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Paul Lim once again proved that class is permanent. The 71-year-old darts legend stole the show on Friday afternoon during the second round of group matches at the World Cup of Darts.
It was Singapore’s first outing of the tournament, having watched on Thursday as Germany defeated Portugal 4-2. On Friday afternoon, the Asian nation faced Portugal themselves and immediately secured maximum points with a 4-2 victory.
The match marked Lim’s first alongside new partner Phuay Wei Tan, who has stepped in for long-time teammate Harith Lim. While Tan more than held his own, it was ‘The Singapore Slinger’ who took centre stage, averaging a sensational 117.62 and registering just one scoring visit without a treble. Singapore will now face Germany on Friday evening in a straight shootout for a spot in the knockout rounds.
Elsewhere, Argentina also made headlines. The South American nation is the only debutant at this year’s World Cup, but Jesús Salate and Víctor Guillín showed no signs of nerves as they cruised to a 4-1 win over Finland.
The Argentinians made a flying start, with Salate opening the match with a 180. They took the first leg in 18 darts before Finland levelled with a tidy 17-darter. However, a missed opportunity to take the lead proved costly, as Argentina responded with a 19-darter, followed by a brilliant 13-dart leg to go 3-1 up. Finland’s duo, Marko Kantele and Teemu Harju, had one more chance to stay in the match but couldn’t take it, and Salate sealed the win in style with a clinical 80 finish. Argentina now have the chance to add further sparkle to their debut campaign when they face New Zealand for a place in the next round on Friday evening.
In Group A, Italy did the Netherlands a big favour by whitewashing Hungary 4-0. With the Dutch pair Danny Noppert and Gian van Veen having already beaten Italy by the same scoreline, they now need to win just one leg against Hungary in their final group match to reach the last 16.
Belgium, however, still have work to do. The Philippines, represented by Lourence Ilagan and Paolo Nebrida, produced an impressive performance to beat Latvia 4-2. With Belgium having also defeated Latvia 4-1, the Belgians and Filipinos will now go head-to-head for a place in the next round.
In Sweden’s group, where Jeffrey de Graaf is competing, Lithuania edged out France 4-3. But despite the win, Lithuania have been eliminated due to their earlier 4-1 loss to Sweden’s De Graaf and Oskar Lukasiak. Sweden now only need to win three legs against France to secure top spot in the group.
Norway’s hopes of progressing are already over after a 4-1 loss to South Africa. Cor Dekker’s team still have a match against Poland, who need a win to leapfrog South Africa in the standings.
There’s also Dutch interest in the United States team, with Jules van Dongen partnering Danny Lauby to a routine 4-1 win over minnows Bahrain. Technically, the Americans can still qualify, but that would require a highly unlikely defeat for Hong Kong at the hands of Bahrain.
Former champions Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock also got their campaign underway on Friday afternoon. The Australian duo, surprise winners in 2022, swept aside Spain 4-0 and now face Austria in a winner-takes-all clash on Friday evening for a place in the last 16.
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TODAY'S BEST
Knicks predicted to trade Karl-Anthony Towns to Trail Blazers for former No. 1 overall pick
It has already been an interesting offseason for the New York Knicks as they kicked it off by making the shocking decision to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau. This move came after Thibodeau had helped lead the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000. With Thibodeau now gone, the Knicks enter the summer searching for a new head coach, but they could also elect to make some changes to their roster. One player who has been involved in trade rumors has been Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns as he struggled in the playoffs, especially on the defensive end. Despite this, the Knicks have shown no intention of trading Towns, but if they get offered the right package, perhaps they could move on from the star center. With this in mind, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey recently released a mock trade that would send Towns to the Portland Trail Blazers for a former first overall pick. In the trade, Bailey has New York sending Towns to Portland for Deandre Ayton, Matisse Thybulle and two first-round picks, including the 11th overall pick in the 2025 draft. “And though his (Ayton’s) career has been a little underwhelming for a former No. 1 pick, he's averaged a double-double in every season he's been in the league, is a more mobile defender than Towns and would still be a decent finisher for Brunson,” Bailey wrote. “Getting another rangy wing defender in Matisse Thybulle to join Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, a lottery pick this summer and a future pick swap would be a nice bonus.” While Ayton would be a downgrade from Towns offensively, he would be a major upgrade on the defensive end while also providing a solid amount on the offensive end. The Knicks would also acquire another great wing defender in Thybulle and a lottery pick in the upcoming draft to better their roster. While this trade could work out well for the Knicks, swapping Towns for Ayton, who is on an expiring contract, would be a major risk, and it is likely that Towns will remain in New York next season.
