Deadspin | Jeremiah Fears, Pelicans set scoring marks in rout of Jazz Apr 7, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins (24) shoots the ball against Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images Rookie Jeremiah Fears scored a career-high 40 points and Jordan Poole added 22 of his 34 points in a decisive third quarter as the New Orleans Pelicans closed out their home schedule with a 156-137 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday. Rookie Micah Peavy scored a career-high 20 points, Jordan Hawkins added a season-high 25 and rookie Derik Queen had 17 points with 12 rebounds as the Pelicans ended an eight-game losing streak. Kevon Looney also had 12 rebounds. Fears set a Pelicans franchise record for rookie points in a game as the Pelicans set a team mark for total points in a game. New Orleans (26-54), which has been eliminated from playoff consideration, finished with a 17-24 home record. New Orleans went 3-0 against Utah this season and won while playing without their four leading scorers, Trey Murphy III (ankle), Zion Williamson, Saddiq Bey and Dejounte Murray (hand). Williamson and Bey dressed but remained on the bench, as did Herbert Jones. Kennedy Chandler scored a career-high 31 points and rookie Bez Mbeng added a career-best 26 for the Jazz, who lost their 10th consecutive game with two games remaining. Cody Williams scored 19 points and Brice Sensabaugh added 18 as Utah dropped to 3-22 since Feb. 12. The Jazz (21-59), who are at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, were without Lauri Markkanen (hip), Keyonte George (hamstring) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee). The Jazz got off to a strong start, leading 34-24 after one quarter by making half of their 26 shots from the floor and their eight shots from 3-point range. Utah continued to hold a 69-61 lead at halftime. Poole was the star of the third quarter by scoring his 22 points in the period on 8-of-12 shooting, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range. The Pelicans outscored the Jazz 50-27 in the quarter by shooting 72% while taking a 111-96 lead. Fears was 17 of 29 (58.6%) from the floor in the game to better his previous season high of 28 points. New Orleans shot 57.5% from the floor, tied for its second best in a game this season, while the Jazz shot 51%. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Jeremiah #Fears #Pelicans #set #scoring #marks #rout #Jazz

Deadspin | Jeremiah Fears, Pelicans set scoring marks in rout of Jazz
Apr 7, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins (24) shoots the ball against Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Rookie Jeremiah Fears scored a career-high 40 points and Jordan Poole added 22 of his 34 points in a decisive third quarter as the New Orleans Pelicans closed out their home schedule with a 156-137 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.

Rookie Micah Peavy scored a career-high 20 points, Jordan Hawkins added a season-high 25 and rookie Derik Queen had 17 points with 12 rebounds as the Pelicans ended an eight-game losing streak. Kevon Looney also had 12 rebounds.

Fears set a Pelicans franchise record for rookie points in a game as the Pelicans set a team mark for total points in a game.

New Orleans (26-54), which has been eliminated from playoff consideration, finished with a 17-24 home record.

New Orleans went 3-0 against Utah this season and won while playing without their four leading scorers, Trey Murphy III (ankle), Zion Williamson, Saddiq Bey and Dejounte Murray (hand). Williamson and Bey dressed but remained on the bench, as did Herbert Jones.

Kennedy Chandler scored a career-high 31 points and rookie Bez Mbeng added a career-best 26 for the Jazz, who lost their 10th consecutive game with two games remaining. Cody Williams scored 19 points and Brice Sensabaugh added 18 as Utah dropped to 3-22 since Feb. 12.

The Jazz (21-59), who are at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, were without Lauri Markkanen (hip), Keyonte George (hamstring) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee).

The Jazz got off to a strong start, leading 34-24 after one quarter by making half of their 26 shots from the floor and their eight shots from 3-point range. Utah continued to hold a 69-61 lead at halftime.

Poole was the star of the third quarter by scoring his 22 points in the period on 8-of-12 shooting, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range. The Pelicans outscored the Jazz 50-27 in the quarter by shooting 72% while taking a 111-96 lead.

