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Motor racing-Norris leads McLaren one-two in first Hungarian practice

Motor racing-Norris leads McLaren one-two in first Hungarian practice
McLaren’s Lando Norris in action during practice Formula One F1 — Hungarian Grand Prix — Hungaroring, Budapest, Aug. 1, 2025. (Reuters)
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Motor racing-Norris leads McLaren one-two in first Hungarian practice

Motor racing-Norris leads McLaren one-two in first Hungarian practice
  • Norris lapped the Hungaroring with a best time of one minute 16.052 seconds
  • The Briton was on pole at the circuit last year in a race won by Piastri

BUDAPEST: Lando Norris lapped 0.019 of a second quicker than Formula One championship leader Oscar Piastri as the McLaren pair finished one-two in first practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Friday.

Norris, 16 points behind his Australian teammate going into the last race before the August break, lapped the Hungaroring with a best time of one minute 16.052 seconds with the soft tires on a sunny afternoon.

The Briton was on pole at the circuit last year in a race won by Piastri, his first victory in F1.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was third fastest, 0.217 off the pace, with Racing Bulls’ French rookie Isack Hadjar in fourth.

Lewis Hamilton, winner a record eight times in Hungary, was fifth for Ferrari and suffered a big lock-up as he wrestled with the car.

Oliver Bearman was sixth for Haas, ahead of Mercedes pair Kimi Antonelli and George Russell with Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen ninth and Lance Stroll completing the top 10 for Aston Martin.

Russell complained about his car’s balance and said it was hard to turn.

Verstappen’s Japanese teammate Yuki Tsunoda was only 17th.

Brazilian Felipe Drugovich stood in for Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin, with the Spaniard suffering from back pain, and was 16th fastest.

Estonian Paul Aron also took Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber for the session and was last after having to stop before the midpoint of the session due to a technical problem.


Esports World Cup 2025 heads into fourth week with four big titles up for grabs

Esports World Cup 2025 heads into fourth week with four big titles up for grabs
Updated 01 August 2025

Esports World Cup 2025 heads into fourth week with four big titles up for grabs

Esports World Cup 2025 heads into fourth week with four big titles up for grabs
  • Eleven champions have been crowned at the tournament so far

RIYADH: The Esports World Cup 2025 heads into Week 4 after the crowning of 11 unique championship winners so far.

In the tournament’s fourth week, the chess title will be decided. With a $1,500,000 prize pool on the line — along with Club Championship points — there's all to play for. Meanwhile PUBG Mobile World Cup will have a new champion after titleholders Alpha7 Esports were eliminated. Overwatch 2 will crown its Midseason Championship winner, while Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’s Midseason Cup final will also take place.

Chess

With a prize pool of $1.5 million up for grabs, the inaugural chess tournament at the 2025 Esports World Cup concludes on Aug. 1. The Last Chance Qualifiers saw 256 players enter, and now there are just eight contenders left. First seed Magnus Carlsen was the clear favorite before the tournament began, with second and third seeds Hikaru Nakamura and Ian Nepomniachtchi next in line. All three qualified from the group stage and now head into the playoffs. Keep an eye on Nihal Sarin, who managed to knock out number four seed Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the Group B lower bracket final – he emerged from the Last Chance Qualifier and is seeded just outside the top 10. 

PUBG Mobile

An intense week of PUBG Mobile action has seen 24 teams whittled down to 16 for the grand final, with potentially just 14 matches deciding who walks out with the trophy. Defending champions, Alpha7 Esports, had a nightmare start to the tournament, failing to qualify for the grand final in the group stage, forcing them into the perilous survival stage. While many expected them to bounce back, another disastrous performance saw them eliminated in 21st place, meaning a new PMWC champion will be crowned in the coming days.

Overwatch 2 

The Overwatch Champions Series' Midseason Championship also takes place in Week 4, with $1 million on the line. Sixteen teams will enter the group stage, with the top two from each group advancing into a perilous single elimination bracket. With the OWCS: Midseason Championship at the 2025 Esports World Cup happening over four days, expect some top tier action. EWC 2024 champions Crazy Raccoon will be looking to join the two-time winners club, but they will face stiff competition from one of the most competitive fields ever.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang 

With a total of $3 million up for grabs in the prize pool, the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup has plenty at stake. After the dramatic Wildcard tournament in Week 1 followed by an intense group stage in Week 3, we are now firmly into the business end of the tournament, with the playoff bracket underway. Only the very best teams remain, with the likes of ONIC and Team Liquid leading the way. With life-changing money on the line, you do not want to miss the MLBB action. 

