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Illinois looks like No. 1 in men’s college basketball preseason rankings after retaining top players The Illinois Fighting Illini reached the Final Four of the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005. Illinois ended up losing a tight game to the UConn Huskies before Michigan cut down the nets in the national championship game. Most programs as successful as Illinois was this past season are scrambling right now to replace the loss of key players to the NBA Draft or the transfer portal. The Illini are the exception, and it’s setting them up for another big year next season.Andrej Stojakovic announced he was returning to Illinois for his senior season on Friday afternoon. Stojakovic’s announcement follows commitments to return earlier this week from teammates David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis. The Illini will lose Keaton Wagler to the 2026 NBA Draft, where he’s expected to be a top-7 pick, but they’re bringing back almost everyone else.Wagler is a significant loss, but Illinois found what feels like a perfect replacement for him in Providence guard Stefan Vaaks in the transfer portal. Like Wagler, Vaaks is a tall (6’7), skinny guard who is at his best shooting threes off the dribble. Vaaks made 35 percent of his threes on 91-of-260 shooting from behind the arc last year as a freshman. More than 35 percent of those shots were unassisted.Illinois found a winning formula this past season by launching threes at will and hitting the offensive glass hard. The Illini took 49.7 percent of their field goal attempts from three-point range, which ranked No. 15 in DI. They grabbed 39.2 percent of their misses, which ranked No. 3 overall in offensive rebound rate. The offense ended the year at No. 2 in efficiency by scoring an incredible 131.2 points per 100 possessions.This type of roster retention for an elite team is incredibly rare in the transfer portal era. Last year’s average was 31 percent roster retention, according to Evan Miyakawa. The Illini are bringing back five players who played at least 42 percent of the available minutes last year. Most college teams need to build continuity early in the season. The Illini will already have it.Illinois could be No. 1 team in college basketball’s preseason poll for 2026-27I don’t see a team that deserves to be ranked ahead of Illinois right now for the 2026-27 season. I’ll predict the Illini will rank No. 1 in the AP Poll preseason poll when it’s released closer to the season.Losing Wagler to the NBA and Kylan Boswell to graduation is a big deal, but it shouldn’t matter. Illinois is keeping its ridiculously talented front court in place that features two 7’1 guys who can shoot it and protect the rim in the Ivisic twins, plus a 6’9 brawler in Mirkovic who cleans the glass, stretches the floor, and can even run a little bit of offense with the ball in his hands. Davis is a veteran wing who hits 40 percent of his threes and doesn’t turn the ball over. Stojakovic is a deadly slasher and stout perimeter defender with a big body for a wing.Add in Vaaks’ pull-up shooting and the addition of incoming freshmen Quentin Coleman and Lucas Morillo, and this Illinois team should be really, really good.Vaaks will need to take a playmaking leap. Coleman is a four-star recruit with a skinny frame and shooting ability, and it will be interesting to see if Brad Underwood can develop him in a similar way to Wagler. Morillo is a 6’7 wing with a mean streak defensively who can also run some offense with the ball in his hands. The Illini are still in the mix for Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, who we ranked as a top-5 portal player available, and if they get him that would be an embarrassment of riches.Illinois will have competition for No. 1 in the polls. Florida is bringing back Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon as two players who would have been drafted in June if they turned pro. UConn is also crushing the portal by landing Najai Hines and retaining guard Silas Demary. Michigan is expected to lose Aday Mara and Morez Johnson to the NBA, but if they somehow brought both back, the Wolverines would have to be No. 1 in the polls. Louisville deserves consideration after bringing in Flory Bidunga and two other stud transfers.Most of the traditional powerhouses have work to do. Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, and North Carolina have all had a quiet offseason. The balance of power might be shifting in men’s college basketball. At least going into next season, the Illini are as good as anyone. #Illinois #mens #college #basketball #preseason #rankings #retaining #top #players

Illinois looks like No. 1 in men’s college basketball preseason rankings after retaining top players

The Illinois Fighting Illini reached the Final Four of the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005. Illinois ended up losing a tight game to the UConn Huskies before Michigan cut down the nets in the national championship game. Most programs as successful as Illinois was this past season are scrambling right now to replace the loss of key players to the NBA Draft or the transfer portal. The Illini are the exception, and it’s setting them up for another big year next season.

Andrej Stojakovic announced he was returning to Illinois for his senior season on Friday afternoon. Stojakovic’s announcement follows commitments to return earlier this week from teammates David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis. The Illini will lose Keaton Wagler to the 2026 NBA Draft, where he’s expected to be a top-7 pick, but they’re bringing back almost everyone else.

Wagler is a significant loss, but Illinois found what feels like a perfect replacement for him in Providence guard Stefan Vaaks in the transfer portal. Like Wagler, Vaaks is a tall (6’7), skinny guard who is at his best shooting threes off the dribble. Vaaks made 35 percent of his threes on 91-of-260 shooting from behind the arc last year as a freshman. More than 35 percent of those shots were unassisted.

Illinois found a winning formula this past season by launching threes at will and hitting the offensive glass hard. The Illini took 49.7 percent of their field goal attempts from three-point range, which ranked No. 15 in DI. They grabbed 39.2 percent of their misses, which ranked No. 3 overall in offensive rebound rate. The offense ended the year at No. 2 in efficiency by scoring an incredible 131.2 points per 100 possessions.

This type of roster retention for an elite team is incredibly rare in the transfer portal era. Last year’s average was 31 percent roster retention, according to Evan Miyakawa. The Illini are bringing back five players who played at least 42 percent of the available minutes last year. Most college teams need to build continuity early in the season. The Illini will already have it.

Illinois could be No. 1 team in college basketball’s preseason poll for 2026-27

I don’t see a team that deserves to be ranked ahead of Illinois right now for the 2026-27 season. I’ll predict the Illini will rank No. 1 in the AP Poll preseason poll when it’s released closer to the season.