Fears was 17 of 29 (58.6%) from the floor in the game to better his previous season high of 28 points.

New Orleans shot 57.5% from the floor, tied for its second best in a game this season, while the Jazz shot 51%.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Jeremiah #Fears #Pelicans #set #scoring #marks #rout #Jazz

Sports news April 8, 2026

Apr 7, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins (24) shoots the ball against Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Rookie Jeremiah Fears scored a career-high 40 points and Jordan Poole added 22 of his 34 points in a decisive third quarter as the New Orleans Pelicans closed out their home schedule with a 156-137 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.

Rookie Micah Peavy scored a career-high 20 points, Jordan Hawkins added a season-high 25 and rookie Derik Queen had 17 points with 12 rebounds as the Pelicans ended an eight-game losing streak. Kevon Looney also had 12 rebounds.

Fears set a Pelicans franchise record for rookie points in a game as the Pelicans set a team mark for total points in a game.

New Orleans (26-54), which has been eliminated from playoff consideration, finished with a 17-24 home record.

New Orleans went 3-0 against Utah this season and won while playing without their four leading scorers, Trey Murphy III (ankle), Zion Williamson, Saddiq Bey and Dejounte Murray (hand). Williamson and Bey dressed but remained on the bench, as did Herbert Jones.

Kennedy Chandler scored a career-high 31 points and rookie Bez Mbeng added a career-best 26 for the Jazz, who lost their 10th consecutive game with two games remaining. Cody Williams scored 19 points and Brice Sensabaugh added 18 as Utah dropped to 3-22 since Feb. 12.

The Jazz (21-59), who are at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, were without Lauri Markkanen (hip), Keyonte George (hamstring) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee).

The Jazz got off to a strong start, leading 34-24 after one quarter by making half of their 26 shots from the floor and their eight shots from 3-point range. Utah continued to hold a 69-61 lead at halftime.

Poole was the star of the third quarter by scoring his 22 points in the period on 8-of-12 shooting, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range. The Pelicans outscored the Jazz 50-27 in the quarter by shooting 72% while taking a 111-96 lead.

Fears was 17 of 29 (58.6%) from the floor in the game to better his previous season high of 28 points.

New Orleans shot 57.5% from the floor, tied for its second best in a game this season, while the Jazz shot 51%.

–Field Level Media

Source link
#Deadspin #Jeremiah #Fears #Pelicans #set #scoring #marks #rout #Jazz