Steelers' Reasoning For Drafting Will Howard Revealed By Omar Khan
As the Pittsburgh Steelers continue preparing for the start of 2025 training camp, the team finally finds itself with a true answer at the quarterback position. After signing future Hall of Fame quarterback and four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers to a one-year deal worth up to just under $20 million, Pittsburgh is now expected to turn its attention towards adding wide receiver depth for the new starting quarterback. Rodgers may prove to play a massive role both on and off the field, as the 21-year veteran has publicly committed to mentoring Steelers rookie Will Howard. Howard, a sixth-round selection out of Ohio State, is a promising rookie that is expected to make an impact in the future. Howard should become a major beneficiary of Rodgers' presence throughout training camp, as he will now be playing behind one of the greatest to ever do it. A sixth-round pick, Howard was widely regarded as one of the top steals of the draft by many. A five-year college veteran, Howard shined throughout his time at Ohio State and played a crucial role in their National Championship run. When asked about the process that went into drafting Howard, Steelers General Manager Omar Khan gave an explanation as to why the move was made. "We did lots of homework on him." Khan stated. "I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with him through the process and getting to know him." Khan then went on to speak about Howard's impact at Ohio State, while praising the rookie's ability to be a true leader, and run an offense. "Just can't say enough about what he meant to that Ohio State team... The fact that he was able to just really take charge of that offense and that team in a lot of ways, it's just really, really impressive." While Howard may not see the field throughout his rookie season, the former college star is expected to take a major leap with Rodgers as his mentor. Howard is a five-year college veteran that split time at both Kansas State and Ohio State, and should face no problem taking on a developmental role throughout the 2025 season. Fans should continue to monitor Howard throughout the offseason, as the rookie has a chance to truly shine throughout training camp. With Rodgers set to mentor Howard throughout the 2025 season, the team is expected to shift gears towards adding playmaking depth for the veteran quarterback. Rodgers, who is fresh off a failed two year tenure with the New York Jets, is a player that is past his prime but is still widely expected to make a big impact this season. Rodgers' time in New York is highlighted by injuries and mediocre play, as an achilles injury left the quarterback sidelined for the entire 2023 season, only to be followed by an underwhelming year in 2024. Steelers Fans Frustrated With Rodgers' Lack Of Participation Throughout Mini Camp With Rodgers officially under contract in Pittsburgh, fans have taken to social media to express their frustration with the former Packer's lack of participation throughout mini camp. Rodgers, who was not seen at multiple drills throughout the teams' first official practices, is expected to slowly ease his way into things and is not expected to be a full participant prior to the start of training camp. Head Coach Mike Tomlin commented on the situation as well, stating that the coaching staff wants Rodgers to focus more on the playbook and learning the offense before training camp begins at the end of July. Despite the frustration, Rodgers will be a full participant later this summer and should face no issues running the Steelers' offense. Despite struggling during his time as a Jet, Rodgers is just four years removed from winning MVP in 2021 and very well may thrive with DK Metcalf and Pat Freiermuth as his top options. Rodgers is entering his second year coming off a torn achilles as well, as the future Hall of Fame quarterback is expected to enter the 2025 season as the healthiest he has been in years. With Rodgers set to start in 2025 and Howard expected to continue developing, the Steelers find themselves with a solid mix of younger and veteran players in their quarterback room. Howard should thrive with Rodgers as his mentor as well, as the former Ohio State quarterback was a star throughout his five years on the college level. With both Rodgers and Howard set to make an impact throughout training camp, fans should continue to monitor Howard's improvement throughout the offseason. Do you believe Howard will be a true starting quarterback in the future?
