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Is R Vaishali the first Indian to qualify for Women’s World Chess Championship final? India’s R Vaishali clinched the FIDE Candidates 2026 title on Wednesday, after she topped the standing with 8.5 points at the culmination of the final round.Vaishali will now take on China’s Ju Wenjun for the World Chess Championship title, with the clash likely to happen later this year.Is R Vaishali the first Indian to become World Women’s Chess Championship challenger?Vaishali is now the second Indian woman to become a challenger for the ultimate prize in women’s chess. In 2011, Koneru Humpy had qualified for the title clash after topping the FIDE Grand Prix series.Humpy squared off against reigning champion Hou Yifan of China in the World Championship final in Tirana, Albania.The Chinese GM dominated the eight-game tie, winning 5.5-2.5, to retain her title.Published on Apr 15, 2026 #Vaishali #Indian #qualify #Womens #World #Chess #Championship #final

Is R Vaishali the first Indian to qualify for Women’s World Chess Championship final?

India’s R Vaishali clinched the FIDE Candidates 2026 title on Wednesday, after she topped the standing with 8.5 points at the culmination of the final round.

Vaishali will now take on China’s Ju Wenjun for the World Chess Championship title, with the clash likely to happen later this year.

Is R Vaishali the first Indian to become World Women’s Chess Championship challenger?

Vaishali is now the second Indian woman to become a challenger for the ultimate prize in women’s chess. In 2011, Koneru Humpy had qualified for the title clash after topping the FIDE Grand Prix series.

Humpy squared off against reigning champion Hou Yifan of China in the World Championship final in Tirana, Albania.

The Chinese GM dominated the eight-game tie, winning 5.5-2.5, to retain her title.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#Vaishali #Indian #qualify #Womens #World #Chess #Championship #final

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India’s R Vaishali clinched the FIDE Candidates 2026 title on Wednesday, after she topped the standing with 8.5 points at the culmination of the final round.

Vaishali will now take on China’s Ju Wenjun for the World Chess Championship title, with the clash likely to happen later this year.

Is R Vaishali the first Indian to become World Women’s Chess Championship challenger?

Vaishali is now the second Indian woman to become a challenger for the ultimate prize in women’s chess. In 2011, Koneru Humpy had qualified for the title clash after topping the FIDE Grand Prix series.

Humpy squared off against reigning champion Hou Yifan of China in the World Championship final in Tirana, Albania.

The Chinese GM dominated the eight-game tie, winning 5.5-2.5, to retain her title.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

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Deadspin | Caleb Wilson bids good-bye to North Carolina, hello to NBA <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-900/28322964.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28322964.jpg" alt="NCAA Basketball: North Carolina at Syracuse" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Feb 21, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) shoots prior to the game against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>It turns out Caleb Wilson’s final game with North Carolina occurred on Feb. 10.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>The freshman star formally became a one-and-done player by declaring for the NBA draft this week. He’s a likely top-five draft pick.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>“I am grateful for the opportunity I had to represent North Carolina,” Wilson said in a video. “Wearing No. 8, running out of that historic tunnel every day for practice and games, and I’m happy to say every day I gave it my all.”</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>The 6-foot-10 Wilson was a second-team All-American and averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds in 24 games. He missed the last nine game games due to hand and thumb injuries.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-5"> <p>He fractured his left hand against Miami on Feb. 10. When he was close to returning from that ailment, Wilson broke his right thumb while dunking in practice on March 5 and underwent surgery.</p> </section> <section id="section-6"> <p>“This past year has been the most fun year of my life, although it has been filled with a lot of growth and adversity,” Wilson said in his announcement. “I will always cherish this university and the people that make this place what it is.”</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>His decision to become a pro comes after North Carolina fired coach Hubert Davis and hired former NBA head coach Michael Malone.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>The Tar Heels lost 82-78 in overtime to VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Caleb #Wilson #bids #goodbye #North #Carolina #NBA