Exclusive – “Nobody came in. Everybody came back with a no”: Lalit Modi on the IPL pitch that failed 999 times <div id="content-body-70837809" itemprop="articleBody">There is a tendency now to treat the Indian Premier League (IPL) as if it arrived fully formed, with billion-dollar valuations trailing in its wake.In Lalit Modi’s telling, it was anything but. It was imagined early, abandoned once, challenged by rivals, dismissed by the market and then, almost improbably, forced into existence.“The idea to me was always to be the biggest league in the world,” Modi, the first chairman of the IPL, says. But the idea predates the IPL. “When I conceived it in the early ‘90s, it was called the Indian Cricket League. If you check who owns the domain name, it is not Subhash Chandra. It’s Lalit Modi.”According to Modi, that first version, an eight-team, city-based competition, came close to life in 1995. “It was all set up, approved by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). We spent $17 million to $20 million. All the top players were hired. It was an eight-team format: Delhi Panthers, Mohali Stallions, Gwalior Cobras, Calcutta Tigers, Bangalore Bulls, Chennai Tuskers.”It collapsed just as quickly. “There was a requirement of too many underhand payments, and I decided this is not the way it’s going to work. And we shelved it,” Modi says.The idea waited. When it returned a decade later, it entered a changed ecosystem and a rivalry.“When I was launching the IPL, the first person I went to was Subhash Chandra. I said, ‘Would you like to buy the IPL rights?’” Modi says. Chandra declined and built his own league. “He picked up two of my people to develop the Indian Cricket League.”Modi calls him “a great adversary”, but is clear about the flaw in Chandra’s system of “owning all the teams, all the broadcasting and all the players”. His own model would move the other way.Yet the larger obstacle was indifference.“We went to all the broadcasters. Nobody came in. Everybody came back with a no.” Investors were no better. “I’m making presentations to over 1,000 businessmen. Ninety-nine per cent didn’t understand what we were talking about.” Even within the BCCI, “not a single person could understand except for two.”The problem, he realised, was cultural.“I needed to attract the audience of the Saas Bahu shows on TV. That’s where the money was. The bulk of the Indian advertising money sat on the eight o’clock time slot,” he says. “I decided to do a paradigm shift. Night cricket. Eight o’clock start. Music, dancing, fun.”The logic is blunt. “I needed to attract women and children… that is where the money was.”The product still needed a trigger. And it arrived, unscripted, in 2007.“You know the story of Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes already,” Modi says. “India winning over Pakistan, huge, huge. We bring them back as heroes. Millions of people come. That helped it.”The IPL had its first advertisement.But emotion could not substitute structure. “I explained, the first pillar is the broadcaster. Without broadcasting, we don’t have a pillar,” he says.Sony’s interest came with a condition: “We will buy it, provided you have the top 100 players.”“The task became to find the top 100 players,” Modi says. “You need Team India, without doubt. If you don’t have Team India, you have a problem.”Even as he scrambled for players, the media rights auction brought the league to the brink.“So, Sony signed the contract as a sub-licensee of World Sports Group. There were only three bidders, ESPN, World Sports Group, and Sony,” he says.“ESPN’s bid was revenue sharing. ‘If we do well, we’ll give you 50 per cent.’ I threw them out.“Before I opened the Sony bid, minutes before, they withdrew. It was hand in glove. I’m in front of live media. I don’t know what’s going to come.“I opened the World Sports Group bid. It’s a billion dollars. It was a mindset number… I needed the headline to be, ‘IPL has the audacity to ask for a billion dollars’. So, we have a billion-dollar cheque guaranteed. We don’t have a broadcaster at that point in time.”From there, he says he turned to franchise owners.“4th of January was the opening of the franchisee tenders. The minimum bid price was 50 million paid over 10 years,” Modi says. “If you bid a minimum of 50, I’m going to give you back five. You’re only giving me five; the rest is your ego money.“You’re going to get ticketing revenue, team sponsorship, food and beverage, and 60 per cent from the central pool.”He tried to sell belief. “If you believe in me, it’ll be so big, you don’t have to ever look back.”But few did.“None of them believed it, Airtel, Tata group, Birla group, ICICI, HDFC. None of them believed it,” Modi says.So, he made the risk explicit. “If the IPL doesn’t work in year one, I will tear up all these agreements and cancel IPL year two.”It was not just a league being launched. It was a wager.“I put my entire career on the line. I put all my goodwill on the line,” he says. “We formed our own team, paid from our own pocket… and with Sharad Pawar, we got it up and running.”“And fortunately for us, it worked.”Published on Apr 08, 2026</div> #Exclusive #Lalit #Modi #IPL #pitch #failed #times