Losing Wagler to the NBA and Kylan Boswell to graduation is a big deal, but it shouldn’t matter. Illinois is keeping its ridiculously talented front court in place that features two 7’1 guys who can shoot it and protect the rim in the Ivisic twins, plus a 6’9 brawler in Mirkovic who cleans the glass, stretches the floor, and can even run a little bit of offense with the ball in his hands. Davis is a veteran wing who hits 40 percent of his threes and doesn’t turn the ball over. Stojakovic is a deadly slasher and stout perimeter defender with a big body for a wing.

Add in Vaaks’ pull-up shooting and the addition of incoming freshmen Quentin Coleman and Lucas Morillo, and this Illinois team should be really, really good.

Vaaks will need to take a playmaking leap. Coleman is a four-star recruit with a skinny frame and shooting ability, and it will be interesting to see if Brad Underwood can develop him in a similar way to Wagler. Morillo is a 6’7 wing with a mean streak defensively who can also run some offense with the ball in his hands. The Illini are still in the mix for Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, who we ranked as a top-5 portal player available, and if they get him that would be an embarrassment of riches.

Illinois will have competition for No. 1 in the polls. Florida is bringing back Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon as two players who would have been drafted in June if they turned pro. UConn is also crushing the portal by landing Najai Hines and retaining guard Silas Demary. Michigan is expected to lose Aday Mara and Morez Johnson to the NBA, but if they somehow brought both back, the Wolverines would have to be No. 1 in the polls. Louisville deserves consideration after bringing in Flory Bidunga and two other stud transfers.

Most of the traditional powerhouses have work to do. Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, and North Carolina have all had a quiet offseason. The balance of power might be shifting in men’s college basketball. At least going into next season, the Illini are as good as anyone.

#Illinois #mens #college #basketball #preseason #rankings #retaining #top #players

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The Illinois Fighting Illini reached the Final Four of the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005. Illinois ended up losing a tight game to the UConn Huskies before Michigan cut down the nets in the national championship game. Most programs as successful as Illinois was this past season are scrambling right now to replace the loss of key players to the NBA Draft or the transfer portal. The Illini are the exception, and it’s setting them up for another big year next season.

Andrej Stojakovic announced he was returning to Illinois for his senior season on Friday afternoon. Stojakovic’s announcement follows commitments to return earlier this week from teammates David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis. The Illini will lose Keaton Wagler to the 2026 NBA Draft, where he’s expected to be a top-7 pick, but they’re bringing back almost everyone else.

Wagler is a significant loss, but Illinois found what feels like a perfect replacement for him in Providence guard Stefan Vaaks in the transfer portal. Like Wagler, Vaaks is a tall (6’7), skinny guard who is at his best shooting threes off the dribble. Vaaks made 35 percent of his threes on 91-of-260 shooting from behind the arc last year as a freshman. More than 35 percent of those shots were unassisted.

Illinois found a winning formula this past season by launching threes at will and hitting the offensive glass hard. The Illini took 49.7 percent of their field goal attempts from three-point range, which ranked No. 15 in DI. They grabbed 39.2 percent of their misses, which ranked No. 3 overall in offensive rebound rate. The offense ended the year at No. 2 in efficiency by scoring an incredible 131.2 points per 100 possessions.

This type of roster retention for an elite team is incredibly rare in the transfer portal era. Last year’s average was 31 percent roster retention, according to Evan Miyakawa. The Illini are bringing back five players who played at least 42 percent of the available minutes last year. Most college teams need to build continuity early in the season. The Illini will already have it.

Illinois could be No. 1 team in college basketball’s preseason poll for 2026-27

I don’t see a team that deserves to be ranked ahead of Illinois right now for the 2026-27 season. I’ll predict the Illini will rank No. 1 in the AP Poll preseason poll when it’s released closer to the season.

Losing Wagler to the NBA and Kylan Boswell to graduation is a big deal, but it shouldn’t matter. Illinois is keeping its ridiculously talented front court in place that features two 7’1 guys who can shoot it and protect the rim in the Ivisic twins, plus a 6’9 brawler in Mirkovic who cleans the glass, stretches the floor, and can even run a little bit of offense with the ball in his hands. Davis is a veteran wing who hits 40 percent of his threes and doesn’t turn the ball over. Stojakovic is a deadly slasher and stout perimeter defender with a big body for a wing.

Add in Vaaks’ pull-up shooting and the addition of incoming freshmen Quentin Coleman and Lucas Morillo, and this Illinois team should be really, really good.

Vaaks will need to take a playmaking leap. Coleman is a four-star recruit with a skinny frame and shooting ability, and it will be interesting to see if Brad Underwood can develop him in a similar way to Wagler. Morillo is a 6’7 wing with a mean streak defensively who can also run some offense with the ball in his hands. The Illini are still in the mix for Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, who we ranked as a top-5 portal player available, and if they get him that would be an embarrassment of riches.

Illinois will have competition for No. 1 in the polls. Florida is bringing back Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon as two players who would have been drafted in June if they turned pro. UConn is also crushing the portal by landing Najai Hines and retaining guard Silas Demary. Michigan is expected to lose Aday Mara and Morez Johnson to the NBA, but if they somehow brought both back, the Wolverines would have to be No. 1 in the polls. Louisville deserves consideration after bringing in Flory Bidunga and two other stud transfers.

Most of the traditional powerhouses have work to do. Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, and North Carolina have all had a quiet offseason. The balance of power might be shifting in men’s college basketball. At least going into next season, the Illini are as good as anyone.

