Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Ding Junhui of China made short work of Mark Williams' challenge

Ding Junhui sends Williams crashing out

Ding Junhui produced a ruthless display at the Crucible to send Mark Williams packing from the World Championship and earn an unscheduled day off before his semi-final.

Snooker • 26 Apr 16

Ding Junhui and Judd Trump both struggled to find form in Sheffield

Ding Junhui and Kyren Wilson cause Crucible upsets

Judd Trump crashed out of the World Snooker Championship in the second round in Sheffield on Monday after failing to claw back an overnight deficit against Ding Junhui in a scrappy affair, while Mark Allen also paid for a slow start as he was eliminated by Kyren Wilson.

Snooker • 25 Apr 16

Judd Trump trails Dung Junhui after the first session

Trump caught in Twitter spat as Ding takes control

Judd Trump became embroiled in a Twitter row as his hopes of Betfred World Championship glory took a major nosedive on Sunday.

Snooker • 24 Apr 16

Selby battles through after Baird scare

World number one Mark Selby repelled the brave challenge of qualifier Sam Baird to book his place in the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield.

Snooker • 24 Apr 16

Trump on the ropes as Liang Wenbo turns the screw

Judd Trump is at risk of elimination from the Betfred World Championship after falling 6-3 behind against Liang Wenbo in the opening session at The Crucible.

Snooker • 20 Apr 16

Mark Allen plays a shot against Mitchell Mann

Allen enjoys three-frame lead at the Crucible

Antrim's Mark Allen holds a 6-3 lead over Mitchell Mann following their opening first-round session at the World Championship in Sheffield as 2010 champion Neil Robertson crashed out.

Snooker • 19 Apr 16

Ronnie O’Sullivan leaves the Crucible auditorium after defeating David Gilbert 10-7 in the opening round at the World Championship

Ronnie O’Sullivan warned over media no-show

Ronnie O'Sullivan escaped with a slap on the wrist after snubbing a mandatory post-match press conference following his victory in the first round at the Betfred World Championship.

Snooker • 19 Apr 16

Ronnie O'Sullivan is chasing his sixth World Championship

Rocket lays solid platform in World C'ship mission

Ronnie O'Sullivan was the sideshow for a change as he began his Betfred World Championship mission.

Snooker • 17 Apr 16

Ali Carter boasts a superb head-to-head record against Stuart Bingham, winning 14 of their 19 matches

Ali Carter ousts world champion Stuart Bingham

Stuart Bingham became the latest victim of the 'Crucible curse' as the man who lifted the trophy last May crashed out on day one of the Betfred World Championship.

Snooker • 17 Apr 16

Mark Allen faces Mitchell Mann in the first round on Tuesday

Mark Allen inspired by Danny Willett's Masters win

Mark Allen has vowed to put himself into Crucible contention by taking inspiration from golf's Masters champion Danny Willett.

Snooker • 16 Apr 16

Judd Trump: 'I've got enough experience now'

Trump has 'no more excuses' for first world title

Judd Trump says he has "no excuses" left as he steps out in a quest to win a first Betfred World Championship title.

Snooker • 16 Apr 16

Ken Doherty has failed to qualify for three of the last four World Championships

Ken Doherty misses out on Crucible spot

Ken Doherty has fallen at the final hurdle in his attempt to qualify for this year’s World Snooker Championship after Welsh potter Ryan Day inflicted a 10-6 defeat on the Dubliner at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.

Snooker • 13 Apr 16

Ken Doherty faces Alfie Burden or Ryan Day in the final round of qualifiers

Ken Doherty one win away from the Crucible

Ken Doherty survived a spirited comeback by Hossein Vafaei Ayouri to progress to the final qualifying round for the World Championship on a 10-7 scoreline.

Snooker • 11 Apr 16

Craig Breen: 'I feel like I’ve got the whole country on my shoulders.'

Breen ready to seize dream shot at World C'ship

Craig Breen said he feels like he has the whole of Ireland on his shoulders as he prepares to fulfil a lifelong dream at the World Championship event Rally Sweden.

Motorsport • 09 Feb 16

Sonia O'Sullivan contesting the 3,000m at the 1993 World Championship in Stuttgart

Sonia O'Sullivan could be awarded World golds

Sonia O'Sullivan could be awarded two World Championship gold medals after reports that the Chinese athletes who denied her glory 23 years ago in Stuttgart were forced to take illegal performance-enhancing drugs.

Athletics • 05 Feb 16

Phil Taylor is chasing a 15th PDC World Championship

Taylor brushes Painter aside to stay on march

Phil Taylor kept his hopes of a 15th PDC World Championship title alive after booking his place in the third round with a 4-1 win over Kevin Painter.

Darts • 29 Dec 15

Raymond van Barneveld was pushed all the way by England's Stephen Bunting

Van Barneveld digs deep in World C'ship thriller

Raymond van Barneveld squeezed out Stephen Bunting for the second year in a row to reach the last 16 of the PDC World Darts Championship after a pulsating clash at Alexandra Palace.

Darts • 27 Dec 15

Daryl Gurney couldn't overcome world champion Gary Anderson

Daryl Gurney goes down fighting at Ally Pally

Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney went down fighting as he exited the World Championship after a 4-1 defeat at the hands of reigning world champion Gary Anderson on Saturday night.

Darts • 26 Dec 15

Adrian Lewis dispatched of Jan Dekker 3-0

Adrian Lewis shows class to march through

Adrian Lewis cruised into the second round of the PDC World Darts Championship, brushing aside Jan Dekker in straight sets at Alexandra Palace.

Darts • 24 Dec 15

Phil Taylor: 'I want to be Tony McCoy. I want to be David Beckham, Ronnie O'Sullivan. I want to be the best there has ever been.'

Taylor on mission to be 'best there's ever been'

Phil Taylor began his pursuit of a 17th World Darts Championship title with a comfortable first-round victory at Alexandra Palace.

Darts • 20 Dec 15

Shaun Murphy holds a one frame lead going into the final day of the World Championship

Shaun Murphy has the edge at the Crucible

Shaun Murphy brought out his Sunday best as he edged ahead in the Betfred World Championship final on a dramatic evening at the Crucible.

Snooker • 03 May 15

Stuart Bingham laughs as Shaun Murphy watches on earlier today

Murphy & Bingham share opening Crucible session

Shaun Murphy believes he can spend a second decade at the top of snooker after his dazzling Betfred World Championship run.

Snooker • 03 May 15

Judd Trump needed one frame to complete the win this morning

Judd Trump through with little fuss

Judd Trump finished off his quarter-final against Ding Junhui with the minimum of fuss this morning, taking the one frame needed to complete a 13-4 victory at his first attempt.

Snooker • 29 Apr 15

Ronnie O'Sullivan easily disposed of Craig Steadman despite struggling for fluency during the second session of his match at the Crucible

O'Sullivan and Stevens to clash at the Crucible

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Matthew Stevens will meet in a mouthwatering second-round match at the Betfred World Championship after both ran out convincing winners at the Crucible.

Snooker • 22 Apr 15

Mark Allen won nine frames in a row to beat Ryan Day

Mark Allen romps to victory over Ryan Day

Antrim's Mark Allen coasted to a comprehensive 10-3 victory over Welshman Ryan Day at the Betfred World Championship.

Snooker • 21 Apr 15