Despite the almost 50,000 empty seats in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Chelsea proved their experience as they defeated the Los Angeles FC 2-0 in an intense Group Stage match for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Coincidentally, this game is also Liam Delap’s debut match as Chelsea’s forward. He displayed impressive moves in his first 30 minutes by being a team player and setting up his seniors, even getting an assist when Enzo Fernandez scored a goal after his pass.
Even though Los Angeles FC lost the game, they still have a strong roster that can intimidate their next opponents. World Cup-winning French duo Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris are playing for the team. This caused Chelsea some problems, but they ultimately won in the end.
The next fixture for the two teams is already prepared. Chelsea will face the Brazilian team Flamengo, while Los Angeles FC go against ES Tunis this Friday.
Paper Rex made a huge statement at VALORANT Masters Toronto after crushing the iconic esports team Sentinels for the first time. The squad handed Sentinels a 2-0 defeat in the Upper Bracket Semifinals on Monday, June 16.
The Pacific team entered the match as underdogs. Sentinels had gone undefeated on the Swiss stage, showing clean form against Wolves Esports and Bilibili Gaming. They even went on a 2-0 victory against Xi Lai Gaming in the Upper Bracket Quarterfinals. The Sentinels’ winning streak came to a halt when Paper Rex turned up the heat in the playoffs.
Their match kicked off on the map Split, where Paper Rex took full control. They stormed through with a 13-3 win, led by standout play from Ilya ‘something’ Petrov’s Yoru and Wang ‘Jinggg’ Jing Jie’s Raze. The energy never dropped as they closed the series with a 13-11 finish on the Sunset map.
With this win, Paper Rex is now through to the Upper Finals, where they’ll face Wolves Esports on Friday, June 20. A win against the Wolves will take them straight to the Grand Final for their first major global title.
Meanwhile, Sentinels fall to the Lower Bracket Quarterfinals against Fnatic. They have to fight back up to reach the final again.
Football’s nonstop push for more games is driving pro players toward burnout, warned the global players’ group International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO). The report came out before the FIFA Club World Cup began, as it shows how the packed schedule puts player health, financials, and the future of the sport at risk.
Tim Bridge, a top sports business partner at Deloitte, said that there’s a never-ending hunger for growth and fame. ‘Everybody wants to be the biggest and the best. But there’s only so much “best” to go around’, he added. Bridge warned that players can get caught in a bad cycle without caution.
FIFPRO says only 13% of players in games like Euro 2024 or Copa América had the suggested 28-day break before the season. In response, they are asking for 12 proposed safeguards to protect players. Among the highlights are the following:
A 4-week break after the season
Rest between matches
Four-week reconditioning period
A limit on the number of games for players under 18
These ideas are backed by a study with 70 health and training experts. Over 75% of them agreed with each rule. FIFPRO and player groups in England and France have already gone to court against FIFA in the EU. With the ongoing tournament, FIFPRO is urging action before football loses its biggest stars.
Lynn Vision’s bold run at the BLAST.tv Austin Major has come to a close. The team fell 2-1 to Legacy in a tense match that kept fans on edge. They came out hot on Dust2, with Zhang ‘z4kr’ Sike dropping 16 T-side kills to build a 13-2 lead. A key last-second defuse from z4kr helped them close the map 13-3.
Legacy came back strong on Inferno, where they crushed Lynn Vision 13-3 to even the score. In the last map, Mirage, Legacy’s stronghold proved too much. Lynn Vision fought hard, but Legacy stayed sharp and locked in the win with a 13-5 score.
The loss ends Lynn Vision’s dream of reaching the next stage. Still, their sharp plays and strong start made waves in the CS2 scene. Legacy now moves on, still in the hunt for a spot at the Moody Center.
What seemed like an easy win for Australia at Lord’s turned into a big surprise on Day 3 of the 2025 Test Championship final. Australia gave South Africa a target of 282 runs and quickly got rid of some of their top batters. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood’s 59-run last-wicket stand made the lead grow to 281. Starc, who stayed not out on 58, scored his first Test fifty in six years.
However, the game shifted after lunch. Even though South Africa lost 2 quick wickets and Temba Bavuma was limping from a sore leg, they kept going. Bavuma didn’t leave the field, and Aiden Markram looked calm from the beginning. They showed what Starc and Hazlewood had shown earlier: that batting was a bit easier under the warm afternoon sun.
Markram, who scored a last-innings hundred against Australia in a previous Test, stayed calm and in charge. He ended the day not out. For 65 runs, Bavuma batted strongly despite injury, and in the same moment, Steve Smith injured his finger attempting the catch.
