Sports

RIYADH: Gamers Without Borders, the world’s largest charitable esports event, has concluded this year’s edition by raising a total of $10 million for its humanitarian aid partners. The money will go to Direct Relief, International Medical Corps, UNICEF, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, the UN’s World Food Programme and the UNHCR. The donations were made by teams, players and gamers worldwide. The funds will be used for urgent humanitarian projects and add to the work achieved through the $30 million in donations from the GWB’s three previous editions.

CHENNAI, India: Chennai Super Kings powered their way to a record-breaking 10th Indian Premier League final with a 15-run win over defending champion Gujarat Titans in the playoffs on Tuesday. Gujarat will have another chance to meet Chennai in the final when they take on the winner of Wednesday’s playoff between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants. Opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad top-scored in the match with 60 off 44 balls before cameos from the Chennai middle-order batters guided the home team to 172-7.

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo saved his best goal since arriving in Saudi Arabia for when Al-Nassr needed it most on Tuesday, scoring the decisive strike in a dramatic 3-2 victory against Al-Shabab. The Yellows found themselves 2-0 down in this crucial Riyadh Derby that they had to win and a spectacular second half strike from the five-time Ballon D’Or winner did just that.

MADRID: Seven people accused of racially abusing Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior have been arrested in Spain, police said Tuesday. Three were detained in Valencia for alleged abuse against Vinícius in a Spanish league match on Sunday. Four were arrested in Madrid for allegedly hanging an effigy of the player off a highway bridge in January. The arrests come after an outpouring of support for Vinícius after he said he was abused in Valencia. The case prompted widespread reaction from sports figures and government officials in Spain and worldwide.

ABU DHABI: The UAE national jiu-jitsu team have emerged overall champions at the prestigious Thailand Open Grand Prix 2023, earning an impressive 20 medals at the tournament held in Bangkok. The team, sponsored by Mubadala Investment Company, displayed clear dominance across the two days of competition, amassing nine gold, seven silver and four bronze medals.

MADRID: Spanish soccer has a racism problem, its football federation chief Luis Rubiales said on Monday, echoing criticism by Brazil after Real Madrid lodged a race crime complaint following insults hurled at their Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr. The top-flight La Liga is under pressure to do more to combat racism after the Brazilian president, FIFA and fellow sporting stars such as France forward Kylian Mbappe, Rio Ferdinand and Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton voiced support for Vinicius.

NEWCASTLE: Just a few short years ago, no one thought it even close to possible. During the dark days of Mike Ashley — that now seem so far away — with its loveless, lifeless existence, a hope and ambition vacuum, which did nothing but suck the life out of everything near it, dreams of the top four were not even talked about on Tyneside, never mind conjured in slumberland. The idea of the Champions League to Newcastle United was something so far out of reach, it may as well have been nestled on top of Makkah Clock Royal Tower.