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#Illinois #mens #college #basketball #preseason #rankings #retaining #top #players

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IFL 2025-26: Chanmari thrashes Namdhari to keep top-six hopes alive <div id="content-body-70875272" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Chanmari FC completed a dominant performance with a 4-1 win against Namdhari FC, to keep its hopes alive for a top six spot in the Indian Football League 2025-26 at the Namdhari Football Stadium in Sri Bhaini Sahib on Friday.</p><p>Chanmari took the lead in the fourth minute through Pepe, who was making his first start of the season, and then doubled its advantage in the second half through Christopher Kamei. Lalruatsanga scored the third in the 58th minute before Adersh Mattummal pulled one back three minutes later. Lalthangliana added the fourth for the visitor to seal the match.</p><p>Chanmari FC has moved temporarily to fifth in the table with 11 points and a goal difference of -1, and will rely on the results of other matches to confirm its place in the top six. Meanwhile, Namdhari, in ninth place with seven points, has confirmed their place in the relegation zone.</p><p>Chanmari stunned Namdhari with an early breakthrough in just the fourth minute. Marlon Rangel launched a simple long ball from defence into space, picking out the run of Pepe. The midfielder outpaced two defenders, controlled the ball well, and calmly slotted it through the legs of the onrushing goalkeeper.</p><p>The Brazilian was once again at the heart of the action moments later and could have doubled Chanmari’s lead. Jota made a fine run down the left, but his cross initially failed to find a teammate inside the box. The ball was recycled by Lalthangliana, who delivered a low cross into the path of Pepe, but his effort curled just over the crossbar.</p><p><b>ALSO READ | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football/cfc-vs-scd-score-results-chennaiyin-v-sporting-club-delhi-isl-2025-26-goals-farukh-choudhary-indian-football/article70874164.ece" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chennaiyin FC battles past Sporting Club Delhi for first home win of season</a></b></p><p>Chanmari looked lively whenever they went forward, with wingers Jota and Lalthangliana troubling the opposition defence with their pace. The latter missed a good opportunity midway through the half, heading over the bar after Marlon Rangel’s initial effort had been saved by goalkeeper Niraj Kumar.</p><p>Namdhari, on the other hand, relied on long-range efforts as they struggled to break down Chanmari’s defence. Najib Ibrahim came close with one such attempt, and around the half-hour mark, Manvir Singh, who has already scored twice from the centre circle this season, tried another audacious effort from midfield, which sailed just over the crossbar, leaving Zothanmawia scrambling in goal.</p><p>The visitor controlled the midfield, with Namdhari showing little urgency to win back possession as Chanmari carried its one-goal lead into the break.</p><p>The visitor doubled its advantage in the fourth minute of the restart. Christopher Kamei received the ball on the right wing, and his attempted cross looped over the goalkeeper’s head, struck the post, and nestled in the back of the net.</p><p><b>ALSO READ | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football/odisha-vs-mohammedan-score-result-isl-2025-26-goals-standings-points-table-football-news/article70875146.ece" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mohammedan SC secures first point of season after holding Odisha FC to 1-1 draw</a></b></p><p>The side from Aizawl then scored its third goal with a well-taken finish just before the hour mark. Left-back Malsawmtluanga played a well-timed pass into the path of Lalruatsanga, who had made a clever run behind the defence. The striker, from an acute angle, beat the goalkeeper with a wonderful side-footed finish.</p><p>Moments later, the home side could have halved the deficit after Seilenthang Lotjem missed from point blank range after being setup by a low cross by Bhupinder Singh.</p><p>Three minutes later, Namdhari FC pulled a goal back through a long-range effort from Adersh Mattummal. The midfielder controlled the ball between two defenders and, with a precise low shot, found the bottom corner past the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper.</p><p>Chanmari put the match to bed nine minutes from time with another well-taken goal, this time by substitute Lalthangliana. Fellow substitute KC Malsawmsanga rolled a pass across the edge of the box to the forward, who took a touch and struck a powerful shot into the bottom right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.</p><p>Chanmari saw off the remainder of the match with ease, confirming Namdhari’s position in the relegation zone and keeping its hopes alive for a place in the top six of the table.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 17, 2026</p></div> #IFL #Chanmari #thrashes #Namdhari #topsix #hopes #alive

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Deadspin | Reports: Texans’ Will Anderson Jr. agrees to 3-year, $150M deal <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/27993575.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/27993575.jpg" alt="NFL: AFC Wild Card Round-Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) leaves the field following an AFC Wild Card Round win against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>All-Pro edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. agreed to a three-year, $150 million contract extension to make him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history, multiple media outlets reported on Friday.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>The deal reportedly includes $134 million in guaranteed money and has a no-trade clause for Anderson, who already was under contract with the Texans through 2027 after the club picked up his fifth-year option.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-3"> <p>Anderson’s new deal surpasses the previous record extension of fellow edge rusher Micah Parsons, who signed with the Packers after Green Bay acquired him from the Dallas Cowboys in August. Parsons signed a four-year, $188 million extension that included $136 million in total guarantees.</p> </section> <section id="section-4"> <p>Anderson, 24, has recorded 30 sacks, 64 quarterback hits, 136 tackles, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 46 games (44 starts). He was selected by Houston with the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, one pick behind Texans quarterback CJ Stroud.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Anderson was the 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, made the Pro Bowl in 2023 and 2025 and earned All-Pro first-team honors in 2025 when he was runner-up for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-6"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Reports #Texans #Anderson #agrees #3year #150M #deal

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Chennaiyin FC eked out a hard-fought 1-0 win over SC Delhi in a bruising Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 encounter here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday.

In the early evening kick-off, Farukh Choudhary provided a moment of inspiration to lift the spirits of the sparse home support, still trickling into the arena. The victory moved Clifford Miranda’s Chennaiyin into 10th behind Delhi, whose four-game unbeaten run came to an end.

It was a contrasting display from the home side in either half. In the opening 45 minutes, the players were aggressive off the ball, pressing all over the pitch, led by forward Daniel Chima Chukwu. Chukwu was more than a handful up front, while centre-back Pritam Kotal and midfielder Mohammed Ali Bemammer were clattering into Delhi’s attackers.

Farukh had an excellent first half, moving across the front line, linking the play with full-back Mandar Rao Dessai and creator Alberto Noguera.