Deadspin | Predators move into playoff position with shut-out win over Ducks Apr 4, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Reid Schaefer (49) moves the puck following a face off during the second period against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images Goaltender Justus Annunen posted his first shutout of the season and Erik Haula netted one goal and one assist to pace the visiting Nashville Predators to a 5-0 victory over the slumping Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. Annunen made 43 saves for his third career shutout as the Predators jumped into a playoff position. Filip Forsberg, Brady Skjei, Zachary L’Heureux and Fedor Svechkov all tallied once for the Predators (37-31-10, 84 points). Ryan O’Reilly and Joakim Kemell both collected a pair of assists. The victory is the first shutout of the season for the Predators. Nashville, which was last in the league standings on Dec. 8, jumped one point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings in the chase for the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot. Nashville has four games remaining in the regular season, one fewer than the Kings. The San Jose Sharks are three points back of Nashville but with two games in hand. Goalie Lukas Dostal stopped 20 shots for the Ducks (41-32-5, 87 points), who have lost six straight games, five of them in regulation time. The Ducks are one point behind the Pacific Division-leading Edmonton Oilers, but in the third spot. The Vegas Golden Knights are tied with the Oilers in points but trail via the tiebreaker. All three teams have four games remaining in the regular season. After a blanked first period, the Predators opened the scoring when Haula went untouched to the slot and while using a defender as a screen fired a top-corner shot at 7:07 of the second period. Forsberg doubled the Nashville lead on the power play by firing a shot through a collection of players screening the goaltender and finding the mark at 11:26 for his fifth goal in as many outings. Skjei gave Nashville a three-goal edge when he went top corner on a short-handed breakaway opportunity with one minute remaining in the second period. L’Heureux extended the edge just before the midway point of the third period by scoring on an odd-man rush, and Svechkov rounded out the scoring by redirecting Tyson Jost’s pass at 15:07 of the final frame. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Predators #move #playoff #position #shutout #win #Ducks

#Deadspin #Predators #move #playoff #position #shutout #win #Ducks">

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Apr 4, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Reid Schaefer (49) moves the puck following a face off during the second period against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images

Goaltender Justus Annunen posted his first shutout of the season and Erik Haula netted one goal and one assist to pace the visiting Nashville Predators to a 5-0 victory over the slumping Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.

Annunen made 43 saves for his third career shutout as the Predators jumped into a playoff position.

Filip Forsberg, Brady Skjei, Zachary L’Heureux and Fedor Svechkov all tallied once for the Predators (37-31-10, 84 points).

Ryan O’Reilly and Joakim Kemell both collected a pair of assists.

The victory is the first shutout of the season for the Predators.

Nashville, which was last in the league standings on Dec. 8, jumped one point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings in the chase for the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot.

Nashville has four games remaining in the regular season, one fewer than the Kings. The San Jose Sharks are three points back of Nashville but with two games in hand.

Goalie Lukas Dostal stopped 20 shots for the Ducks (41-32-5, 87 points), who have lost six straight games, five of them in regulation time.

The Ducks are one point behind the Pacific Division-leading Edmonton Oilers, but in the third spot. The Vegas Golden Knights are tied with the Oilers in points but trail via the tiebreaker. All three teams have four games remaining in the regular season.

After a blanked first period, the Predators opened the scoring when Haula went untouched to the slot and while using a defender as a screen fired a top-corner shot at 7:07 of the second period.

Forsberg doubled the Nashville lead on the power play by firing a shot through a collection of players screening the goaltender and finding the mark at 11:26 for his fifth goal in as many outings.

Skjei gave Nashville a three-goal edge when he went top corner on a short-handed breakaway opportunity with one minute remaining in the second period.

L’Heureux extended the edge just before the midway point of the third period by scoring on an odd-man rush, and Svechkov rounded out the scoring by redirecting Tyson Jost’s pass at 15:07 of the final frame.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Predators #move #playoff #position #shutout #win #Ducks">Deadspin | Predators move into playoff position with shut-out win over Ducks

Apr 4, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Reid Schaefer (49) moves the puck following a face off during the second period against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images

Goaltender Justus Annunen posted his first shutout of the season and Erik Haula netted one goal and one assist to pace the visiting Nashville Predators to a 5-0 victory over the slumping Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.

Annunen made 43 saves for his third career shutout as the Predators jumped into a playoff position.

Filip Forsberg, Brady Skjei, Zachary L’Heureux and Fedor Svechkov all tallied once for the Predators (37-31-10, 84 points).

Ryan O’Reilly and Joakim Kemell both collected a pair of assists.

The victory is the first shutout of the season for the Predators.

Nashville, which was last in the league standings on Dec. 8, jumped one point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings in the chase for the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot.

