Articles
Leeds United's Championship play-off semi-final opponents confirmed after Southampton defeat
Leeds United's Championship play-off semi-final opponents confirmed after Southampton defeat
Leeds United will have to do it the hard way if they are to secure an immediate Premier League return. Defeat to Southampton ended the Whites' lingering hopes of sealing automatic promotion and leaves them preparing for a play-off campaign.
United entered today's clash needing a miracle to snatch the final automatic promotion spot. Not only was a win over the play-off bound Saints a must, but the Whites required local rivals Huddersfield Town to do them a huge and unexpected favour by beating second-placed Ipswich Town at Portman Road. The Terriers were all but relegated after drawing at home to Birmingham City in their penultimate fixture.
Ipswich recorded a comfortable 2-0 win over the Terriers to clinch back-to-back promotions. It means United have made an unwanted bit of history following a gruelling campaign. They have become the first second-tier side since Sunderland in 1998 to rack up 90 points or more and not finish in the top-two.
The Whites, who finished third in the regular league season, will face Farke's former club Norwich City in the play-off semi-finals. The first leg will take place at Carrow Road on Sunday, May 12, kick-off 12pm. The second instalment is to be staged at Elland Road on Thursday, May 16, kick-off 8pm.
The Canaries, managed by ex-Huddersfield boss David Wagner, dropped to sixth after West Bromwich Albion defeated Preston North End on the final day. The Baggies will lock horns with Southampton in the other semi-final.
It will be the sixth time United have competed in the play-offs. They have never won promotion via the end-of-season knockout format.
Farke spent over four years at Norwich, twice guiding them to the Championship title. The German was dismissed in November 2021, just six months after winning the league with a record-breaking points total.
Middlesbrough will be the envy of many Championship rivals thanks to Emmanuel Latte Lath
Middlesbrough will be the envy of many Championship rivals thanks to Emmanuel Latte Lath
Michael Carrick is excited about what next season holds for Emmanuel Latte Lath, saying they have in him what most Championship clubs will be desperate to find this summer.
While it hasn't always been plain-sailing for the striker in his first season at the Riverside, he has ended the season in fine form with 11 goals in 12. It means he ends the season, despite playing only a little over half of Boro's combined minutes this season, with 18 goals in all competitions.
Boro are likely to look to sign another striker in the summer transfer window as they look to build on their positive end to the season, they head into the summer feeling like they already have a man who, if he can stay fit and replicate this form next term, will comfortably hit 20-plus goals next term - the often set golden mark of a striker for any successful Championship side.
When it was put to Carrick that every Championship club wants a 20-goal-a-season striker after he capped his season with a goal in the final-day 3-1 win over Watford, the Boro boss said: “We're lucky because we've got one. We've hoped and known the potential he had and his strengths and attributes. He's had a really incredible patch in terms of scoring goals and there's no reason he can't build on that going into next year.”
Latte Lath certainly enjoyed the adulation of the Boro supporters as he made himself a new terrace favourite in recent months. Following the victory over Watford, he danced as supporters sang the song they've created for him to the tune of Spirit in the Sky as the Boro players did their traditional lap of honour after the final game of the season.
With Latte Lath's form earning him the Championship Player of the Month award, and with Boro ending the season with only one defeat in 12, Carrick admitted there was a feeling of not wanting the season to end in the Boro dressing room.
“There is that feeling to be honest," he said. "The boys are playing as they are and the results they've had, there is an element of that. I'm not sure they'll be thinking that when they're sat on a beach, but it's great to finish the season so well."
The Boro players will now be heading to the beaches as they take a well-earned rest at the end of what has been a challenging campaign for them, particularly due to the unprecedented amount of injuries they've suffered. To their credit, there was no sign taking anything easy in their final two games, despite nothing riding on them by that stage.
Following up last weekend's 4-1 victory at Cardiff City, they closed their campaign with a 3-1 victory against the Hornets at the Riverside. Adding to Latte Lath's goal, Alex Bangura and Isaiah Jones scored the other goals as Boro sealed an eighth place finish, just four points off the play-offs in the end.