Chennaiyin’s early pressure paid off in the 11th minute. The home side worked the ball from the right side to the left, pulling Delhi out of its defensive shape. Farukh, who had wandered into a pocket of space at the edge of the box, was found by a Noguera first-time pass, and the forward befuddled everyone in the stadium with what he did next. From an acute angle, Farukh used his weak foot to slice across the ball to find enough power to place it into the top corner, leaving Nora Fernandes a bystander in goal.

Delhi responded immediately after when Mohammed Aimen picked out Matija Babovic’s run into the Chennaiyin box with a clipped ball over the top. The attacker brought it down but failed to generate enough power with his shot on the turn.

ALSO READ | A clenched fist, a quiet revolution — The idea of East Bengal under Oscar Bruzon

Chennaiyin regained control for the rest of the half but spurned a glorious chance to go 2-0 up before the break.

Noguera broke through the middle on a one-v-three counterattack, before playing in Irfan Yadwad down the right. With Noguera occupying the attention of Delhi’s defenders, the forward’s cross found Chukwu’s run in behind. The Nigerian took a little too much time in bringing the ball down before firing an effort at goal, allowing Alex Saji to make a crucial last-ditch block to stop Delhi from going two goals behind at the interval.

Miranda’s men couldn’t maintain the same tempo in the second period. Delhi was on the front foot, pressing Chennaiyin into committing errors on the ball.

Of Delhi’s 11 shots in the game, eight came in the second half, but crucially, the players didn’t get the right placements to trouble Mohammad Nawaz in goal. In the 51st minute, Saji had a free header from a free kick, which was straight at Nawaz.

Three minutes later, a poor pass from the back led to a turnover in possession from which Joseph Sunny blazed his effort over the bar after being set up by Babovic. Chennaiyin’s assistant coach stepped out of the dugout, urging his backline to slow things down.

Delhi’s front-three of Aimen, Babovic and Sunny started seeing more of the ball, forcing Chennaiyin back into its own half.

The visitor kept pushing right until the very death, setting up an anxious finish for the Chennaiyin fans. In the final seconds of stoppage time, K. Sourav’s snapshot from the edge of the box narrowly missed the far post, allowing the home supporters to breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy this season’s first home win.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#ISL #Chennaiyin #battles #Sporting #Club #Delhi #home #win #season">ISL 2025-26: Chennaiyin FC battles past Sporting Club Delhi for first home win of season Chennaiyin FC eked out a hard-fought 1-0 win over SC Delhi in a bruising Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 encounter here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday.In the early evening kick-off, Farukh Choudhary provided a moment of inspiration to lift the spirits of the sparse home support, still trickling into the arena. The victory moved Clifford Miranda’s Chennaiyin into 10th behind Delhi, whose four-game unbeaten run came to an end.It was a contrasting display from the home side in either half. In the opening 45 minutes, the players were aggressive off the ball, pressing all over the pitch, led by forward Daniel Chima Chukwu. Chukwu was more than a handful up front, while centre-back Pritam Kotal and midfielder Mohammed Ali Bemammer were clattering into Delhi’s attackers.Farukh had an excellent first half, moving across the front line, linking the play with full-back Mandar Rao Dessai and creator Alberto Noguera.Chennaiyin’s early pressure paid off in the 11th minute. The home side worked the ball from the right side to the left, pulling Delhi out of its defensive shape. Farukh, who had wandered into a pocket of space at the edge of the box, was found by a Noguera first-time pass, and the forward befuddled everyone in the stadium with what he did next. From an acute angle, Farukh used his weak foot to slice across the ball to find enough power to place it into the top corner, leaving Nora Fernandes a bystander in goal.Delhi responded immediately after when Mohammed Aimen picked out Matija Babovic’s run into the Chennaiyin box with a clipped ball over the top. The attacker brought it down but failed to generate enough power with his shot on the turn.ALSO READ | A clenched fist, a quiet revolution — The idea of East Bengal under Oscar BruzonChennaiyin regained control for the rest of the half but spurned a glorious chance to go 2-0 up before the break.Noguera broke through the middle on a one-v-three counterattack, before playing in Irfan Yadwad down the right. With Noguera occupying the attention of Delhi’s defenders, the forward’s cross found Chukwu’s run in behind. The Nigerian took a little too much time in bringing the ball down before firing an effort at goal, allowing Alex Saji to make a crucial last-ditch block to stop Delhi from going two goals behind at the interval.Miranda’s men couldn’t maintain the same tempo in the second period. Delhi was on the front foot, pressing Chennaiyin into committing errors on the ball.Of Delhi’s 11 shots in the game, eight came in the second half, but crucially, the players didn’t get the right placements to trouble Mohammad Nawaz in goal. In the 51st minute, Saji had a free header from a free kick, which was straight at Nawaz.Three minutes later, a poor pass from the back led to a turnover in possession from which Joseph Sunny blazed his effort over the bar after being set up by Babovic. Chennaiyin’s assistant coach stepped out of the dugout, urging his backline to slow things down.Delhi’s front-three of Aimen, Babovic and Sunny started seeing more of the ball, forcing Chennaiyin back into its own half.The visitor kept pushing right until the very death, setting up an anxious finish for the Chennaiyin fans. In the final seconds of stoppage time, K. Sourav’s snapshot from the edge of the box narrowly missed the far post, allowing the home supporters to breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy this season’s first home win.Published on Apr 17, 2026 #ISL #Chennaiyin #battles #Sporting #Club #Delhi #home #win #season

A clenched fist, a quiet revolution — The idea of East Bengal under Oscar Bruzon

Chennaiyin regained control for the rest of the half but spurned a glorious chance to go 2-0 up before the break.

Noguera broke through the middle on a one-v-three counterattack, before playing in Irfan Yadwad down the right. With Noguera occupying the attention of Delhi’s defenders, the forward’s cross found Chukwu’s run in behind. The Nigerian took a little too much time in bringing the ball down before firing an effort at goal, allowing Alex Saji to make a crucial last-ditch block to stop Delhi from going two goals behind at the interval.