Nashville has four games remaining in the regular season, one fewer than the Kings. The San Jose Sharks are three points back of Nashville but with two games in hand.

Goalie Lukas Dostal stopped 20 shots for the Ducks (41-32-5, 87 points), who have lost six straight games, five of them in regulation time.

The Ducks are one point behind the Pacific Division-leading Edmonton Oilers, but in the third spot. The Vegas Golden Knights are tied with the Oilers in points but trail via the tiebreaker. All three teams have four games remaining in the regular season.

After a blanked first period, the Predators opened the scoring when Haula went untouched to the slot and while using a defender as a screen fired a top-corner shot at 7:07 of the second period.

Forsberg doubled the Nashville lead on the power play by firing a shot through a collection of players screening the goaltender and finding the mark at 11:26 for his fifth goal in as many outings.

Skjei gave Nashville a three-goal edge when he went top corner on a short-handed breakaway opportunity with one minute remaining in the second period.

L’Heureux extended the edge just before the midway point of the third period by scoring on an odd-man rush, and Svechkov rounded out the scoring by redirecting Tyson Jost’s pass at 15:07 of the final frame.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Predators #move #playoff #position #shutout #win #Ducks

FIDE Chess Candidates 2026 Live, Round 9: Pragg eyes comeback after loss, Divya takes on compatriot Vaishali in match from 6:15 PM IST
FIDE Candidates 2026: Follow all the live updates from Round 9 of the Candidates tournament happening in Cyprus on Wednesday.
Updated : Apr 08, 2026 18:05 IST
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READ LATERWelcome to Sportstar’s Live coverage of the ninth round of the FIDE Candidates 2026 tournament happening in Cyprus on Wednesday.R Praggnanandhaa (White) vs Wei Yi (Black) – Round 9 Live boardDivya Deshmukh (Black) vs R Vaishali (White) – Round 9 Live boardApril 08, 2026 18:05
Sindarov reaping rewards of strategising for years, says chess coach GM Shyam Sundar
Candidates 2026 — Sindarov reaping rewards of strategising for years, says chess coach Shyam SundarJavokhir Sindarov has been the story of the tournament. He defeated World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana with 42 minutes on his clock against Caruana’s 48 seconds.April 08, 2026 17:57
Sindarov enters Round 9 after a draw
Javokhir Sindarov is the leader of the pack, he comes into the match after a quick draw against Andrey Esipenko yesterday. Bluebaum will likely aim for a solid, sterile position to try and halt Sindarov momentum today.April 08, 2026 17:53
Can Vaishali topple Divya today
GM R Vaishali surged to top by holding Bibisara to draw in Round 8 yesterday. Her most significant recent result was a Round 7 win over former champion Tan Zhongyi.April 08, 2026 17:51
The players respond to who has best opening ideas, take a look
April 08, 2026 17:49
Praggnanandhaa vs Wei Yi
Praggnanandhaa will aim to bounce back after his Round 8 loss to Anish Giri, and will to use his white-side preparation to break through Wei Yi’s defensive play.April 08, 2026 17:46
What happened when Vaishali played Divya earlier in tournament
The first all-Indian clash of the event ended in a draw after a hard-fought game arising from the Queen’s Gambit Decline.April 08, 2026 17:45
Divya Deshmukh to joint-lead
Divya Deshmukh moved into joint lead after a massive Round 8 victory against the previous sole leader, Anna Muzychuk. Earlier, in Round 7, she survived a marathon 135-move draw against Kateryna Lagno.April 08, 2026 17:39
Divya defeated Anna Muzychuk yesterday, read the report below
FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, Round 8: Sindarov drops points, held to draw by EsipenkoSindarov had previously won against the Russian, but this time the game started fast and remained balanced between moves 11 and 18, as both players simplified the center and activated their pieces effectively.April 08, 2026 17:37
Women section pairings for Round 9 today:
Tan Zhongyi — Anna MuzychukZhu Jiner — Kateryna LagnoAleksandra Goryachkina — Bibisara AssaubayevaVaishali Rameshbabu — Divya DeshmukhApril 08, 2026 17:36
Open section pairings for Round 9 today:
Hikaru Nakamura — Andrey EsipenkoFabiano Caruana — Anish GiriPraggnanandhaa R — Wei YiMatthias Bluebaum — Javokhir SindarovApril 08, 2026 17:35
It is Round 9 today
Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s coverage of Round 9 of the ongoing FIDE Candidates.Published on Apr 08, 2026 #FIDE #Chess #Candidates #Live #Pragg #eyes #comeback #loss #Divya #takes #compatriot #Vaishali #match #IST

