, which quickly shakes to the ground after the impact.

“Out of the blue he slapped me,” Jackson told RCN Deportes on Wednesday. “I felt angry, very angry. I was working, just like he was. He was playing and I was shooting with my camera.”

He also sent a message to Martinez: “Dibu, my brother, how are you? I am Jhonny Jackson, the cameraman you assaulted in the match against Colombia. I wanted to tell you it is all good, my brother. Everyone has lost a match in their life. This defeat clearly meant a lot to you. But look ahead, Dibu.”

Jackson works for a company that delivers footage to channels Caracol Television and RCN Deportes.

Footballers have been suspended from games in similar situations, and that is what Colombia’s association of sports journalists — known as ACORD — wants FIFA to do. Its president Faiver Hoyos Hernandez said in a statement that Martinez attacked freedom of expression.

“As the journalistic authority in this country, ACORD wants FIFA to produce an exemplary sanction against Mr. Emiliano Dibu Martinez, who is no role model for new generations,” the statement said.

Martinez and South American soccer body CONMEBOL did not make comments.

Argentina lead the South American World Cup qualifying with 18 points after eight matches, two points ahead of Colombia. All teams have two more qualifying matches next month. The top six teams will get automatic spots at the 2026 World Cup.

Topics: Argentina Emiliano Martinez

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England’s new white-ball era off to shaky start in loss to Australia in first T20 cricket match

England’s new white-ball era off to shaky start in loss to Australia in first T20 cricket match
Updated 12 September 2024
AP
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England’s new white-ball era off to shaky start in loss to Australia in first T20 cricket match

England’s new white-ball era off to shaky start in loss to Australia in first T20 cricket match
Updated 12 September 2024
AP

SOUTHAMPTON, England: A new era for England’s white-ball teams got off to a shaky start with a 28-run loss to Australia on Wednesday in the first of three T20 matches between the fierce cricket rivals.
Australia was put into bat and dismissed for 179 with three balls remaining — an under-par score at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton given the team smashed 86 off the powerplay and was 118-2 after 10 overs. Travis Head hit a 19-ball fifty in his knock of 59 to get the Australians off to a rapid start.
England, with a batting lineup missing injured captain Jos Buttler and including uncapped Jordan Cox and Jacob Bethell, stumbled to 52-4. After Liam Livingstone (37) and Sam Curran (18) threatened a fightback with a 54-run partnership for the fifth wicket, England lost three wickets in 10 balls to plunge to 113-7 and was eventually all out for 151 with four balls left.
The other matches in the T20 series are in Cardiff on Friday and Manchester on Sunday. Then comes a five-match ODI series between the teams, where Buttler — England’s white-ball talisman — may return from his right calf injury that will cause him to miss the T20s.
With the 30-year-old Jamie Overton also selected for the first time, England’s lineup included three uncapped players as well as a stand-in captain in Phil Salt. Australia’s more-established team had too much for the hosts, with the 86-run opening partnership between Matthew Short (41 off 26 balls) and Head building an excellent platform.
Head crashed 30 runs off the first over bowled by Curran, who quickly disappeared from England attack.
It took the arrival of spinners Adil Rashid and Livingstone to slow the run-rate, and Australia started to quickly lose wickets — with the last eight departing for 61.
In the chase, the 23-year-old Cox was out for an unconvincing 17 off 12 balls and the 20-year-old Bethell managed only 2. Overton was also in the top seven of an inexperienced and fragile batting lineup, and made 15.
Australia’s fielding was brilliant, with Tim David’s catch — on the dive after turning round and running into the leg side — to remove Cox particularly standing out.

Topics: T20 England Australia

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez gets 6-month driving ban

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez gets 6-month driving ban
Updated 11 September 2024
AP
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Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez gets 6-month driving ban

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez gets 6-month driving ban
  • The 23-year-old Fernandez did not appear in court for sentencing on Wednesday
Updated 11 September 2024
AP

CARDIFF: Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has been banned from driving for six months because of motoring offenses in Wales.
The 23-year-old Fernandez did not appear in court for sentencing on Wednesday. He had been found guilty earlier this year on two charges of failing to identify the driver of a Porsche Cayenne.
A driver of the car allegedly ran a red light in the town of Llanelli in November and was caught speeding in Swansea last December.
It was not proven that Fernandez was the driver of the vehicle.
Fernandez, who played for Argentina in Colombia on Tuesday, was the vehicle’s registered owner but did not respond to police requests for information.
He also was ordered to pay 3,020 pounds ($4,000) in fines and costs.