Miranda’s men couldn’t maintain the same tempo in the second period. Delhi was on the front foot, pressing Chennaiyin into committing errors on the ball.

Of Delhi’s 11 shots in the game, eight came in the second half, but crucially, the players didn’t get the right placements to trouble Mohammad Nawaz in goal. In the 51st minute, Saji had a free header from a free kick, which was straight at Nawaz.

Three minutes later, a poor pass from the back led to a turnover in possession from which Joseph Sunny blazed his effort over the bar after being set up by Babovic. Chennaiyin’s assistant coach stepped out of the dugout, urging his backline to slow things down.

Delhi’s front-three of Aimen, Babovic and Sunny started seeing more of the ball, forcing Chennaiyin back into its own half.

The visitor kept pushing right until the very death, setting up an anxious finish for the Chennaiyin fans. In the final seconds of stoppage time, K. Sourav’s snapshot from the edge of the box narrowly missed the far post, allowing the home supporters to breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy this season’s first home win.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#ISL #Chennaiyin #battles #Sporting #Club #Delhi #home #win #season">ISL 2025-26: Chennaiyin FC battles past Sporting Club Delhi for first home win of season

Chennaiyin FC eked out a hard-fought 1-0 win over SC Delhi in a bruising Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 encounter here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday.

In the early evening kick-off, Farukh Choudhary provided a moment of inspiration to lift the spirits of the sparse home support, still trickling into the arena. The victory moved Clifford Miranda’s Chennaiyin into 10th behind Delhi, whose four-game unbeaten run came to an end.

It was a contrasting display from the home side in either half. In the opening 45 minutes, the players were aggressive off the ball, pressing all over the pitch, led by forward Daniel Chima Chukwu. Chukwu was more than a handful up front, while centre-back Pritam Kotal and midfielder Mohammed Ali Bemammer were clattering into Delhi’s attackers.

Farukh had an excellent first half, moving across the front line, linking the play with full-back Mandar Rao Dessai and creator Alberto Noguera.

Chennaiyin’s early pressure paid off in the 11th minute. The home side worked the ball from the right side to the left, pulling Delhi out of its defensive shape. Farukh, who had wandered into a pocket of space at the edge of the box, was found by a Noguera first-time pass, and the forward befuddled everyone in the stadium with what he did next. From an acute angle, Farukh used his weak foot to slice across the ball to find enough power to place it into the top corner, leaving Nora Fernandes a bystander in goal.

Delhi responded immediately after when Mohammed Aimen picked out Matija Babovic’s run into the Chennaiyin box with a clipped ball over the top. The attacker brought it down but failed to generate enough power with his shot on the turn.

ALSO READ | A clenched fist, a quiet revolution — The idea of East Bengal under Oscar Bruzon

Chennaiyin regained control for the rest of the half but spurned a glorious chance to go 2-0 up before the break.

Noguera broke through the middle on a one-v-three counterattack, before playing in Irfan Yadwad down the right. With Noguera occupying the attention of Delhi’s defenders, the forward’s cross found Chukwu’s run in behind. The Nigerian took a little too much time in bringing the ball down before firing an effort at goal, allowing Alex Saji to make a crucial last-ditch block to stop Delhi from going two goals behind at the interval.

Miranda’s men couldn’t maintain the same tempo in the second period. Delhi was on the front foot, pressing Chennaiyin into committing errors on the ball.

Of Delhi’s 11 shots in the game, eight came in the second half, but crucially, the players didn’t get the right placements to trouble Mohammad Nawaz in goal. In the 51st minute, Saji had a free header from a free kick, which was straight at Nawaz.

Three minutes later, a poor pass from the back led to a turnover in possession from which Joseph Sunny blazed his effort over the bar after being set up by Babovic. Chennaiyin’s assistant coach stepped out of the dugout, urging his backline to slow things down.

Delhi’s front-three of Aimen, Babovic and Sunny started seeing more of the ball, forcing Chennaiyin back into its own half.

The visitor kept pushing right until the very death, setting up an anxious finish for the Chennaiyin fans. In the final seconds of stoppage time, K. Sourav’s snapshot from the edge of the box narrowly missed the far post, allowing the home supporters to breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy this season’s first home win.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#ISL #Chennaiyin #battles #Sporting #Club #Delhi #home #win #season
Deadspin | Former Angels great Garret Anderson dies at 53 August 20, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Former Los Angeles Angels player Garret Anderson acknowledges spectators before being introduced for induction into the Angels hall of fame at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Garret Anderson, the hero of Game 7 of the 2002 World Series and the all-time hits leader among other offensive categories for the Angels’ franchise, died on Thursday. He was 53. The Angels did not disclose a cause of death in announcing his passing on Friday. TMZ reported Anderson died following a medical emergency at his home in Newport Beach, Calif. “The Angels Organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. “Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15 seasons and his stoic presence in the outfield and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success, highlighted by the 2002 World Series championship.” We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Angels Hall of Famer Garret Anderson. Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond.We extend our heartfelt condolences to… pic.twitter.com/RyF5qa7OPE— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) April 17, 2026 Anderson ripped a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the third inning, which proved to be the decisive hit to lift the then-Anaheim Angels to a 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series. It remains the only World Series appearance for the franchise. “Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond,” Moreno said. “His admiration and respect for the game was immeasurable.” Anderson remains atop the franchise all-time list in hits (2,368), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489), RBIs (1,292) and games played (2,013). He batted .296 with 272 homers with the Angels after being selected by the club in the fourth round of the 1990 MLB Draft out of John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, Calif. Anderson was inducted into the Angels’ Hall of Fame on Aug. 20, 2016. The team plans to honor Anderson for the remainder of the season by the players wearing a memorial patch on their jerseys. Here’s the patch the #Angels will wear the rest of the season to honor Garret Anderson pic.twitter.com/9L6S0ZlJrU— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) April 17, 2026 “We extend our deepest condolences to Garret’s wife Teresa, daughters Brianne and Bailey, son Garret ‘Trey’ Anderson III, and his entire family,” Moreno said. A two-time Silver Slugger recipient and three-time All-Star, he became a full-time player in Anaheim in 1995 and stayed 14 seasons. Anderson finished his career by spending one season with both the Atlanta Braves (2009) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2010). Only Mike Trout, with the franchise since 2011, has worn an Angels uniform longer than Anderson. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Angels #great #Garret #Anderson #diesAugust 20, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Former Los Angeles Angels player Garret Anderson acknowledges spectators before being introduced for induction into the Angels hall of fame at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Garret Anderson, the hero of Game 7 of the 2002 World Series and the all-time hits leader among other offensive categories for the Angels’ franchise, died on Thursday. He was 53.