#FIDE #Chess #Candidates #Live #Pragg #eyes #comeback #loss #Divya #takes #compatriot #Vaishali #match #IST">

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FIDE Candidates 2026: Follow all the live updates from Round 9 of the Candidates tournament happening in Cyprus on Wednesday.

Updated : Apr 08, 2026 18:05 IST

Welcome to Sportstar’s Live coverage of the ninth round of the FIDE Candidates 2026 tournament happening in Cyprus on Wednesday.

R Praggnanandhaa (White) vs Wei Yi (Black) – Round 9 Live board

Divya Deshmukh (Black) vs R Vaishali (White) – Round 9 Live board

April 08, 2026 18:05
Sindarov reaping rewards of strategising for years, says chess coach GM Shyam Sundar
Candidates 2026 — Sindarov reaping rewards of strategising for years, says chess coach Shyam Sundar
Javokhir Sindarov has been the story of the tournament. He defeated World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana with 42 minutes on his clock against Caruana’s 48 seconds.
April 08, 2026 17:57
Sindarov enters Round 9 after a draw
Javokhir Sindarov is the leader of the pack, he comes into the match after a quick draw against Andrey Esipenko yesterday. Bluebaum will likely aim for a solid, sterile position to try and halt Sindarov momentum today.
April 08, 2026 17:53
Can Vaishali topple Divya today
GM R Vaishali surged to top by holding Bibisara to draw in Round 8 yesterday. Her most significant recent result was a Round 7 win over former champion Tan Zhongyi.
April 08, 2026 17:51
The players respond to who has best opening ideas, take a look
April 08, 2026 17:49
Praggnanandhaa vs Wei Yi
Praggnanandhaa will aim to bounce back after his Round 8 loss to Anish Giri, and will to use his white-side preparation to break through Wei Yi’s defensive play.
April 08, 2026 17:46
What happened when Vaishali played Divya earlier in tournament
The first all-Indian clash of the event ended in a draw after a hard-fought game arising from the Queen’s Gambit Decline.
April 08, 2026 17:45
Divya Deshmukh to joint-lead
Divya Deshmukh moved into joint lead after a massive Round 8 victory against the previous sole leader, Anna Muzychuk. Earlier, in Round 7, she survived a marathon 135-move draw against Kateryna Lagno.
April 08, 2026 17:39
Divya defeated Anna Muzychuk yesterday, read the report below
FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, Round 8: Sindarov drops points, held to draw by Esipenko
Sindarov had previously won against the Russian, but this time the game started fast and remained balanced between moves 11 and 18, as both players simplified the center and activated their pieces effectively.
April 08, 2026 17:37
Women section pairings for Round 9 today:
Tan Zhongyi — Anna Muzychuk
Zhu Jiner — Kateryna Lagno
Aleksandra Goryachkina — Bibisara Assaubayeva
Vaishali Rameshbabu — Divya Deshmukh
April 08, 2026 17:36
Open section pairings for Round 9 today:
Hikaru Nakamura — Andrey Esipenko
Fabiano Caruana — Anish Giri
Praggnanandhaa R — Wei Yi
Matthias Bluebaum — Javokhir Sindarov
April 08, 2026 17:35
It is Round 9 today
Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s coverage of Round 9 of the ongoing FIDE Candidates.