Club Championship Standings 

As the action heads into its fourth weekend of finals action, the Club Championship is really heating up, with every winner being a unique Club so far. Will we finally see a side claim a second trophy this year in Week 4?

Team Vitality is still leading the Club Championship Rankings with 2,400 points, having not gained in Week 3. Their closest competitors are Gen.G Esports on 2,000, and Team Falcons on 1,950, both of whom gained on Vitality in Week 3. Elsewhere, AG.AL have joined Team Falcons in third place. All but AG.AL are represented in chess, while Team Falcons has a side in the PUBG Mobile event. OW 2 features Team Falcons and AG.AL, alongside Virtus.Pro and Team Liquid, who sit just behind them in joint fifth place.


Saudi eLeagues MVPs shine at Major 2 tournaments

Saudi eLeagues MVPs shine at Major 2 tournaments
Updated 01 August 2025

Saudi eLeagues MVPs shine at Major 2 tournaments

Saudi eLeagues MVPs shine at Major 2 tournaments
  • Over 40 Saudi and international clubs have been competing at SEF Arena

RIYADH: While the Esports World Cup action takes place in Riyadh, the Saudi eLeagues’ Major 2 tournaments have this week showcased competition across various titles, with over 40 clubs competing at SEF Arena.

The event featured both elite and women’s divisions, including Saudi and international players in games such as Rocket League, PUBG Mobile, EAFC25, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, VALORANT, Rainbow Six Siege, and Overwatch 2.

Rocket League saw Team Falcons clinch the title with a 4-1 victory over Twisted Minds in the final. Mohammed Al-Otaibi, known as Trk511, earned MVP honors for his crucial plays and control during critical moments.

PUBG Mobile was dominated by R8 Esports, which finished with 127 points. Abdullah, aka Marth, stood out with 24 kills, earning the MVP award for his tactical skill and accuracy.

In the Women’s EAFC25 division, Team Bright Future defeated Al-Dahab Club 2-0. Reva, who secured her third Saudi eLeagues title, was recognized as the tournament’s top player for her strategic gameplay.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 saw Team Falcons take the championship after a 4-2 win against Team The Vicious. Khaled Al-Madhi, known as Khhx, was named MVP for his precise shooting and leadership.

Valorant featured a close final where Twisted Minds edged out The Ultimates in a 3-2 series. Nikolay, or Sickrey, earned MVP honors for his aim and clutch plays that carried his team to victory.

Rainbow Six Siege concluded with Geekay Esports defeating Twisted Minds 3-2. Osama Al-Zahrani, known as Tr1ixd, was named MVP for his tactical adaptability and performance under pressure.

In Women’s Overwatch 2, Twisted Minds defeated Al-Qadsiah 4-1 in the final, with Liz van der Meet standing out as MVP. The Dutch player demonstrated versatility and consistency throughout the tournament.

The Overwatch 2 Elite division saw Twisted Minds beat Al-Qadsiah 4-3, with Ziyad from Al-Qadsiah earning MVP honors for his impressive gameplay despite the loss.


Top EU court rules that soccer governing body FIFA’s decisions can be challenged outside Switzerland

Top EU court rules that soccer governing body FIFA’s decisions can be challenged outside Switzerland
Updated 01 August 2025

Top EU court rules that soccer governing body FIFA’s decisions can be challenged outside Switzerland

Top EU court rules that soccer governing body FIFA’s decisions can be challenged outside Switzerland
  • The ECJ ruling means that EU national courts should be able to review verdicts from the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)