The Angels did not disclose a cause of death in announcing his passing on Friday. TMZ reported Anderson died following a medical emergency at his home in Newport Beach, Calif.

“The Angels Organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. “Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15 seasons and his stoic presence in the outfield and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success, highlighted by the 2002 World Series championship.”

Anderson ripped a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the third inning, which proved to be the decisive hit to lift the then-Anaheim Angels to a 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series. It remains the only World Series appearance for the franchise.

“Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond,” Moreno said. “His admiration and respect for the game was immeasurable.”


Anderson remains atop the franchise all-time list in hits (2,368), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489), RBIs (1,292) and games played (2,013). He batted .296 with 272 homers with the Angels after being selected by the club in the fourth round of the 1990 MLB Draft out of John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, Calif.

Anderson was inducted into the Angels’ Hall of Fame on Aug. 20, 2016. The team plans to honor Anderson for the remainder of the season by the players wearing a memorial patch on their jerseys.

“We extend our deepest condolences to Garret’s wife Teresa, daughters Brianne and Bailey, son Garret ‘Trey’ Anderson III, and his entire family,” Moreno said.

A two-time Silver Slugger recipient and three-time All-Star, he became a full-time player in Anaheim in 1995 and stayed 14 seasons. Anderson finished his career by spending one season with both the Atlanta Braves (2009) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2010).

Only Mike Trout, with the franchise since 2011, has worn an Angels uniform longer than Anderson.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Angels #great #Garret #Anderson #dies">Deadspin | Former Angels great Garret Anderson dies at 53 August 20, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Former Los Angeles Angels player Garret Anderson acknowledges spectators before being introduced for induction into the Angels hall of fame at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Garret Anderson, the hero of Game 7 of the 2002 World Series and the all-time hits leader among other offensive categories for the Angels’ franchise, died on Thursday. He was 53. The Angels did not disclose a cause of death in announcing his passing on Friday. TMZ reported Anderson died following a medical emergency at his home in Newport Beach, Calif. “The Angels Organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. “Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15 seasons and his stoic presence in the outfield and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success, highlighted by the 2002 World Series championship.” We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Angels Hall of Famer Garret Anderson. Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond.We extend our heartfelt condolences to… pic.twitter.com/RyF5qa7OPE— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) April 17, 2026 Anderson ripped a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the third inning, which proved to be the decisive hit to lift the then-Anaheim Angels to a 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series. It remains the only World Series appearance for the franchise. “Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond,” Moreno said. “His admiration and respect for the game was immeasurable.” Anderson remains atop the franchise all-time list in hits (2,368), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489), RBIs (1,292) and games played (2,013). He batted .296 with 272 homers with the Angels after being selected by the club in the fourth round of the 1990 MLB Draft out of John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, Calif. Anderson was inducted into the Angels’ Hall of Fame on Aug. 20, 2016. The team plans to honor Anderson for the remainder of the season by the players wearing a memorial patch on their jerseys. Here’s the patch the #Angels will wear the rest of the season to honor Garret Anderson pic.twitter.com/9L6S0ZlJrU— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) April 17, 2026 “We extend our deepest condolences to Garret’s wife Teresa, daughters Brianne and Bailey, son Garret ‘Trey’ Anderson III, and his entire family,” Moreno said. A two-time Silver Slugger recipient and three-time All-Star, he became a full-time player in Anaheim in 1995 and stayed 14 seasons. Anderson finished his career by spending one season with both the Atlanta Braves (2009) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2010). Only Mike Trout, with the franchise since 2011, has worn an Angels uniform longer than Anderson. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Angels #great #Garret #Anderson #dies

Anderson ripped a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the third inning, which proved to be the decisive hit to lift the then-Anaheim Angels to a 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series. It remains the only World Series appearance for the franchise.

“Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond,” Moreno said. “His admiration and respect for the game was immeasurable.”


Anderson remains atop the franchise all-time list in hits (2,368), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489), RBIs (1,292) and games played (2,013). He batted .296 with 272 homers with the Angels after being selected by the club in the fourth round of the 1990 MLB Draft out of John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, Calif.

Anderson was inducted into the Angels’ Hall of Fame on Aug. 20, 2016. The team plans to honor Anderson for the remainder of the season by the players wearing a memorial patch on their jerseys.

“We extend our deepest condolences to Garret’s wife Teresa, daughters Brianne and Bailey, son Garret ‘Trey’ Anderson III, and his entire family,” Moreno said.

A two-time Silver Slugger recipient and three-time All-Star, he became a full-time player in Anaheim in 1995 and stayed 14 seasons. Anderson finished his career by spending one season with both the Atlanta Braves (2009) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2010).

