Luke Littler secures spot at Players Championship Finals
Reigning world champion Luke Littler has won the Players Championship 32 event to secure his place at next month’s Players Championship Finals. The 18-year-old was in superb form, hitting 10 180s and producing an average of 110.73 as he defeated Dutchman Dennie Olde Kalter 8-2 in the final at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan. “I’m really happy to come away with a win,” said Littler, who averaged 102 across his seven matches on Wednesday. “At the start of the day it was just about getting through the early stages, and you need to believe in yourself.” On his way to the final, Littler beat Dylan Slevin 6-4, Jeffrey de Graaf 6-4, Adam Lipscombe 6-0, Adam Hunt 6-4 and Rhys Griffin 6-3, before averaging more than 109 in a 7-4 semi-final victory over world number four Stephen Bunting. Olde Kalter, 33, is in his first season on the PDC Tour after winning a spot via Q School and is ranked 140th in the world. He defeated Marvin van Velzen 6-3, Niels Zonneveld 6-1, Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5, Scott Waites 6-1, Nathan Aspinall and Jermaine Wattimena 7-3 to reach his first PDC final. Wattimena had won Players Championship 31 on Tuesday, beating Aspinall in the final. There are 34 Players Championship events across the year, with the competition’s finals held in Minehead, Somerset from 21-23 November, featuring the 64 best-performing players. Littler began Wednesday 67th in the Players Championship standings, but has now done enough to reach the finals. “I know I’ve got the capabilities to come from behind in matches and that’s what I did yet again,” added the teenager, speaking to the PDC website. “Trying to qualify for Minehead was at the back of my mind. I had seen some people on social media say I wasn’t going to make it, but I’m very happy with the way I played.” However, three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen, 36, will miss the finals for the first time. He is outside the top 64, withdrew from Wednesday’s competition and will not be playing in the final two events in Wigan on 29 and 30 October.
Wright on target as US overhaul Australia 2-1 in Denver – FBC News
[Source: Reuters] Haji Wright scored a goal in each half as the United States surged to a 2-1 win over Australia in Denver today ending the Socceroos’ unbeaten run under Tony Popovic. Victory came with a cost, though, as U.S. talisman Christian Pulisic came off before the half-hour mark with a lower leg injury after being brought down from behind by Jason Geria. Pulisic’s blow compounded a poor start for the hosts who were a goal down at Dick’s Goods Sporting Park after 19 minutes. Article continues after advertisement Australia fullback Jordan Bos capitalised on static defending after his own throw-in, to weave through traffic in the box and thump in a volley from close range. But Wright levelled the match in the 33rd minute with a clever toe-poke at the near-post, latching onto a through-ball from Cristian Roldan. The Coventry City forward then curled in the winner five minutes after the restart, turning Cameron Burgess in the box after the Australians were caught out by Roldan’s quick free kick. Wright’s brace ended the Socceroos’ seven-match winning streak while ensuring Mauricio Pochettino’s U.S. finished the October international window on a high after being held 1-1 by Ecuador in Texas last week. The World Cup co-hosts now have 12 wins, seven defeats and a draw under the Argentine. Australia, meanwhile, suffered their first defeat in more than a year, having been unbeaten in 12 matches and 11 under Popovic. Both sides rejigged their lineups from their previous friendlies. Pochettino started with Wright and Pulisic up front, while Popovic restored goalkeeper and captain Mat Ryan to the starting 11 after using Paul Izzo in the 1-0 win over Canada. The Socceroos’ youthful attacking duo Nestory Irankunda and Mohamed Toure came off the bench after the hour-mark but were unable to conjure the equaliser to sustain Popovic’s unbeaten record. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Trump says Infantino would ‘very easily’ move World Cup matches if he asked him to
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Donald Trump has asserted that FIFA president Gianni Infantino would “very easily” agree to move World Cup matches away from their designated host cities should he request it. The US president also indicated a willingness to relocate the 2028 Olympic Games from Los Angeles if he considered the city unsafe. Trump has previously voiced concerns about moving World Cup fixtures from “dangerous” locations, specifically mentioning Seattle and San Francisco. On Thursday, he highlighted “street takeovers” in Boston, and claimed Fifa would comply with his demand to shift matches for next summer’s finals. “If somebody is doing a bad job, and if I feel there are unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni, the head of FIFA, who’s phenomenal, and I would say, ‘let’s move it to another location’,” he told reporters in the US on Tuesday. “And he would do that. He wouldn’t love to do it, but he’d do it very easily. “He’d do it and this is the right time to do it. “I could say the same thing for the Olympics. If I thought LA was not going to be prepared properly, I would move it to another location. Infantino and Trump have developed a close relationship (AP/Jacquelyn Martin) “If I had to on that one, I’d probably have to get a different kind of a permission, but we would do that.” Fifa president Infantino has developed a close relationship with Trump and most recently attended a Middle East peace summit alongside him in Egypt earlier this week. Fifa vice-president Victor Montagliani said “Fifa makes those decisions” when asked earlier this month about Trump’s original threat to move matches. Montagliani told Leaders Week London: “With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than them and football will survive their regime and their government and their slogans.” Fifa is understood to believe there are no issues with any of the 16 host cities across the US, Canada and Mexico. A Fifa spokesperson said: “Safety and security are the top priorities at all Fifa events worldwide. Safety and security are obviously the governments’ responsibility and they decide what is in the best interest for public safety. “We hope every one of our 16 host cities will be ready to successfully host and fulfil all necessary requirements.” A spokesperson for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said in response to Trump’s comments: “The Olympic Games LA28 have the full support of the President of the United States, the Governor of California and the Mayor of Los Angeles. “All of them are being extremely helpful in the preparations for these Games. This is mirrored on the operational level of the administration. There are three years to go and we are confident that LA28 will be great Olympic Games.”