One Year for Bouchard, Two Years for Marner & More NHL Rumours
In today’s NHL rumours rundown, the Edmonton Oilers and Evan Bouchard could look at a one-year deal to try to get a contract locked in for next season. Elsewhere, Mitch Marner could look to sign a short deal to try and maximise his earnings as the salary cap continues to rise. Finally, Alex Tuch and the Buffalo Sabres have not begun negotiations, but the expectation is that he will stick with them. Possibility of a 1-Year Deal for Bouchard As the Oilers look to find a solution to ink Bouchard to a new contract, The Athletic’s Chris Johnston speculated that the two sides could look at a one-year deal to punt the big negotiation to next summer. On the latest episode of The Chris Johnston Show, he suggested that, whether it be via arbitration or simply agreeing on a price for a one-year deal, it could be an option. The Oilers need to figure out what their cap situation looks like with Connor McDavid eligible for an extension as of July 1, and that could have an impact on what they are able to pay Bouchard. He is a valuable asset to the team, and based on reports and his production, a deal worth north of $10 million per season will certainly be on the table. There have been some defensive struggles in his game, but he has been the number-one defenseman on the back-to-back Stanley Cup runner-up and has certainly proven that he can elevate his game in the playoffs. Marner Could Look for Short Deal Worth $12-13 Million Per Season When writing about rumours regarding free agency, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun touched on the Marner situation, and suggested that there is rumours circling that Marner could look to sign a two-year deal in the $12-13 million range. (from NHL rumblings: Who was in on Toews, plus latest on Marner, McDavid, Tavares, Robertson and more, The Athletic, June 21, 2025) Marner has been connected to the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings, and LeBrun mentions those two teams, as well as the Dallas Stars, as the top candidates. Players taking a shorter deal is becoming more common with the salary cap increases coming. Players signing short-term deals will allow them to cash in further down the road when the salary cap is higher, and they can make more money for longer. For Marner, signing a two-year deal puts him at 30 years old, which would allow him to sign another max-term deal pretty safely, and make a high salary until he is 37 or 38 years old. Of course, with a short deal, there is always risk, too. LeBrun mentions that injury is always a possibility, and he could be unable to “cash in” after the two years, but players are starting to take more bets on themselves, and Marner could certainly follow suit. Tuch Likely to Stick With Sabres Amidst the struggles the Sabres have had, including the conversations around Bowen Byram and J.J. Peterka, one of the team leaders, Tuch, is reportedly wanting to stay, and the Sabres have a mutual interest. According to David Pagnotta, extension talks have not begun for the two sides, and teams are calling on his availability, but unless a team “overpays”, “he’s likely staying and contract talks will eventually follow”. Elliotte Friedman backed this report by stating that, as far as he is aware, Tuch is not available. Through four seasons with the Sabres, Tuch has developed into a very good winger and is a core piece of the team. He has one year left on his deal, paying him $4.75 million per season. He is due for a significant raise, and an extension can be signed as early as July 1. It doesn’t sound like a deal will be done immediately, and the extension likely isn’t at the top of the priority list for general manager Kevyn Adams, but it is likely a task he would like to check off his list by the end of the offseason.
Orlando Magic Linked To Low-Risk, High-Reward Ball Handler
It has been one week since the Orlando Magic acquired Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane. The move addressed key areas of need for Orlando while adding a legitimate third option to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. The addition of Bane is nice, but the Magic can still use another ball handler. Insert Tyus Jones. Orlando completed its big free agency move, and now Jeff Weltman and Co. will likely use the remainder of the summer pursuing complementary role players to fill out roster vacancies. Jones is a low-risk, high-reward option who enters next season trying to prove he's worth more than the veteran's minimum after a disappointing stint in Phoenix. Recently, Bleacher Report predicted Orlando to be Jones' next landing spot. "He's super-stable, easy to fit on almost any team and looking for a pay raise after money ran dry last season, and he ended up with the Suns on the minimum," it wrote. "Everything he does well fits the Orlando Magic's needs. What he doesn't, the Magic provides with a big, tough, long physical roster." A product of Duke University, Jones was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 24th pick in the 2015 draft. The Cavs traded Jones on draft night to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he spent the first four seasons of his career. Jones, 29, still has plenty of basketball ahead of him while also providing a veteran presence for a young roster like Orlando's. For his career, Jones averages 4.4 assists while knocking down nearly 38 percent of his 3-point attempts. Those are the kinds of traits Orlando can benefit from, especially from a reserve guard. More Magic Coverage Orlando Magic Linked To Four-Time All-Star In Dream Trade Orlando Magic Can Land $204 Million Guard In Franchise-Altering Trade Massive Trade Pitch Has Orlando Magic Landing Two-Time All-Star Point Guard
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