“It was near enough the perfect day in many ways," Carrick said after. "Obviously the corner we let slip was disappointing. But we responded to that really well and all in all I think we played well. We attacked well and looked dangerous throughout and obviously scored goals.
"Big positives with Law [McCabe] making his first start as well. Getting James [Wilson] on the pitch at the end as well. It’s nice to do that for the academy and give an opportunity for a young player.”
Nigerian man breaks world chess marathon record
Nigerian man breaks world chess marathon record
- Tunde Onakoya, 29, from Nigeria played chess for 60 hours straight
- He made history this month when he smashed a world chess marathon record by playing for 60 hours straight, but Tunde Onakoya's story is even more extraordinary than people realise.
The 29-year-old Nigerian chess whizz has got tongues wagging in his home nation as well as around the world after he played the tactical board game for a whopping 60 hours in New York's Times Square.
Fans and stars alike - including singers Davido and Adekunle Gold - turned out to cheer on the board game enthusiast, however there is much more to Tunde than meets the eye.
The Guinness World Record holder has overcome several setbacks to eventually achieve worldwide acclaim after a botched vaccination when he was a baby caused serious health complications.
Tunde has previously opened up about the 'debilitating pain' he has endured for much of his life, for which he underwent an operation last year which left him on crutches.
Coming from humble beginnings himself, Tunde grew up in Ikorodu, a town in the north-east of Nigeria's largest city, Lagos.
As a young child Tunde learned to play chess at a local barber shop and although he had dreams of going to school, his parents struggled to afford it.
To remedy this his mother later worked as a cleaner at a local school in order to pay for his school fees.
He soon earned a diploma in computer science at Yaba College of Technology before going on to win gold in a chess tournament at the Nigeria Polytechnic Games.
Taking to X last year, Tunde unearthed another childhood memory - one that would have serious repercussions for his health.
He wrote: '[I have] a condition triggered by a bad measles injection from a quack nurse when I was just nine months old.
'This costly error has left me in debilitating pain and a bad leg weakness for 28 years of my life. I wondered if she knew what she had done. Probably not...'
He announced that he had been diagnosed with Avascular Necrosis in his right hip joint - a disease which causes the death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply.
To curtail the pain, Tunde said he had no choice but to undergo hip replacement surgery 'which entailed cutting out the damaged hip joint and replacing it with an artificial implant which had four components'.
He listed a metal socket, a plastic liner, ceramic ball and titanium stem in the femur as the required parts.
In the post - which he shared one month after the surgery - he revealed that the procedure had been 'successful' although recovery was still in progress and far from 'linear'.
However good news came five months ago when Tunde declared via LinkedIn that he was finally able to move around without a walking stick.
The story of his remarkable triumph has been featured across world press, to the delight of the chess champion.
On his X page last week he wrote: 'We made front page on New York’s biggest newspaper. I’ll always remember this city fondly for many reasons, but it’s time to go home now'.
He also updated his fans with the good news that his parents had been gifted a house by an anonymous donor, and dedicated his success to them.
He on the platform: 'Someone gifted my parents a new house today. It’s the single greatest thing anyone will ever do for me in this lifetime. Thank you.
'My mother worked as a cleaner in the same school I attended so I could get an education while my dad worked as a Danfo driver/bus conductor so we could feed and survive.
'My greatest joy in life is to be able to give them both the life they truly deserve'.
Tunde's attempt at the strategy board game on April 17 is set to break the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon ever played - however the organisation is yet to officially acknowledge his effort.
The child advocate battled it out for nearly four days against American chess champion Shawn Martinez to come out on top, and now hopes to raise $1 million (£800,000) for children’s education across Africa.
He called it a 'surreal experience': 'I want to say "thank you" from the bottom of my heart' he began.
'Thank you for the support - you know Nigerians, we always turn up!