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Deadspin | WTA roundup: Two-time Stuttgart champ Iga Swiatek into quarterfinals Mar 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Iga Swiatek (POL) hits a backhand against Magda Linette (POL) (not pictured) on day three of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images In her first match with new clay-court coach Francisco Roig, former World No. 1 Iga Swiatek cruised past Laura Siegemund of Germany 6-2, 6-3 on Wednesday at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany. Swiatek, a two-time champion at Stuttgart who is seeded No. 3, failed to capitalize on an early break in the opening set, but rebounded by breaking Siegemund in the sixth and eighth games. In the second set, the six-time Grand Slam champion missed out on another early break but again broke her opponent in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead before closing out the match. Swiatek, who had a first-round bye, is on to the quarterfinals. Qualifier Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey pulled off a sizable upset, taking down fifth-seeded Jasmine Paolini of Italy 6-2, 6-2 in a one-hour, 16-minute match. Sönmez landed 72% of her first serves and also won 62.5% percent of second-return points, while Paolini failed to convert her lone break-point opportunities and won just 41.8% of total points. Fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine was among the other winners, dominating Eva Lys of Germany 6-1, 6-0. Sixth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia took down defending champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, American qualifier Alycia Parks defeated German wild card Noma Noha Akugue 6-4, 6-2, and Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic outlasted Zhang Shuai of China 5-7, 6-1, 6-4. Rouen Metropolitan Open Unseeded Katie Boulter of Great Britain pulled off an upset of No. 3 seed Jaqueline Cristian of Romania, winning 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals at Rouen, France. Boulter, who has won just once on the WTA Tour, survived a tough first set that saw her take a 5-0 lead in the tiebreaker, only for Cristian to save five set points before Boulter prevailed. Cristian rebounded in the second set, but Boulter cruised in the third set, breaking Cristian twice en route to the win. Top-seeded Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine dropped the opening set to unseeded American Caty McNally, then bounced back for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory to reach the quarterfinals. Kostyuk will face fifth-seeded American Ann Li, who notched a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 triumph over unseeded Kamilla Rakhimova of Uzbekistan. Unseeded Tatjana Maria of Germany upset No. 9 seed Elsa Jacquemot of France 6-4, 6-3. Other winners included No. 2 seed Sorana Cirstea of Romania, Anna Bondar of Hungary and Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #WTA #roundup #Twotime #Stuttgart #champ #Iga #Swiatek #quarterfinalsMar 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Iga Swiatek (POL) hits a backhand against Magda Linette (POL) (not pictured) on day three of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

In her first match with new clay-court coach Francisco Roig, former World No. 1 Iga Swiatek cruised past Laura Siegemund of Germany 6-2, 6-3 on Wednesday at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany.

Swiatek, a two-time champion at Stuttgart who is seeded No. 3, failed to capitalize on an early break in the opening set, but rebounded by breaking Siegemund in the sixth and eighth games. In the second set, the six-time Grand Slam champion missed out on another early break but again broke her opponent in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead before closing out the match. Swiatek, who had a first-round bye, is on to the quarterfinals.

Qualifier Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey pulled off a sizable upset, taking down fifth-seeded Jasmine Paolini of Italy 6-2, 6-2 in a one-hour, 16-minute match. Sönmez landed 72% of her first serves and also won 62.5% percent of second-return points, while Paolini failed to convert her lone break-point opportunities and won just 41.8% of total points.

Fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine was among the other winners, dominating Eva Lys of Germany 6-1, 6-0. Sixth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia took down defending champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, American qualifier Alycia Parks defeated German wild card Noma Noha Akugue 6-4, 6-2, and Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic outlasted Zhang Shuai of China 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.


Rouen Metropolitan Open

Unseeded Katie Boulter of Great Britain pulled off an upset of No. 3 seed Jaqueline Cristian of Romania, winning 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals at Rouen, France.

Boulter, who has won just once on the WTA Tour, survived a tough first set that saw her take a 5-0 lead in the tiebreaker, only for Cristian to save five set points before Boulter prevailed. Cristian rebounded in the second set, but Boulter cruised in the third set, breaking Cristian twice en route to the win.