Published on Apr 08, 2026

#FIDE #Chess #Candidates #Live #Pragg #eyes #comeback #loss #Divya #takes #compatriot #Vaishali #match #IST">FIDE Chess Candidates 2026 Live, Round 9: Pragg eyes comeback after loss, Divya takes on compatriot Vaishali in match from 6:15 PM IST

FIDE Candidates 2026: Follow all the live updates from Round 9 of the Candidates tournament happening in Cyprus on Wednesday.

Updated : Apr 08, 2026 18:05 IST

Welcome to Sportstar’s Live coverage of the ninth round of the FIDE Candidates 2026 tournament happening in Cyprus on Wednesday.

R Praggnanandhaa (White) vs Wei Yi (Black) – Round 9 Live board

Divya Deshmukh (Black) vs R Vaishali (White) – Round 9 Live board

April 08, 2026 18:05
Sindarov reaping rewards of strategising for years, says chess coach GM Shyam Sundar
Candidates 2026 — Sindarov reaping rewards of strategising for years, says chess coach Shyam Sundar
Javokhir Sindarov has been the story of the tournament. He defeated World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana with 42 minutes on his clock against Caruana’s 48 seconds.
April 08, 2026 17:57
Sindarov enters Round 9 after a draw
Javokhir Sindarov is the leader of the pack, he comes into the match after a quick draw against Andrey Esipenko yesterday. Bluebaum will likely aim for a solid, sterile position to try and halt Sindarov momentum today.
April 08, 2026 17:53
Can Vaishali topple Divya today
GM R Vaishali surged to top by holding Bibisara to draw in Round 8 yesterday. Her most significant recent result was a Round 7 win over former champion Tan Zhongyi.
April 08, 2026 17:51
The players respond to who has best opening ideas, take a look
April 08, 2026 17:49
Praggnanandhaa vs Wei Yi
Praggnanandhaa will aim to bounce back after his Round 8 loss to Anish Giri, and will to use his white-side preparation to break through Wei Yi’s defensive play.
April 08, 2026 17:46
What happened when Vaishali played Divya earlier in tournament
The first all-Indian clash of the event ended in a draw after a hard-fought game arising from the Queen’s Gambit Decline.
April 08, 2026 17:45
Divya Deshmukh to joint-lead
Divya Deshmukh moved into joint lead after a massive Round 8 victory against the previous sole leader, Anna Muzychuk. Earlier, in Round 7, she survived a marathon 135-move draw against Kateryna Lagno.
April 08, 2026 17:39
Divya defeated Anna Muzychuk yesterday, read the report below
FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, Round 8: Sindarov drops points, held to draw by Esipenko
Sindarov had previously won against the Russian, but this time the game started fast and remained balanced between moves 11 and 18, as both players simplified the center and activated their pieces effectively.
April 08, 2026 17:37
Women section pairings for Round 9 today:
Tan Zhongyi — Anna Muzychuk
Zhu Jiner — Kateryna Lagno
Aleksandra Goryachkina — Bibisara Assaubayeva
Vaishali Rameshbabu — Divya Deshmukh
April 08, 2026 17:36
Open section pairings for Round 9 today:
Hikaru Nakamura — Andrey Esipenko
Fabiano Caruana — Anish Giri
Praggnanandhaa R — Wei Yi
Matthias Bluebaum — Javokhir Sindarov
April 08, 2026 17:35
It is Round 9 today
Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s coverage of Round 9 of the ongoing FIDE Candidates.

Published on Apr 08, 2026

#FIDE #Chess #Candidates #Live #Pragg #eyes #comeback #loss #Divya #takes #compatriot #Vaishali #match #IST

#Deadspin #Shai #GilgeousAlexander #Thunder #manhandle #shorthanded #Lakers">

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April 7, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) moves the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points in 28 minutes as the Oklahoma City Thunder demolished the Lakers for the second time in five days, prevailing 123-87 on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

The Thunder (63-16), by earning their sixth consecutive win and their 18th in 19 games, moved within one win or one San Antonio Spurs loss of clinching the top spot in the Western Conference for the third consecutive season.