Topics: Chelsea Enzo Fernandez driving ban court Wales

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Manchester United vow to improve on and off pitch after fifth year of losses

Manchester United vow to improve on and off pitch after fifth year of losses
Updated 11 September 2024
AP
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Manchester United vow to improve on and off pitch after fifth year of losses

Manchester United vow to improve on and off pitch after fifth year of losses
  • United have embarked on a slew of changes since British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe bought a 25 percent stake in the club
  • Newly appointed CEO Omar Berrada said: “Our clear objective is to return the club to the top of European football“
Updated 11 September 2024
AP

LONDON: Manchester United’s new chief said on Wednesday the club were working toward improving performance on and off the pitch after a fifth consecutive year of net losses following a poor 2023-24 season and heavy investments in the new squad.
The English Premier League soccer club’s shares slipped 8 percent in early US trading as net losses widened to more than 113 million pounds ($147 million) in the year to June, making it only the second time since its New York listing in 2012 that losses topped 100 million pounds.
United have embarked on a slew of changes since British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe bought a 25 percent stake in the club and under his stewardship had a busy summer in the transfer market, securing several promising young players.
“We are working toward greater financial sustainability and making changes to our operations to make them more efficient, to ensure we are directing our resources to enhancing on-pitch performance,” newly appointed CEO Omar Berrada said.
“Our clear objective is to return the club to the top of European football.”
The Premier League has clamped down on big spending by clubs with its Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) to try to level the playing field and prevent rich owners from spending vast sums on players.
To comply with PSR, clubs must rack up no more than 105 million pounds of losses over a three-year period, although investments in infrastructure, academies, charity foundation and women’s soccer can be deducted.
United have recorded losses of more than 257 million pounds in the past three years, and more than 370 million pounds over five years. The club said they were committed to and compliant with the PSR, as well as European governing body UEFA’s Financial Fair Play Regulations.
United finished eighth in the Premier League last season, their lowest position since the league’s inception in 1992. This season has not started any better, with two losses from the first three games.
For fiscal 2025, the club expect an adjusted core profit of 145-160 million pounds and revenues of 650-670 million pounds. They reported adjusted core profit of 147.7 million pounds on record revenues of 661.8 million pounds in fiscal 2024.
The forecast reflects the impact of recent restructuring that included 250 job cuts.

Topics: Manchester United English Premier League (EPL) Jim Ratcliffe

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Dutch striker Memphis Depay arrives in Sao Paulo to join Corinthians

Dutch striker Memphis Depay arrives in Sao Paulo to join Corinthians
Updated 11 September 2024
AP
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Dutch striker Memphis Depay arrives in Sao Paulo to join Corinthians

Dutch striker Memphis Depay arrives in Sao Paulo to join Corinthians
  • The 30-year-old Depay, who left Spanish team Atletico Madrid on a free transfer, is expected to be introduced to fans later Wednesday
Updated 11 September 2024
AP

SAO PAULO: Dutch striker Memphis Depay arrived early Wednesday at Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos international airport after signing a two-year deal with Brazilian soccer club Corinthians.
The 30-year-old Depay, who left Spanish team Atletico Madrid on a free transfer, is expected to be introduced to fans later at the Neo Quimica Arena before Corinthians play in the second leg of its Brazilian Cup quarterfinal tie against Juventude. The Sao Paulo-based team, which has more than 35 million supporters, lost the first leg 2-1.
Depay is scheduled to give a press conference at the same stadium on Thursday morning.
Depay left Rotterdam on Tuesday afternoon in a Gulfstream G550 jet. The striker published a picture of the plane on his social media channels with the message: “Going home.”
The former PSV Eindhoven star played for the Netherlands at the European Championship.
Other European players who had spells at Brazilian clubs include Clarence Seedorf at Botafogo; Serbian Dejan Petkovic, who played for multiple clubs and remains a hero for Flamengo fans; and Frenchman Dimitri Payet, currently at Vasco da Gama.
Depay, who undertook his medical tests in the Netherlands earlier this week, had spells at Manchester United, Lyon and Barcelona before joining Atletico Madrid.
Corinthians is fighting to avoid relegation in the Brazilian league, with 13 rounds remaining. It is in the quarterfinals of the Brazilian Cup and the Copa Sudamericana, South America’s second most prestigious club tournament.

Topics: Memphis Depay football

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