Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa made a great start in the Norway Chess Tournament here on Tuesday, defeating Firouzja Alireza of France in the Armageddon match in the first round.

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After an easy draw in normal time control, R Praggnanadhaa got 10 minutes playing with white pieces while Alireza got seven but the condition was that they had to win because in case of a draw, the player playing with black pieces would get extra points. After this, Praggnanandhaa performed brilliantly and registered victory. 

In the men's and women's categories, all the matches were tied under classical time control and six Armageddon matches had to be played for the results.

World number one player Magnus Carlsen, after playing a draw with defending world champion Ding Liren in the classical game in 14 moves, maintained his upper hand by drawing the Armageddon game in 68 moves.

Hikaru Nakamura defeated compatriot American Fabiano Caruana in the Armageddon match.

After the first round, Praggnanandhaa, Carlsen and Nakamura are jointly leading with 1.5 points while Alireza, Liren and Caruana are half a point behind them.

Under Classical Time Control, each bet won gets three points, whereas in Armageddon bet, the winner gets 1.5 points and the loser gets one point.

In the women's category too, all three games of classical time control between six players were drawn. Koneru Humpy, playing with black pieces in the Armageddon game, scored one and a half points by holding Pia Cramling of Sweden to a draw.

R Vaishali, however, could only score one point against women's world champion Wenjun Ju, while China's TIngjie Lei defeated Ukraine's Anna Muzychuk in the Armageddon match.

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Results Round 1

Men: 

R Praggnanandhaa (Ind, 1.5) beat Firouzja Alireza (Fra) 1.5-1; Ding Liren (Chn, 1) lost to Magnus Carlsen (1.5) 1-1.5; Fabiano Caruana (Usa, 1) lost to Hikaru Nakamura (Usa, 1.5) 1-1.5. 

Women: 

Pia Cramling (Swe, 1) lost to Koneru Humpy (Ind, 1.5) 1-1.5; Wenjun Ju (Chn, 1.5) beat R Vaishali (Ind, 1) 1.5-1; Anna Muzychuk (Ukr, 1) lost to Tingjie Lei (Chn, 1.5) 1-1.5.

In the second Test being played between India and Australia, the Indian captain Rohit Sharma was out after scoring just 3 runs off 23 balls in the first innings. He was dismissed by Scott Boland in the first inning, which raised the question on his test form again.

In the last 11 Test innings, Rohit has not been able to score any big runs. Rohit was unavailable for the first test and joined the team for the second test after the birth of his new born son. However, he was not back at his favourite position as KL Rahul's good show at the top of the order made him come down to middle order for the pink ball test.

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To evaluate Hitman’s performance, it’s important to examine Rohit Sharma's scores in the last 10 Test innings and analyze what the statistics reveal.

Rohit Sharma's scores | Last 10 Matches

In the last 11 innings, Rohit Sharma's scores have been 6, 5, 23, 8, 2, 52, 0, 8,18, 11, and 3. During this period his average has been only 12.36. He scored his last Test century (103) against England in March 2024 in the fifth Test of the home series. 

37-year-old batter has played 12 tests in the year 2024 and only scored 91 runs in 22 innings at an average of 28.14 with 2 centuries and 2 half-centuries to his name. Rohit needs to improve his performance to prove that he still has cricket left in him and can be an asset in the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2025.

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Rohit Sharma's Test Career

Rohit played his first test match in 2013 against the West Indies. He has played 65 matches for India so far and scored 4,273 runs in 112 innings at an average of 41.89.

He has scored 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries with his bat in the longest format. His best score has been 212and he has scored the most runs (1,1147) in his Test career against England.

This fixture holds so much history in the League fondly called the Merseyside derby it was one of the most fiercely contested games. As these two iconic clubs clash again, the stakes are as high as ever, with city pride and crucial points on the line. Everton will look to break Liverpool’s dominance in recent meetings, while the Reds aim to assert their superiority and keep their season's momentum alive.

Match Details

Match: Everton vs Liverpool

Date: 07/12/2024

Time: 6:00 pm (IST)

Venue: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England.

Match Preview

Everton will bid farewell to Goodison Park at the end of the season, a stadium that has been their home for decades and the venue for 244 Merseyside derbies. The 245th derby, set for tomorrow, will be the last held at Goodison before the club transitions to their new ground at Bramley-Moore Dock.

This historic occasion adds extra intensity, as Everton will be determined not to lose their final derby at the iconic ground to their fierce local rivals. Bragging rights and legacy will be on the line.

Everton manager Sean Dyche heads into the match with confidence following a dominant 4-0 win over Wolves midweek, a performance that highlighted their set-piece strength, with players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and James Tarkowski posing significant aerial threats.

Their physicality in midfield will also be key to disrupting Liverpool’s flow, potentially creating a hostile environment that the Reds have struggled with in the past.