Only Mike Trout, with the franchise since 2011, has worn an Angels uniform longer than Anderson.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Angels #great #Garret #Anderson #dies">Deadspin | Former Angels great Garret Anderson dies at 53
Deadspin | Former Angels great Garret Anderson dies at 53 August 20, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Former Los Angeles Angels player Garret Anderson acknowledges spectators before being introduced for induction into the Angels hall of fame at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Garret Anderson, the hero of Game 7 of the 2002 World Series and the all-time hits leader among other offensive categories for the Angels’ franchise, died on Thursday. He was 53. The Angels did not disclose a cause of death in announcing his passing on Friday. TMZ reported Anderson died following a medical emergency at his home in Newport Beach, Calif. “The Angels Organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. “Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15 seasons and his stoic presence in the outfield and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success, highlighted by the 2002 World Series championship.” We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Angels Hall of Famer Garret Anderson. Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond.We extend our heartfelt condolences to… pic.twitter.com/RyF5qa7OPE— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) April 17, 2026 Anderson ripped a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the third inning, which proved to be the decisive hit to lift the then-Anaheim Angels to a 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series. It remains the only World Series appearance for the franchise. “Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond,” Moreno said. “His admiration and respect for the game was immeasurable.” Anderson remains atop the franchise all-time list in hits (2,368), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489), RBIs (1,292) and games played (2,013). He batted .296 with 272 homers with the Angels after being selected by the club in the fourth round of the 1990 MLB Draft out of John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, Calif. Anderson was inducted into the Angels’ Hall of Fame on Aug. 20, 2016. The team plans to honor Anderson for the remainder of the season by the players wearing a memorial patch on their jerseys. Here’s the patch the #Angels will wear the rest of the season to honor Garret Anderson pic.twitter.com/9L6S0ZlJrU— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) April 17, 2026 “We extend our deepest condolences to Garret’s wife Teresa, daughters Brianne and Bailey, son Garret ‘Trey’ Anderson III, and his entire family,” Moreno said. A two-time Silver Slugger recipient and three-time All-Star, he became a full-time player in Anaheim in 1995 and stayed 14 seasons. Anderson finished his career by spending one season with both the Atlanta Braves (2009) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2010). Only Mike Trout, with the franchise since 2011, has worn an Angels uniform longer than Anderson. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Angels #great #Garret #Anderson #diesAugust 20, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Former Los Angeles Angels player Garret Anderson acknowledges spectators before being introduced for induction into the Angels hall of fame at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Garret Anderson, the hero of Game 7 of the 2002 World Series and the all-time hits leader among other offensive categories for the Angels’ franchise, died on Thursday. He was 53.

The Angels did not disclose a cause of death in announcing his passing on Friday. TMZ reported Anderson died following a medical emergency at his home in Newport Beach, Calif.

“The Angels Organization is mourning the loss of one of our franchise’s most beloved icons, Garret Anderson,” Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. “Garret was a cornerstone of our organization throughout his 15 seasons and his stoic presence in the outfield and our clubhouse elevated the Angels into an era of continued success, highlighted by the 2002 World Series championship.”

Anderson ripped a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the third inning, which proved to be the decisive hit to lift the then-Anaheim Angels to a 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series. It remains the only World Series appearance for the franchise.

“Garret will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Angels fans for his professionalism, class, and loyalty throughout his career and beyond,” Moreno said. “His admiration and respect for the game was immeasurable.”


Anderson remains atop the franchise all-time list in hits (2,368), total bases (3,743), extra-base hits (796), doubles (489), RBIs (1,292) and games played (2,013). He batted .296 with 272 homers with the Angels after being selected by the club in the fourth round of the 1990 MLB Draft out of John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, Calif.

Anderson was inducted into the Angels’ Hall of Fame on Aug. 20, 2016. The team plans to honor Anderson for the remainder of the season by the players wearing a memorial patch on their jerseys.

“We extend our deepest condolences to Garret’s wife Teresa, daughters Brianne and Bailey, son Garret ‘Trey’ Anderson III, and his entire family,” Moreno said.

A two-time Silver Slugger recipient and three-time All-Star, he became a full-time player in Anaheim in 1995 and stayed 14 seasons. Anderson finished his career by spending one season with both the Atlanta Braves (2009) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2010).

Only Mike Trout, with the franchise since 2011, has worn an Angels uniform longer than Anderson.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Angels #great #Garret #Anderson #dies

There is a certain calmness about R. Vaishali. That is evident in her voice, coming through clearly over the phone from Cyprus, some 5,000 kms away.

You could also sense some joy in her voice. You would understand if she chose to scream with delight: after all, she became the first Indian to win the Women’s Candidates chess tournament just a couple of days ago and thus qualified for the World title match.

Vaishali, though, is as collected as ever when she talks about the greatest moment of her career. “Winning the Candidates means a lot to me, as it has been my dream to win the World championship since I was a little girl,” she tells Sportstar. “When Viswanathan Anand sir was given a reception in 2012, after he won the World championship, I was one of the kids sent to the Chennai airport by my school, Velammal. That reception was inspiring.”

She was 11 then.

And Anand was there in Cyprus to congratulate her in person. He is her mentor now. She is being trained and sponsored by WestBridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA), which the five-time World champion founded along with Sandeep Singhal.

“Even before the Candidates, I had discussions with Anand sir, and the suggestions he made proved useful for my games,” says Vaishali. “And yes, I have been discussing chess with my younger brother R. Praggnanadhaa, who was playing the open section of the Candidates here. We even discussed what openings I should play for my last two rounds.”

RELATED | Vaishali has worked hard, is confident now: coach Ramesh

It was a superb victory in her final-round game against Katerya Lagno that gave Vaishali the title. “I was very happy to see some Sicilian (Defence) on the board,” she smiles. “I didn’t expect her to play this Dragon variation specifically that day. But I had prepared it, of course, before the tournament. Since she had some chances if she won, she was provoked to play that aggressive line.”

But Vaishali didn’t give her a chance and dominated the game. “I am quite happy with that game, and also with the ones against Divya Deshmukh and Aleksandra Goryachkina,” she says. “I wasn’t pleased with the way I began, however — four draws and then a loss in the fifth round. But after that, I bounced back with successive victories. Yes, it has been a pattern for me: I tend to hit my peak after a low. Here, I wasn’t bothered about the standings at the early stage, as I knew I could come back later, but what worried me was the way I played: I was defending in every game. So I decided to focus on the quality of my games.”