BRUSSELS: The European Union’s top court ruled on Friday that the decisions of world soccer’s governing body FIFA can be challenged outside Switzerland, opening up a system that currently binds athletes, officials and clubs to accept verdicts there.
A statement from the European Court of Justice said that tribunals in the 27 EU member states “must be able to carry out an in-depth review of those awards for consistency with the fundamental rules of EU law.”
The ECJ ruling in Luxembourg means that EU national courts should be able to review verdicts from the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Switzerland is not a member of the European Union.
“The awards made by the CAS must be amenable to effective judicial review,” the statement said. It said that “national courts or tribunals must be empowered to carry out ... an in-depth judicial review” to ensure that CAS rulings “are consistent with EU public policy.”
There was no immediate comment from FIFA or CAS.
The decision could end a decade-long legal fight by Belgian soccer club RFC Seraing and Maltese investment fund Doyen Sports.
They opposed FIFA rules prohibiting third-party ownership of a player’s registration and transfer rights, and in 2015 asked a commercial court in Brussels to review if those rules breached EU law.
CAS was created in 1984 to give sports a unified and binding legal forum for settling disputes and appeals based in the International Olympic Committee’s home city Lausanne in Switzerland.
The ruling marks a new legal blow to the authority of sports bodies in Switzerland.
The same European court in Luxembourg has handed down two other major rulings in the last two years under EU competition law — in the Super League case and Lassana Diarra transfer dispute — that challenged the authority of soccer bodies FIFA and UEFA.


Fernando Alonso in doubt for Hungarian Grand Prix as he misses practice with injury

Fernando Alonso in doubt for Hungarian Grand Prix as he misses practice with injury
Updated 01 August 2025

Fernando Alonso in doubt for Hungarian Grand Prix as he misses practice with injury

Fernando Alonso in doubt for Hungarian Grand Prix as he misses practice with injury
  • Aston Martin said the two-time Formula 1 champion “has been managing a muscular injury in his back” since last week’s Belgian Grand Prix
  • He will be replaced by reserve driver Felipe Drugovich for the first session Friday and continue treatment before the team decides who will compete

BUDAPEST: Fernando Alonso will miss the first practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Friday because of a back injury and could be in doubt for the race itself.
Aston Martin said in a post on X that the two-time Formula 1 champion “has been managing a muscular injury in his back” since last week’s Belgian Grand Prix
He will be replaced by reserve driver Felipe Drugovich for the first session Friday and continue treatment before the team decides who will compete.
“A decision will then be made on Fernando’s participation in (second practice) and the remainder of the weekend in due course,” Aston Martin said.
Brazilian driver Drugovich is in his fourth season as Aston Martin reserve but has yet to race in F1. He was the 2022 champion in Formula 2.


UAE hosts Pakistan, Afghanistan in T20I cricket tri-series in Sharjah

UAE hosts Pakistan, Afghanistan in T20I cricket tri-series in Sharjah
Updated 01 August 2025

UAE hosts Pakistan, Afghanistan in T20I cricket tri-series in Sharjah

UAE hosts Pakistan, Afghanistan in T20I cricket tri-series in Sharjah
  • 6 matches in group stage, final on Sept. 7

DUBAI: The UAE will host Pakistan and Afghanistan in a T20I tri-series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium from Friday, Aug. 29. The three teams will play each other twice in the six-match group stage. The top two teams will then compete in the final on Sunday, Sept. 7.

Afghanistan will take on Pakistan in the tournament’s opener (Aug. 29). The UAE will play Pakistan on Saturday, Aug. 30, followed by Afghanistan’s clash against the UAE on Monday, Sept. 1, and their second group-stage match against Pakistan the following day.

Pakistan and the UAE’s second group-stage match will be played on Thursday, Sept. 4, followed by the Afghanistan-UAE clash the following day.

The tournament will provide the three teams with an ideal preparation opportunity prior to the eight-team ACC Asia Cup 2025, which is to be played in the UAE from Sept. 9.

Match tickets and broadcast details for the T20I tri-series will be announced in the next few days.

T20I tri-series — Sharjah Cricket Stadium:

Friday, Aug. 29: Afghanistan v Pakistan (7 p.m. UAE time)

Saturday, Aug. 30: UAE v Pakistan (7 p.m.)

Monday, Sept. 1: Afghanistan v UAE (7 p.m.)

Tuesday, Sept. 2: Afghanistan v Pakistan (7 p.m.)

Thursday, Sept. 4: Pakistan v UAE (7 p.m.)

Friday, Sept. 5: Afghanistan v UAE (7 p.m.)

Sunday, Sept. 7: Final (7 p.m.)