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On the other hand, Liverpool manager Arne Slot will aim to rally his team after a frustrating draw against Newcastle, where they dropped two crucial points. Slot's side faces pressure from the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea closing in behind them in the standings. 

Liverpool, however, have match-winners aplenty, with Mohamed Salah in exceptional form. His pace, sharp runs, and finishing ability will test Everton's defensive resolve. Liverpool also boasts creativity throughout the squad, capable of turning even the most random moments into goal-scoring opportunities.

While Liverpool may be favorites, Everton’s determination to make their last derby at Goodison unforgettable could set the stage for an unpredictable and thrilling encounter.

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Head- to- Head Stats

The two sides have played 64 times with Liverpool dominating the fixture. in the last 5 meetings, the visitors have won 3 times, while Everton has won once and the other has ended in a draw.

Matches played- 64

Liverpool win- 28

Everton win- 11

Draws- 25

Team News

Everton

Armando Broja made his Everton debut late in Wednesday's victory and had a promising impact, creating two opportunities that Jack Harrison failed to convert.

Broja's return adds competition for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who reclaimed his spot from Beto midweek and contributed to the two own goals scored by Craig Dawson.

Meanwhile, Youssef Chermiti is expected to return in a week or two to further strengthen Everton’s attacking lineup. In midfield, James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam are also working to regain fitness ahead of the demanding winter schedule.

Michael Keane is doubtful while Youssef Chermiti (foot), Tim Iroegbunam (foot) and James Garner (back) remain sidelined.

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Liverpool

Liverpool's defensive pair, Ibrahima Konate, and Conor Bradley, remain unavailable, and their absence was evident on Wednesday, with Joe Gomez struggling at the back, Jarrell Quansah may be the preferred option to partner Virgil van Dijk in defense.

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker is nearing a return, although Slot has indicated that he won’t rush him back due to Caoimhin Kelleher’s strong form. However, following Kelleher's costly mistake on Wednesday, Alisson could return sooner than expected.

Alexis Mac Allister will miss the match due to a suspension after his booking at Newcastle, and it seems unlikely that Diogo Jota or Federico Chiesa will feature in such a high-intensity game.

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Possible Lineups

Everton's possible starting lineup:

Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Ndiaye, Gueye, Mangala, Doucoure, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin

Liverpool's possible starting lineup:

Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz

In his first full season in the MLS, Argentine forward Lionel Messi claimed the prestigious MVP award, which is given to the best-performing player in the League for that season.

Despite missing 15 matches due to injuries and international commitments, Messi led MLS in goal contributions with 20 goals and 16 assists in 19 appearances. He became the third player in the league's history to record at least 20 goals and 15 assists in a single season, following Carlos Vela (2019) and Sebastian Giovinco (2015). This achievement also marks the first time an Inter Miami player has won the award.

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Lionel Messi Secures Prestigious Honor for the First Time in His Career

Our MVP by our @InterMiamiAcad 💫 This is the #FreedomToDream pic.twitter.com/EpGWNVfeKj

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) December 6, 2024

Inter Miami had a dominant MLS regular season, setting a record with 74 points, but was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Atlanta United. Messi joined the team in June 2023 after departing Paris Saint-Germain.

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Messi secured 38.4% of the average vote, edging out Hernandez, who received 33.7%. The top five was completed by Portland Timbers midfielder Evander (9.2%), DC United's Christian Benteke (7.1%), and Messi's Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez (2.2%).

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How the MVP Voting Looked Like?

1. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) --> 38.4%
2. Cucho Hernandez (Columbus Crew) --> 33.7%
3. Evander (Portland Timbers) --> 9.24%
4. Christian Benteke (DC United) --> 7.10%
5. Luis Suarez (Inter Miami) --> 2.17%

Messi, Busquets, and Alba led Inter Miami to victory in the Leagues Cup, a competition featuring MLS teams against Mexico's Liga MX, earning the club its first-ever trophy.

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In the 2024 season, Inter Miami excelled during the regular season, claiming the Supporters' Shield as the team with the highest points across both conferences. All these achievements helped propel Messi to win this award.

Crystal Palace captain and England international, Marc Guehi, has avoided disciplinary action from the English Football Association (FA), despite breaching the Premier League regulations. The defender wrote a religious message on his rainbow armband to celebrate LGBTQ+ during Crystal Palace's Premier League outing against Newcastle United on 30 November, which ended up in a 1-1 draw.

The series of events 

Marc Guehi wrote religious messages on his captain's armband in Crystal Palace's dedicated 'Rainbow Laces' Premier League game against Newcastle United. Being a devoted Christian, he wrote "I love Jesus" on the armband for the game on 30 November 2024, which caught the eyes of the FA.