Top-seeded Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine dropped the opening set to unseeded American Caty McNally, then bounced back for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory to reach the quarterfinals. Kostyuk will face fifth-seeded American Ann Li, who notched a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 triumph over unseeded Kamilla Rakhimova of Uzbekistan. Unseeded Tatjana Maria of Germany upset No. 9 seed Elsa Jacquemot of France 6-4, 6-3. Other winners included No. 2 seed Sorana Cirstea of Romania, Anna Bondar of Hungary and Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #WTA #roundup #Twotime #Stuttgart #champ #Iga #Swiatek #quarterfinals">Deadspin | WTA roundup: Two-time Stuttgart champ Iga Swiatek into quarterfinals Mar 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Iga Swiatek (POL) hits a backhand against Magda Linette (POL) (not pictured) on day three of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images In her first match with new clay-court coach Francisco Roig, former World No. 1 Iga Swiatek cruised past Laura Siegemund of Germany 6-2, 6-3 on Wednesday at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany. Swiatek, a two-time champion at Stuttgart who is seeded No. 3, failed to capitalize on an early break in the opening set, but rebounded by breaking Siegemund in the sixth and eighth games. In the second set, the six-time Grand Slam champion missed out on another early break but again broke her opponent in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead before closing out the match. Swiatek, who had a first-round bye, is on to the quarterfinals. Qualifier Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey pulled off a sizable upset, taking down fifth-seeded Jasmine Paolini of Italy 6-2, 6-2 in a one-hour, 16-minute match. Sönmez landed 72% of her first serves and also won 62.5% percent of second-return points, while Paolini failed to convert her lone break-point opportunities and won just 41.8% of total points. Fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine was among the other winners, dominating Eva Lys of Germany 6-1, 6-0. Sixth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia took down defending champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, American qualifier Alycia Parks defeated German wild card Noma Noha Akugue 6-4, 6-2, and Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic outlasted Zhang Shuai of China 5-7, 6-1, 6-4. Rouen Metropolitan Open Unseeded Katie Boulter of Great Britain pulled off an upset of No. 3 seed Jaqueline Cristian of Romania, winning 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals at Rouen, France. Boulter, who has won just once on the WTA Tour, survived a tough first set that saw her take a 5-0 lead in the tiebreaker, only for Cristian to save five set points before Boulter prevailed. Cristian rebounded in the second set, but Boulter cruised in the third set, breaking Cristian twice en route to the win. Top-seeded Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine dropped the opening set to unseeded American Caty McNally, then bounced back for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory to reach the quarterfinals. Kostyuk will face fifth-seeded American Ann Li, who notched a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 triumph over unseeded Kamilla Rakhimova of Uzbekistan. Unseeded Tatjana Maria of Germany upset No. 9 seed Elsa Jacquemot of France 6-4, 6-3. Other winners included No. 2 seed Sorana Cirstea of Romania, Anna Bondar of Hungary and Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #WTA #roundup #Twotime #Stuttgart #champ #Iga #Swiatek #quarterfinals

Deadspin | ATP roundup: Ben Shelton continues successful run at BMW Open Ben Shelton keeps his eyes on the ball during his second-round match against Reilly Opelka at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., Friday, March 6, 2026. Second-seeded Ben Shelton saved two set points in the second set, including one in the tiebreaker, in knocking off Belgian wild card Alexander Blockx 6-4, 7-6 (8) on Wednesday in the BMW Open’s second round in Munich, Germany. Ranked No. 6 in the world, Shelton is 6-1 all-time in Munich, where he reached the clay-court final in 2025 and lost to Germany’s Alexander Zverev. Shelton saved all three break points in the match against Blockx and had more winners (26-11) and aces (4-0) as well as double faults (2-0) and unforced errors (32-15). Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, the fourth seed, downed Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 6-2, 6-3, but other seeds didn’t fare as well. Czech Vit Kopriva upset eighth-seeded Luciano Darderi of Italy 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, and Brazil’s Joao Fonseca defeated seventh-seeded Arthur Rinderknech of France 6-3, 6-2. Fonseca, 19, takes on Shelton in the quarterfinals. Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan completed his match suspended by darkness on Tuesday with a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas on Wednesday. Barcelona Open Wild card Rafael Jodar became the third Spanish teenager this century to reach the Barcelona quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli in one hour, 30 minutes. The other two teens were all-time great Rafael Nadal (2005-06) and current World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz (2022-23), who pulled out of the event due to a right wrist injury sustained in a victory on Tuesday. Jodar, No. 47 in the world, will face seventh-seeded Cameron Norrie of Great Britain, who beat Ethan Quinn 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Serbian qualifier Hamad Medjedovic upset third-seeded Alex de Minaur of Australia 6-3, 6-4, and will take on Portugal’s Nuno Borges, who defeated Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 7-6 (4). –Field Level Media #Deadspin #ATP #roundup #Ben #Shelton #continues #successful #run #BMW #OpenBen Shelton keeps his eyes on the ball during his second-round match against Reilly Opelka at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., Friday, March 6, 2026.

Second-seeded Ben Shelton saved two set points in the second set, including one in the tiebreaker, in knocking off Belgian wild card Alexander Blockx 6-4, 7-6 (8) on Wednesday in the BMW Open’s second round in Munich, Germany.

Ranked No. 6 in the world, Shelton is 6-1 all-time in Munich, where he reached the clay-court final in 2025 and lost to Germany’s Alexander Zverev. Shelton saved all three break points in the match against Blockx and had more winners (26-11) and aces (4-0) as well as double faults (2-0) and unforced errors (32-15).

Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, the fourth seed, downed Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 6-2, 6-3, but other seeds didn’t fare as well. Czech Vit Kopriva upset eighth-seeded Luciano Darderi of Italy 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, and Brazil’s Joao Fonseca defeated seventh-seeded Arthur Rinderknech of France 6-3, 6-2. Fonseca, 19, takes on Shelton in the quarterfinals.

Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan completed his match suspended by darkness on Tuesday with a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas on Wednesday.


Barcelona Open

Wild card Rafael Jodar became the third Spanish teenager this century to reach the Barcelona quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli in one hour, 30 minutes.

The other two teens were all-time great Rafael Nadal (2005-06) and current World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz (2022-23), who pulled out of the event due to a right wrist injury sustained in a victory on Tuesday.

Jodar, No. 47 in the world, will face seventh-seeded Cameron Norrie of Great Britain, who beat Ethan Quinn 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Serbian qualifier Hamad Medjedovic upset third-seeded Alex de Minaur of Australia 6-3, 6-4, and will take on Portugal’s Nuno Borges, who defeated Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 7-6 (4).

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #ATP #roundup #Ben #Shelton #continues #successful #run #BMW #Open">Deadspin | ATP roundup: Ben Shelton continues successful run at BMW Open Ben Shelton keeps his eyes on the ball during his second-round match against Reilly Opelka at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., Friday, March 6, 2026. Second-seeded Ben Shelton saved two set points in the second set, including one in the tiebreaker, in knocking off Belgian wild card Alexander Blockx 6-4, 7-6 (8) on Wednesday in the BMW Open’s second round in Munich, Germany. Ranked No. 6 in the world, Shelton is 6-1 all-time in Munich, where he reached the clay-court final in 2025 and lost to Germany’s Alexander Zverev. Shelton saved all three break points in the match against Blockx and had more winners (26-11) and aces (4-0) as well as double faults (2-0) and unforced errors (32-15). Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, the fourth seed, downed Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 6-2, 6-3, but other seeds didn’t fare as well. Czech Vit Kopriva upset eighth-seeded Luciano Darderi of Italy 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, and Brazil’s Joao Fonseca defeated seventh-seeded Arthur Rinderknech of France 6-3, 6-2. Fonseca, 19, takes on Shelton in the quarterfinals. Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan completed his match suspended by darkness on Tuesday with a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas on Wednesday. Barcelona Open Wild card Rafael Jodar became the third Spanish teenager this century to reach the Barcelona quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli in one hour, 30 minutes. The other two teens were all-time great Rafael Nadal (2005-06) and current World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz (2022-23), who pulled out of the event due to a right wrist injury sustained in a victory on Tuesday. Jodar, No. 47 in the world, will face seventh-seeded Cameron Norrie of Great Britain, who beat Ethan Quinn 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Serbian qualifier Hamad Medjedovic upset third-seeded Alex de Minaur of Australia 6-3, 6-4, and will take on Portugal’s Nuno Borges, who defeated Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 7-6 (4). –Field Level Media #Deadspin #ATP #roundup #Ben #Shelton #continues #successful #run #BMW #Open

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Captain Ajinkya Rahane has been fined Rs 12 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate during its Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) here.

Last-placed KKR extended its winless run this season as it went down by 32 runs to CSK here on Tuesday.

“Kolkata Knight Riders Captain Ajinkya Rahane has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during Match No. 22 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 against Chennai Super Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai,” said an IPL media advisory.

“As this was his team’s first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which pertains to minimum over-rate offences, Rahane was fined INR 12 lakhs,” it added.

KKR will take on Gujarat Titans next in Ahmedabad on Friday.

(with inputs from PTI)

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#IPL #Rahane #fined #lakh #KKRs #slow #rate #CSK">IPL 2026: Rahane fined Rs 12 lakh for KKR’s slow over rate against CSK Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Captain Ajinkya Rahane has been fined Rs 12 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate during its Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) here.Last-placed KKR extended its winless run this season as it went down by 32 runs to CSK here on Tuesday.“Kolkata Knight Riders Captain Ajinkya Rahane has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during Match No. 22 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 against Chennai Super Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai,” said an IPL media advisory.“As this was his team’s first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which pertains to minimum over-rate offences, Rahane was fined INR 12 lakhs,” it added.KKR will take on Gujarat Titans next in Ahmedabad on Friday.(with inputs from PTI)Published on Apr 15, 2026 #IPL #Rahane #fined #lakh #KKRs #slow #rate #CSK

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