HIGGINS MISSES OUT ON FINAL AFTER MIGHTY FIGHTBACK AGAINST TRUMP
SNOOKER
Judd Trump held off a late charge yesterday from Scotland’s former world champion, John Higgins, to reach the final of the Zhiyuan World Open in China.
Trump won a tense deciding frame after Higgins had fought back from 5-2 down to level the match.
Higgins potted the first red of the decider but missed a tricky black along the top cushion.
Trump, who made 55 before playing safe, secured a final date today with Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-nooh after Higgins missed the pink to a centre pocket.
The world No. 1 will be aiming to land his sixth title within the past year – and the 13th of his career – if he can secure the £150,000 top prize on offer to the winner.
Un-nooh came from 4-1 and 5-3 down to beat Kyren Wilson 6-5 and guarantee his best-ever payday of £75,000.
Wilson had several matchwinning chances in the closing stages but couldn’t take advantage against the world No. 37.
FORMULA 1
Lewis Hamilton’s hopes of securing the world title in style suffered a setback in Austin, Texas, after he qualified only fifth for
today’s United States Grand Prix.
Valtteri Bottas, who has to win here to stand any chance of taking the title fight to Brazil in a fortnight’s time, secured pole position ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel by 0.012 seconds.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen will line up in third, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc fourth on the grid.
Hamilton needs to finish only eighth to be certain of a sixth title that will move him above Juan Manuel Fangio and within one of Michael Schumacher’s record haul of seven.
But the 34-year-old British driver will face a tall order to see out the title with his 11th victory of another world championshipwinning campaign.
Hamilton, has only four poles to his name this year, and he was unable to improve that tally here.
He was running down in fifth place ahead of the final runs, but failed to go any quicker and was forced to abort his last lap.
BOXING
Ireland’s Katie Taylor last night beat Christina Linardatou by a unanimous points decision to claim thewbo super-lightweight title in Manchester.
The 33-year-old becomes a two-weight champion, she already held the lightweight crown.