Significantly, Guehi did not write the word 'love' on the rainbow armband but he used a love sign instead. However, Guehi was warned about violating regulations regarding on-field slogans. Despite this warning, the 24-year-old defender proceeded to write "Jesus 'hearts' you" on his rainbow armband during the very next match against Ipswich Town on 4 December 2024. 

The regulation regarding slogans says:

Equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans. For any offence, the player and/or the team will be sanctioned by the competition organiser, the national association or by FIFA

The FA again warned Crystal Palace regarding the existing kit regulations. However, despite a second breach of the rule, they have decided against taking any measure.

Marc Guehi spoke to Sky Sports and explained his intentions behind the messages he wrote.

The message was pretty clear, to be honest. It was a message of love, of truth as well, and a message of inclusivity. So I think it speaks for itself,

Following the 1-0 victory against Ipswich on Tuesday, Palace manager Oliver Glasner commented regarding this issue in a post-match interview:

We respect every single player, especially Marc, who is our captain. He is a great guy, very humble and we shouldn't make it bigger than it is, he is very respectful to everyone in the club.

In football we are all against discrimination, it's a great campaign. We spoke about it, we speak often as he is my captain.

He is no child, he is an adult, he has his opinion and we accept and respect every opinion. The quote of this campaign is to be tolerant and Marc is very tolerant.

Recent rejections against LGBTQ+ celebrations from the Premier League players 

The Premier League and FA partnered with Stonewall, an LGBTQ+ charity, to promote inclusivity and diversity in football. As part of their 'Rainbow Laces' campaign, all 20 Premier League clubs were provided with rainbow-colored captain armbands to wear during matches last weekend and this week. This initiative, which began in 2013, aims to raise awareness and support for the LGBTQ+ community within the sport. 

However, there has been some recent displeasure the players have expressed due to their own opinions and beliefs. Ipswich Town's captain Sam Morsy was the only Premier League captain who did not wear the rainbow armband during the campaign in their recent PL outings against Nottingham Forest, and Crystal Palace. Ipswich stated that Morsy is a practicing Muslim and he did not wear the armband due to his religious beliefs. However, FA did not take any action as wearing the rainbow armband has not been mandatory.

On the other hand, Manchester United reportedly canceled plans to wear the special jackets supporting the LGBTQ+ community for their Premier League match against Everton on 1 December 2024; after one of their players refused to participate in the initiative. According to the Athletic, the player was Noussair Mazraoui who refused to wear the jackets due to his religious beliefs. United refused to confirm the identity of the player. 

In Test cricket, just as a batsman's century is considered important, similarly a bowler's 5 wicket haul is also seen as an achievement. In the second test match being played between Australia and India in Adelaide, the Indian Cricket Team was reduced to only 180 runs. For Australia, Mitchell Starc bowled strongly and took 6 wickets. This is Starc's best performance in an innings in Test. He took 6 wickets for 48 runs in 14.1 overs. Starc has taken five or more wickets against India for the first time in Test. With this, Starc moves to 15 five-wicket hauls in Tests, only behind legendary Wasim Akram. Let's take a look at the top 4 left-arm pacers with most five-wicket hauls.

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Most five-wicket hauls in Test | Top 4 left-arm pacers

1# Wasim Akram | 25

Wasim Akram, considered one of the greatest left-arm fast bowlers of all time, has the most five-wicket hauls amongst left-arm pacers in Tests. He took 25 five-wicket hauls in 181 innings of 104 Test matches for Pakistan. He was renowned for his swing and the 'Sultan of Swing' played Test cricket from 1985-2002 claiming 414 Test wickets.

2# Mitchell Starc | 15*

Star Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc surpassed former Australian pacer Alan Davidson in most five-wicket hauls amongst left-arm pacers in Tests. He took 15 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket. Having played 91 games, he has picked a total of 367 wickets at an average of 27.53. 226 of his wickets have come at home at 26. Earlier this year, Starc became only the fifth Australian bowler to achieve 350 wickets in Test cricket. He joined an elite list that includes the legendary Shane Warne and Brett Lee.

3# Alan Davidson | 14

Australia’s Alan Davidson was magnificent between 1953 and 1963, with injuries unfortunately costing him more matches. In 44 Tests, the left-arm pace bowler took a brilliant 14 five-wicket hauls, part of his 186 wickets at an average of 20.53. He also scored 1,328 Test runs at an average of 24.59. Davidson starred in the 1960 tied Test against West Indies. He took 11 wickets (5/135 and 6/87) and was magnificent with the bat as well (44 and 80). A true superstar of the game.

4# Chaminda Vaas | 12

Chaminda Vaas, a former Sri Lankan cricketer and current fast bowling coach of the Sri Lankan team, took 12 five-wicket hauls and twice 10 wickets in a match. Vaas, who made his Test debut against Pakistan at Kandy in 1994, claimed 354 wickets at an average of 29.40. He has a total of 16 five-wicket hauls to his name, with twelve in Tests and four in ODIs.