Why is the Grand Sumo Tournament being held in London?
Why is the national sport of Japan being held overseas for only the second time in its history?
Six Kings Slam live: Scores and updates as Jannik Sinner headlines first day of big-money Saudi exhibition on Netflix
Carlos Alcaraz arrives at Six Kings Slam World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz arrived in Riyadh last night ahead of the start of the Six Kings Slam. Alcaraz has not played since winning the Japan Open in Tokyo, where he defeated Taylor Fritz to win his eighth title of an astonishing season. Alcaraz withdrew from the Shanghai Masters due to an ankle injury picked up in his opening match in Tokyo. Jamie Braidwood15 October 2025 15:40 Why is Stefanos Tsitsipas included in the Six Kings Slam? The Six Kings Slam line-up includes the world’s top-five, plus Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is currently ranked outside the top-20 in the world after a difficult season where he did not make it past the second-round of a grand slam. But the Greek is a popular player, once tipped to be a future star, and a two-time grand slam finalist. He was called up to the replace the injured Jack Draper after he British No 1 called time on his season following the US Open. Tsitsipas actually leads the head-to-head with Sinner 6-3, and won their last meeting in the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters in 2024. Jamie Braidwood15 October 2025 15:25 Jannik Sinner returns as defending champion Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s Six Kings Slam final, having also beaten Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. The Italian took home the $6m prize amid a dominant run of form towards the end of the season that included titles at the US Open and ATP Finals. He returns as the defending champion having retired from his third-round match at the Shanghai Open after struggling physically. The Wimbledon champion lost in the US Open final to Alcaraz – and could come face to face with the Spaniard in Riyadh for the first time since New York. (Getty Images) Jamie Braidwood15 October 2025 15:10 How to watch the Six Kings Slam The Six Kings Slam will be shown live on Netflix. It is not a ‘pay-per-view’ event and is available to Netflix customers at no additional cost. Jamie Braidwood15 October 2025 15:05 Six Kings Slam schedule From 5:30pm BST (UK time) Quarter-final 1: Alexander Zverev vs Taylor Fritz Not before 7:00pm BST (UK time) Quarter-final 2: Jannik Sinner vs Stefanos Tsitsipas From 5:30pm BST (UK time) Semi-final 1: Carlos Alcaraz vs Zverev / Fritz Semi-final 2: Novak Djokovic vs Sinner / Tsitsipas Jamie Braidwood15 October 2025 15:02 Six Kings Slam Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia. Tennis’s biggest-money exhibition event sees six of the sport’s superstars competing for a $4.5m first prize. Jannik Sinner headlines the action on day one with his quarter-final against Stefanos Tsitsipas, so stick with us for all the action Luke Baker15 October 2025 15:00
National reps boost Suva futsal – FBC News
Suva Futsal coach Vishal Nadan says his side is ready to defend their title at this year’s Extra Futsal IDC, with several national players strengthening the squad. Speaking after announcing their renewed sponsorship with HLB Mann Judd, Nadan says the support will help the team cover preparation costs as they aim to stay on top. The coach says that most of his players have returned fit from the recent OFC Men’s Nations Cup which was hosted in Suva, with the full squad now injury free. Article continues after advertisement Among the key players are national futsal representatives Nikhil Chand, Justin Kumar, Shivnal Prasad, Merrill Nand, Ramzan Khan, Filipe Baravilala and Kitione Baleloa who have been training together over the past few months. “It’s an advantage I would say because they’ve been training more in Futsal for the past 2-3 months together. So, they’re coming in fitter than the rest and we expect them to lead the team into the tournament.” He adds that the team’s unity and fighting spirit is Suva’s biggest strengths. Drawn in a challenging pool with Nasinu, Ba, and Labasa, Nadan knows that every game will test their preparation and strategy. Futsal IDC starts tomorrow at Vodafone Arena, Suva. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Ryder Cup: Europe’s win over US ‘remembered for wrong reasons’ – McIlroy
Europe’s victory at Bethpage Black was McIlroy’s sixth in eight Ryder Cup appearances and second in America after also playing in 2012’s memorable triumph at Medinah. Speaking on Tuesday, Donald – who also led Europe to their 2023 win in Rome – said McIlroy would make a “good captain”, but the world number two does not expect to take the reins until the “mid-2030s”. “Certainly not 2027 [at Adare Manor in Ireland],” he laughed when asked if he would like to lead the side. “I hope I’m still playing at that point and good enough to put points on the board for Europe. But yeah, I would love to be the European team captain at some point. “But that will be when I’m not good enough to make the team, or I make way for the new generation to come along.” McIlroy is returning to action at this week’s DP World Tour’s India Championship – a new tournament – alongside Ryder Cup team-mates Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland. Grouped with Hovland and US Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin, McIlroy begins Thursday’s first round at Delhi Golf Club at 02:55 BST.