'My energy is 100 per cent right now because my people are here supporting me with music and it's just a very surreal experience'.
He also discussed his efforts to raise money through his Chess in Slums Africa foundation.
Tunde founded Chess in Slums in 2018 as a way to lift local children out of poverty and onto the path of a promising education-filled future.
The organization states its goal is to train over 1 million people in the game of chess in the next five years.
Similarly, Tunde sits as a board member on New-York non profit The Gift of Chess. Their aim is to donate 1 million chess sets to children around the world by 2030.
According to its official Instagram page, the charity has so far this year distributed 50,000 chess sets across Africa, reaching nearly 30 countries.
Sharing a post just a week before the event, he drummed up support for the record attempt.
He said: 'This is by far one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but one thing I know for sure I will not be alone through it all.
'[I] need everyone’s support now more than ever to raise awareness and support for the incredible work we do @chessinslums and @thegiftofchess'.
Tunde raised a total of $22,000 (£17,800) within the first 20 hours of the tournament, said his manager.
Over 10 million Nigerian children are not in school - one of the world’s highest rates.
Tunde initially set out to play the game for 58 hours but continued until he reached 60 hours at about 12.40am on Saturday, April 20.
He played against Shawn Martinez - in line with Guinness World Record guidelines that any attempt to break the record must be made by two players who would play continuously for the entire duration.
He surpassed the current chess marathon record of 56 hours, nine minutes and 37 seconds, achieved in 2018 by Norwegians Hallvard Haug Flatebo and Sjur Ferkingstad.
For the occasion, Tunde dined on water and jollof rice, one of Nigeria's best-loved dishes.
For every hour of game played, Tunde and his opponent received only a five-minute break.
The breaks were sometimes grouped together, and Tunde used them to catch up with Nigerians and New Yorkers cheering him on. He even joined in with their dancing.
Tunde's attempt was closely followed in Nigeria, where he regularly organizes chess competitions for young people living on the streets.
Support had been growing online and at the scene, where a blend of African music kept onlookers and supporters entertained amid cheers and applause.
Among the dozens who cheered him on at the scene was Nigerian-cum-international music star Davido.
Among those who have supported him are public office holders, including Nigeria’s former vice president Yemi Osinbajo, who wrote to Mr Onakoya on X: 'Remember your own powerful words: "It is possible to do great things from a small place"'.
Similarly Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu branded him a 'champion'.
Taking to Instagram, he wrote: 'Powerful visions birth movements that change lives. Today, we welcomed back @tunde_onakoya, our chess champion, to Lagos.
'His journey embodies the spirit of Lagos - resilient, ambitious, and driven to succeed. As we celebrate his achievements, we’re inspired by his vision for empowering our children and youth.
'Together with Tunde and the transformative power of chess, we’ll work towards a future where every child in Lagos has the opportunity to realize their full potential.
'The state proudly supports his mission, purposefully providing resources to fuel this noble cause now and in the future'.
The Guinness World Record has yet to publicly comment on Mr Onakoya’s attempt. It can sometimes takes weeks for the organization to confirm a new record.
Madonna ends Celebration tour with biggest ever show to over a million fans at Rio’s Copacabana beach
Madonna ends Celebration tour with biggest ever show to over a million fans at Rio’s Copacabana beach
Madonna performed her biggest ever show, closing her Celebration world tour in front of 1.6 million fans with free tickets on Rio’s Copacabana beach.
Despite starting 50 minutes late, Madonna packed over 20 songs from 15 albums into her show and was joined on stage by Latin star Anitta to perform "Vogue".
The 65-year-old began the tour in London last October and has been performing an eclectic mix of her catalogue on dates around the world.
The Copacabana show dwarfed her previous record crowd of 130,000 at Paris' Parc des Sceaux in 1987.
"Here we are in the most beautiful place in the world," Madonna told the crowd.
Pointing out the ocean view, the mountains and the Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking the city, she added: "This place is magic."
Rio spent the last few days readying itself for the performance.
