26 h. ago Chess: Sindarov, 19, becomes youngest World Cup winner as London Classic begins

The Uzbek won $120,000 and qualified for the 2026 Candidates in Cyprus, which will decide the official challenger for Gukesh Dommaraju’s world crownJavokhir Sindarov, 19, became the youngest ever winner of the Fide knockout World Cup on Wednesday when the Uzbek teenager defeated China’s Wei Yi 2.5-1.5 in the final at Goa. Ukraine’s Ruslan Ponomariov had been a year younger in 2002, but that World Cup had also doubled as the Fide world championship in a period when the global title was disputed.Wei was the favourite, but handicapped himself by poor time management in the decisive game. He declined a draw and could have gained a near-decisive edge by 52 g4! when Black’s king is trapped on the back row, and right at the end could have drawn by 57 Kg2! Qh4 58 Rf8+! when White can force perpetual check. Instead, he blundered into a checkmating attack. Continue reading...

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3 d. ago World Cup 2026 draw: Date, start time, confirmed pots and who has qualified?

The tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico will be the first with 48 teams taking part in a 12-group format

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7 d. ago R. Praggnanandhaa to begin push for 2026 Candidates qualification at London Chess Classic 2025

R. Praggnanandhaa to begin push for 2026 Candidates qualification at London Chess Classic 2025  The Indian Express

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8 d. ago World Cup 2026 draw: Date, start time, expected pots and who has qualified?

The tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico will be the first with 48 teams taking part in a 12-group format

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8 d. ago Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland discover World Cup play

As England and Scotland qualified directly for the 2026 World Cup - held in the United States, Canada and Mexico - Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland had to settle for the play-offs

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9 d. ago When was Scotland last in the World Cup? Every tournament Scotland has played after 2026 qualification win

Here is every World Cup Scotland has played at, after the team has officially qualified for the 2026 World Cup.

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9 d. ago Scotland’s wild World Cup moment was built by collective will and individual brilliance | Ewan Murray

Steve Clarke’s history-making team has a ferocious work ethic that should typify what Scotland stands forIt was not a time for calm reflection. Kenny McLean had just lobbed Kasper Schmeichel from the halfway line. Limbs. Unbridled, unfiltered joy.On one outrageous Hampden Park night McLean, Kieran Tierney and Scott McTominay relegated Archie Gemmill’s stupendous solo effort against the Netherlands in 1978 to merely the fourth best Scotland goal of all time. Zinedine Zidane’s volley for Real Madrid in Hampden’s Champions League final of 2002? A mere tap-in by comparison. What was produced by McTominay, Tierney and McLean will live long in the memories of the children and grandchildren of anybody who was in attendance on Tuesday night. They call McLean “the Mayor of Norwich”. He may as well now be the mayor of Nairn, North Berwick and Newtongrange. Continue reading...

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1 week ago World Cup 2026: which countries have qualified and how did they do it?

We now know 42 of the 48 of the teams that will play next year, but for a host of teams the race goes on via playoffsAll nine of the automatic places have been filled by the nine group winners, with the four best runners-up – DR Congo, Gabon, Cameroon and Nigeria – competing in November’s playoffs in Morocco. Nigeria beat Gabon 4-1 in the first semi-final, while Cameroon fell to a last-gasp 1-0 defeat by DR Congo in the second tie. DR Congo upset Nigeria after a gripping penalty shootout in the final, and go through to represent Africa in the intercontinental playoffs in March.EgyptMohamed Salah scored twice as Hossam Hassan’s side beat Djibouti 3-0 in Casablanca in October and made up for missing out on Qatar 2022 by reaching the finals with a game in hand. This will be Egypt’s fourth finals, even though they have yet to win a game. Bizarrely, the Pharaohs did qualify for the first World Cup, in 1930, but missed their boat from Marseille to South America after a storm delayed them....

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1 week ago Ecstatic Andy Murray leads reaction to Scotland's dramatic World Cup qualification as nation's stars revel in epic 4

Andy Murray led jubilant reaction to Scotland's last gasp 4-2 win against Denmark which secured the side's automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup in North America. 

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1 week ago Andy Robertson on brink of tears as he pays tribute to Diogo Jota in emotional interview after Scotland qualified for the 2026 World Cup

Kieran Tierney 's dramatic 93rd minute strike and Kenny McLean's half-way line effort ensured Steve Clarke's side wrote their name into the history books as Scotland qualified.

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1 week ago Scotland vs Denmark live: Red card gives hosts renewed hope in crucial World Cup qualifier

Scotland can seal qualification to a first World Cup since 1998 with victory over Denmark

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1 week ago Scotland vs Denmark live: McTominay bicycle kick puts Scots in dreamland in decisive World Cup 2026 qualifier

Scotland can seal qualification to a first World Cup since 1998 with victory over Denmark

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1 week ago Scotland vs Denmark live: Steve Clarke shakes things up for decisive World Cup 2026 qualifier

Scotland can seal qualification to a first World Cup since 1998 with victory over Denmark

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1 week ago Scotland vs Denmark live: Steve Clarke’s side chasing history in decisive World Cup 2026 qualifier

Scotland can seal qualification to a first World Cup since 1998 with victory over Denmark

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1 week ago Scotland vs Denmark live: Tartan Army chasing history in decisive World Cup 2026 qualifier

Scotland can seal qualification to a first World Cup since 1998 with victory over Denmark

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1 week ago When is the World Cup draw, who has qualified for the 2026 World Cup, date and how to watch

Scotland will hope secure qualification to the World Cup next summer - and here’s when the draw takes place.

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1 week ago Jude Bellingham handed fresh England warning after moment at end of Albania win

England beat Albania to round off a perfect qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup but midfielder Jude Bellingham didn't look too happy about being substituted

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1 week ago Albania vs England live: Kane brace secures perfect record in World Cup qualifiers

Albania 0-2 England: Kane’s brace secures unbeaten World Cup qualification campaign for Three Lions

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1 week ago Thomas Tuchel learns valuable lesson as England break down stubborn Albania

England have continued their marvelous qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup - but Thomas Tuchel's side had to be patient against a stubborn Albania

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1 week ago Thomas Tuchel makes 'easy' Jude Bellingham admission after England star makes feelings clear

Jude Bellingham returned to England’s starting XI for their final World Cup qualifier against Albania on Sunday evening

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