Thomas Tuchel: No chance England will take it easy in final World Cup qualifiers
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Thomas Tuchel says England will continue to go throttle in November’s final two World Cup qualifiers, despite having already booked their place at the tournament. Tuesday’s 5-0 win in Latvia clinched qualification for next summer’s finals as England made it six wins from six in a flawless Group K campaign. That means there is nothing riding on next month’s matches against Serbia and Albania and Tuchel could take the chance to experiment. But the German says his side are “building something” and will not let up, even if he is unsure of how the squad will look. Asked how early qualification will affect his thinking, he replied: “To be very honest, I don’t know. I’m not so sure if this changes anything in the nomination process. “Maybe it does, but I need to get my head around it next week. Now is a moment to enjoy it. “You can feel it in the dressing room. I can feel it with myself, but in the dressing room is all smiles. It’s a very special moment. It’s not daily business that you qualify for a World Cup. “So we did this. We will then think about how this affects our next camp. “Harry (Kane) just gave a speech that said everyone will be ready to keep this thing going in November. “No one will step back and lean back and take anything for granted. “So they feel that they’re building something. Maybe it will give us the chance to try some stuff. “Maybe it will give us the chance to manage minutes. But I can assure you, we will stay competitive no matter how we decide and how we organise these two matches. “We want to win both matches because we owe it to ourselves. We need to keep the thing going and what we build is very precious.”
McLennan fires Fiji to victory against Vanuatu – FBC News
Basketball Fiji rep Tyrone McLennan led from the front at the FIBA Melanesian Cup in the Solomon Islands, leading his side to a vital win with an incredible 44-point display against Vanuatu. His shooting masterclass not only powered Fiji to victory but also set a new tournament benchmark for the most three-pointers made in a single game. From the opening whistle, Fiji played with urgency and cohesion, showing a renewed sense of confidence after two tough outings earlier in the week. Article continues after advertisement McLennan was at the heart of the action, controlling the tempo and converting his chances with accuracy, while veteran forward Josh Fox nearly secured another double-double with his trademark consistency and leadership. Equally impressive were the younger players who stepped up when it mattered most. Keenan also found his rhythm, rounding off a strong team effort that showcased Fiji’s growing depth and chemistry. McLennan credited the team’s improvement to trust and confidence instilled by the coaching staff. “From the last two games, the coach gave a couple of us a green light to go ahead and shoot. When you’re given the green light, you kind of have to make the most of it. A lot of the boys fired today.” The result keeps Fiji’s semifinal hopes alive, with one group game remaining against New Caledonia. The team will use their rest day to recover and fine-tune their strategy ahead of what McLennan describes as a “do-or-die” encounter. As the tournament continues to unfold, Fiji’s performance has shown a promising mix of experience and youthful energy, setting the stage for an exciting finish to their Melanesian Cup campaign. Fiji will meet New Caledonia next at 3.30pm on Friday. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Japan Open: Katie Boulter beaten by Sorana Cirstea and injured Naomi Osaka wins
British number three Katie Boulter was beaten 6-3 6-1 by Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the second round of the Japan Open. World number 59 Boulter, who shocked world number 17 Linda Noskova in the first round, lost in one hour nine minutes in Osaka. There were three breaks of serve in the opening four games as Cirstea, ranked 51 in the world, went 3-1 ahead before wrapping up the first set. She broke Boulter three times on the way to a 5-0 lead in the second. Although Boulter broke back, she failed to hold serve in the next game as the impressive Cirstea secured a quarter-final place.