Despite the Lakers (50-29) being without Luke Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James, they hung with the defending NBA champions into the second quarter.

It was a sharp departure from the Lakers’ 43-point loss in Oklahoma City on Thursday — with that trio of stars available — when the Thunder led by 23 after one quarter and kept pouring it on.

Los Angeles battled back from an early seven-point deficit on Tuesday to tie the game early in the second.

However, Oklahoma City went on a 23-5 run over the final 7:16 of the half to take control for good.

The Lakers shot 33.3% from the floor in the second quarter.

Gilgeous-Alexander got going early, shooting 4-for-5, scoring 11 points and dishing out five assists in the opening quarter.

By early in the third quarter, the outcome had all but been decided and one of the few remaining questions was whether or not Gilgeous-Alexander would extend his NBA record for most consecutive games with 20 or more points.

He pulled within one with a 3-pointer nearly seven minutes into the third quarter that put Oklahoma City up by 27 points.

About two minutes later, Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a flurry, scoring baskets on back-to-back-to-back Thunder possessions to end his night.

Gilgeous-Alexander left the game for good with more than a minute remaining in the third, the 25th time this season he sat out during the entirety of the fourth quarter.

He finished 10 of 15 with eight assists and two steals.

Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren had 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Isaiah Joe and Jared McCain added 18 and 15 points off the bench, respectively.

Joe was 6 of 9 from beyond the arc and has gone 14 of 21 from deep over the past three games.

The Lakers fell a game behind the Denver Nuggets for the No. 3 spot in the West with their third consecutive loss.

Rui Hachimura led Los Angeles with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting. No other Los Angeles player scored more than 11.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Shai #GilgeousAlexander #Thunder #manhandle #shorthanded #Lakers">Deadspin | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder manhandle short-handed Lakers

April 7, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) moves the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points in 28 minutes as the Oklahoma City Thunder demolished the Lakers for the second time in five days, prevailing 123-87 on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

The Thunder (63-16), by earning their sixth consecutive win and their 18th in 19 games, moved within one win or one San Antonio Spurs loss of clinching the top spot in the Western Conference for the third consecutive season.

Despite the Lakers (50-29) being without Luke Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James, they hung with the defending NBA champions into the second quarter.

It was a sharp departure from the Lakers’ 43-point loss in Oklahoma City on Thursday — with that trio of stars available — when the Thunder led by 23 after one quarter and kept pouring it on.

Los Angeles battled back from an early seven-point deficit on Tuesday to tie the game early in the second.

However, Oklahoma City went on a 23-5 run over the final 7:16 of the half to take control for good.

The Lakers shot 33.3% from the floor in the second quarter.

Gilgeous-Alexander got going early, shooting 4-for-5, scoring 11 points and dishing out five assists in the opening quarter.

By early in the third quarter, the outcome had all but been decided and one of the few remaining questions was whether or not Gilgeous-Alexander would extend his NBA record for most consecutive games with 20 or more points.

He pulled within one with a 3-pointer nearly seven minutes into the third quarter that put Oklahoma City up by 27 points.

About two minutes later, Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a flurry, scoring baskets on back-to-back-to-back Thunder possessions to end his night.

Gilgeous-Alexander left the game for good with more than a minute remaining in the third, the 25th time this season he sat out during the entirety of the fourth quarter.

He finished 10 of 15 with eight assists and two steals.

Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren had 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Isaiah Joe and Jared McCain added 18 and 15 points off the bench, respectively.

Joe was 6 of 9 from beyond the arc and has gone 14 of 21 from deep over the past three games.

The Lakers fell a game behind the Denver Nuggets for the No. 3 spot in the West with their third consecutive loss.

Rui Hachimura led Los Angeles with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting. No other Los Angeles player scored more than 11.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Shai #GilgeousAlexander #Thunder #manhandle #shorthanded #Lakers

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