An estimated 1.6 million people attended the gig, more than 10 times Madonna's record attendance of 130,000 at Paris' Parc des Sceaux in 1987.
Madonna's official website hyped the show as the biggest in her four-decade career.
In recent days, the buzz was palpable. Fans milled outside the stately, beachfront Copacabana Palace hotel, where Madonna is staying, hoping to catch a glimpse of the pop star.
By midday on Saturday, fans crowded in front of the hotel. A white-bearded man carried a sign saying: "Welcome, Madonna. You are the best. I love you."
Flags with "Madonna" printed against a background of Copacabana's iconic black-and-white waved sidewalk pattern hung from balconies. The area teemed with street vendors, and concert attendees kitted out in themed T-shirts, sweating under a baking sun.
"Since Madonna arrived here, I've been coming every day with this outfit to welcome my idol, my diva, my pop queen," said Rosemary de Oliveira Bohrer, 69, who sported a gold-coloured cone bra and a black cap.
"It's going to be an unforgettable show here in Copacabana," said Oliveira Bohrer, a retired civil servant who lives in the area.
Eighteen sound towers were spread along the beach to ensure all attendees could hear the hits. Her two-hour show started at 10.37pm local time, nearly 50 minutes behind schedule.
City Hall produced a report in April estimating that the concert would inject 293 million reals (£46 million) into the local economy.
Hotel capacity was expected to reach 98 per cent in Copacabana, according to Rio's hotel association.
Fans from Brazil, Argentina and France sought out Airbnbs for the weekend, the platform said in a statement.
Rio's international airport had forecast an extra 170 flights for the first week of May from 27 destinations, City Hall said in a statement.
"It's a unique opportunity to see Madonna; who knows if she'll ever come back," said Alessandro Augusto, 53, who flew in from Brazil's Ceara state - approximately 1,555 miles from Rio.
Story by William Mata: Evening Standard
Eddie Redmayne lands Tony nomination for role in Cabaret
Eddie Redmayne lands Tony nomination for role in Cabaret
Eddie Redmayne has been nominated for a Tony Award for his starring role in the Broadway production of Cabaret.
The British star has already won an Olivier Award for his turn as the Emcee in the hit show, which he first performed in London’s West End.
He is nominated for the best leading actor in a musical prize at the Tonys, alongside Brody Grant for The Outsiders, Jonathan Groff for Merrily We Roll Along, Dorian Harewood for The Notebook and Brian D’Arcy James in Days Of Wine And Roses.
The revival of the hit show first transformed the West End’s Playhouse Theatre into the Kit Kat Club and transferred to Broadway this month.
The show is still running in London, starring Luke Treadaway and Cara Delevingne.
Redmayne starred opposite Irish actress Jessie Buckley as Sally Bowles in London, but in New York the role is being performed by Gayle Rankin, who is nominated in the best actress in a musical category.
A number of famous faces are in the running for big prizes at the Tony Awards this year, with Succession’s Jeremy Strong nominated in the best actor in a play category for An Enemy Of The People.
He will compete against Dopesick’s Michael Stuhlbarg for Patriots, The Good Place’s William Jackson Harper for Uncle Vanya, Hamilton’s Leslie Odom Jr for Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through The Cotton Patch and Ray Donovan’s Liev Schreiber for Doubt: A Parable.
The Notebook star Rachel McAdams, Ocean’s Eight’s Sarah Paulson and American Horror Story’s Jessica Lange are all nominated for the best actress in a play prize for their roles in Mary Jane, Appropriate and Mother Play respectively.
The nominations were announced on US morning show CBS This Morning.
Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has also been nominated for a Tony.
The actor is recognised in the best performance by an actor in a featured role in a musical category for the revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along.
British musician Fatboy Slim is also among the nominees for his original score with David Byrne for new musical Here Lies Love.
The 77th Tony Awards will be hosted by West Side Story actress Ariana DeBose on June 16 in New York.
Story by Laura Harding: Evening Standard:
