Trump on track to clinch back-to-back snooker crowns
Judd Trump is relishing the chance to clinch back-to-back ranking titles.
Trump beat Ronnie O’Sullivan in last week’s European Masters final and crushed Barry Hawkins 6-2 to reach the final of the English Open in Manchester yesterday.
The last player to win successive ranking events was Chinese hotshot Ding Junhui back in 2013.
And Trump believes it would be a wonderful achievement if he was able to complete the feat later today.
He said: “If I can win backto-back tournaments then that would be a great achievement.
“I have been very consistent in my performances over the last couple of weeks.
“This week I haven’t played very well and I’ve had the run of the ball but hopefully I can play my best in the final and give myself every chance.” Michael van Gerwen aims to run riot in Glasgow after being compared to Usain Bolt.
Snooker superstar Ronnie O’Sullivan compared the darts ace to track star Bolt just three weeks before the Dutch dynamo heads for Braehead Arena and the Ladbrokes World Series Finals.
O’Sullivan reckons Van Gerwen is breaking barriers and setting incredible standards on the oche in the same way as Bolt does on the track. The Holland hero has won an incredible 20 events this year alone.
Darts-daft O’Sullivan said: “Michael and Usain are the two top boys in any sport worldwide.
“But van Gerwen is amazing. He’s unbelievable.”
Van Gerwen said: “It’s very nice to hear things like this, especially from a man like Ronnie O’Sullivan.” England’s Lizzie Deignan finished fourth in defence of the UCI Road World Championships women’s road race title in Doha as Dane Amalie Dideriksen scooped gold in the 134-kilometres event.
Deignan won the world title in Richmond, Virginia in September 2015.
The men’s race takes place today, with Mark Cavendish bidding for a second world title following his 2011 triumph in Copenhagen. Kelburne picked up three points in a close match with their main rivals Grove Menzieshill keeping them on track to retain their title.
An early goal by Nick Finlayson was countered by Hamish Galt but a brace by Jonny Christie sealed the win despite a late penalty by Ciaran Crawford.
Western Wildcats picked up three much needed points against Gordonians. Hillhead had a remarkable 7-6 win over league leaders Watsonians.
Meanwhile, Milne Craig Clydesdale Western enhanced their position at the top of the league with a narrow win over Edinburgh University. A second half penalty corner by Jenny Eadie was all that separated the sides. Glasgow Tigers boss Stewart Dickson plans a crisis talk-in ahead of today’s Premier League play-off, semi-final, first-leg at Ashfield against Sheffield Tigers.
He is frustrated after his side lost 55-35 at Somerset in the second-leg of the League Cup final for an aggregate score of 103-77. He said: “We need to show a bit of character and bounce back.” Stuart Broad hailed the performance of Ben Duckett and revealed England were not overly concerned by their struggles in the field following their practice fixture against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI in Chittagong.
Duckett made a convincing claim to become Alastair Cook’s ninth opening partner in tests since the retirement of Andrew Strauss four years ago with an aggressive innings of 59 from 63 balls.
Broad said: “He’s a hugely impressive player.” Polly Swann has revealed she’ll have to go longdistance if she wants a crack at a second Olympic medal in 2020 after quitting London to return to Edinburgh.
The Scots rower has traded oars for operations by resuming her medical degree in the capital.