That certainly helped.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#Candidates #Discussions #Anand #Pragg #helped #triumphant #Vaishali">Candidates 2026: Discussions with Anand and Pragg helped me, says triumphant Vaishali There is a certain calmness about R. Vaishali. That is evident in her voice, coming through clearly over the phone from Cyprus, some 5,000 kms away.You could also sense some joy in her voice. You would understand if she chose to scream with delight: after all, she became the first Indian to win the Women’s Candidates chess tournament just a couple of days ago and thus qualified for the World title match.Vaishali, though, is as collected as ever when she talks about the greatest moment of her career. “Winning the Candidates means a lot to me, as it has been my dream to win the World championship since I was a little girl,” she tells Sportstar. “When Viswanathan Anand sir was given a reception in 2012, after he won the World championship, I was one of the kids sent to the Chennai airport by my school, Velammal. That reception was inspiring.”She was 11 then.And Anand was there in Cyprus to congratulate her in person. He is her mentor now. She is being trained and sponsored by WestBridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA), which the five-time World champion founded along with Sandeep Singhal.“Even before the Candidates, I had discussions with Anand sir, and the suggestions he made proved useful for my games,” says Vaishali. “And yes, I have been discussing chess with my younger brother R. Praggnanadhaa, who was playing the open section of the Candidates here. We even discussed what openings I should play for my last two rounds.”RELATED | Vaishali has worked hard, is confident now: coach RameshIt was a superb victory in her final-round game against Katerya Lagno that gave Vaishali the title. “I was very happy to see some Sicilian (Defence) on the board,” she smiles. “I didn’t expect her to play this Dragon variation specifically that day. But I had prepared it, of course, before the tournament. Since she had some chances if she won, she was provoked to play that aggressive line.”But Vaishali didn’t give her a chance and dominated the game. “I am quite happy with that game, and also with the ones against Divya Deshmukh and Aleksandra Goryachkina,” she says. “I wasn’t pleased with the way I began, however — four draws and then a loss in the fifth round. But after that, I bounced back with successive victories. Yes, it has been a pattern for me: I tend to hit my peak after a low. Here, I wasn’t bothered about the standings at the early stage, as I knew I could come back later, but what worried me was the way I played: I was defending in every game. So I decided to focus on the quality of my games.”That certainly helped.Published on Apr 17, 2026 #Candidates #Discussions #Anand #Pragg #helped #triumphant #Vaishali

Vaishali has worked hard, is confident now: coach Ramesh

It was a superb victory in her final-round game against Katerya Lagno that gave Vaishali the title. “I was very happy to see some Sicilian (Defence) on the board,” she smiles. “I didn’t expect her to play this Dragon variation specifically that day. But I had prepared it, of course, before the tournament. Since she had some chances if she won, she was provoked to play that aggressive line.”

But Vaishali didn’t give her a chance and dominated the game. “I am quite happy with that game, and also with the ones against Divya Deshmukh and Aleksandra Goryachkina,” she says. “I wasn’t pleased with the way I began, however — four draws and then a loss in the fifth round. But after that, I bounced back with successive victories. Yes, it has been a pattern for me: I tend to hit my peak after a low. Here, I wasn’t bothered about the standings at the early stage, as I knew I could come back later, but what worried me was the way I played: I was defending in every game. So I decided to focus on the quality of my games.”

That certainly helped.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#Candidates #Discussions #Anand #Pragg #helped #triumphant #Vaishali">Candidates 2026: Discussions with Anand and Pragg helped me, says triumphant Vaishali

There is a certain calmness about R. Vaishali. That is evident in her voice, coming through clearly over the phone from Cyprus, some 5,000 kms away.

You could also sense some joy in her voice. You would understand if she chose to scream with delight: after all, she became the first Indian to win the Women’s Candidates chess tournament just a couple of days ago and thus qualified for the World title match.

Vaishali, though, is as collected as ever when she talks about the greatest moment of her career. “Winning the Candidates means a lot to me, as it has been my dream to win the World championship since I was a little girl,” she tells Sportstar. “When Viswanathan Anand sir was given a reception in 2012, after he won the World championship, I was one of the kids sent to the Chennai airport by my school, Velammal. That reception was inspiring.”

She was 11 then.

And Anand was there in Cyprus to congratulate her in person. He is her mentor now. She is being trained and sponsored by WestBridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA), which the five-time World champion founded along with Sandeep Singhal.

“Even before the Candidates, I had discussions with Anand sir, and the suggestions he made proved useful for my games,” says Vaishali. “And yes, I have been discussing chess with my younger brother R. Praggnanadhaa, who was playing the open section of the Candidates here. We even discussed what openings I should play for my last two rounds.”

RELATED | Vaishali has worked hard, is confident now: coach Ramesh

It was a superb victory in her final-round game against Katerya Lagno that gave Vaishali the title. “I was very happy to see some Sicilian (Defence) on the board,” she smiles. “I didn’t expect her to play this Dragon variation specifically that day. But I had prepared it, of course, before the tournament. Since she had some chances if she won, she was provoked to play that aggressive line.”

But Vaishali didn’t give her a chance and dominated the game. “I am quite happy with that game, and also with the ones against Divya Deshmukh and Aleksandra Goryachkina,” she says. “I wasn’t pleased with the way I began, however — four draws and then a loss in the fifth round. But after that, I bounced back with successive victories. Yes, it has been a pattern for me: I tend to hit my peak after a low. Here, I wasn’t bothered about the standings at the early stage, as I knew I could come back later, but what worried me was the way I played: I was defending in every game. So I decided to focus on the quality of my games.”

That certainly helped.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#Candidates #Discussions #Anand #Pragg #helped #triumphant #Vaishali

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