South Africa now needs only 69 more runs and still has 8 batters left. No one expected this, but they’re now ahead. Australia, who looked in full control, is now behind and trying to catch up.
Bayern Munich beat Auckland City 10–0 in a one-sided FIFA Club World Cup game at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, with a huge gap in skill and strength between the teams. Bayern scored early, with Kingsley Coman finding the net in the 5th minute. By half-time, it was already 6–0.
Auckland, a part-time team from New Zealand, could not stop Bayern’s top players. Michael Olise, Sacha Boey, and Thomas Müller all added to the score. Müller also reached a milestone with his 250th goal for Bayern.
Jamal Musiala, who came on in the 61st minute, scored three goals in the second half. This big win broke the Club World Cup record for most goals by one team. Bayern had not scored 10 goals in a game since 2021.
Auckland stood no chance against the six-time European champs. The game showed a huge gap between top teams and lower leagues.
Capcom confirmed a new crossover between Street Fighter 6 (SF6) and K-pop girl group aespa. The news came just days after sharp-eyed fans spotted a surprise leak of a themed outfit in the game.
The teaser, posted on Friday, June 13, from Capcom’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, shows the SF6 x aespa logo. While Capcom has yet to reveal exact details, fans believe the update will include special in-game cosmetics (skins)—starting with a costume for the character Juri.
The leak happened earlier in June, as players noticed Sim Sim: Juri’s outfit labelled ‘aespa’ in the V-Rivals mode. ‘Capcom made an oopsie,’ a fan noted. The company patched it out soon after and called it a bug. Yet, their new post confirms that the collab is real and ongoing.
Fans suggest that the leak could just be the first of several aespa-themed items in the game. Though there’s no release date yet, players expect updates in the next game patch or upcoming seasonal events.
This marks the first time Street Fighter 6 is teaming up with a K-pop act. It could also be a sign of Capcom’s plan to explore pop culture crossovers, joining top-notch games like Fortnite and League of Legends.
Every sport has its legends, like football with Lionel Messi and Pelé or basketball with Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Cricket has multiple players throughout its illustrious history who could be considered some of its greatest representatives.
Some names pop up in the cricket world, and you can always rely on them to be considered some of the greatest. Die-hard cricket fans would label a player like this the ‘Godfather of Cricket’ due to their significant impact on the sport and their profound influence on fans. Do you want to know the best candidates? Get to know more about them, but learn first the criteria!
How does one become the Godfather of Cricket?
The term ‘Godfather’ is a special title in cricket as it signifies that a specific player had a monumental impact on the sport. It’s not outright the best player in cricket’s history, but the Godfather should be an all-time great who made an impact only matched by a small group of players who could also be candidates for the tag.
Here are some factors that could be considered when deciding a cricketer’s impact:
Cultural influence – For a player to be crowned as a Godfather, they should have a strong impact on the sport’s culture. They should be icons due to their exceptional talent, making them a big influence in their countries and worldwide. A cricket Godfather should be well-known worldwide, not only to their country’s cricket fan base. They should be recognised whenever on screen, or their name at least invokes a reaction from the fans.
A strong legacy as a cricketer – At its core, the Godfather tag should be given to players who have the talent to be called superstars. The player should have achieved notable statistics, success, and a lasting impact on cricket history.
A pioneer of the sport – To be a Godfather, one must have made a significant impact on the sport. They must be a pioneer or someone who transformed the sport because of their impact.
The best candidates for the Godfather of Cricket
Don Bradman (Australia)
Donald Bradman is an immortal name in cricket history, largely due to his unparalleled test batting average of 99.94. He set tremendous records that are hard to believe today, which made him the golden standard of cricket during his time as a star player.
Bradman was a big deal in Australia as he became a cultural symbol. The country saw him as something to believe in, as they got through the Great Depression and the post-war times. He was also crucial in growing the sport worldwide with his performances at the Ashes against England, and his influential batting technique.
Viv Richards (West Indies)
If you want a cricket player who brings flair and a defiant attitude to the sport, look no further than Sir Viv Richards. He redefined what it meant to be a top cricketer in the modern age, as he cemented the West Indies as a powerhouse in the sport.
Richards was scoring plenty of runs, but he made it fun. He did it with swagger, which was enticing to the young fans of the sport. His fearless batting made him an icon and the symbol of pride in the Caribbean. Richards was also a leader who dominated cricket for over a decade, and his attacking influence remains today.
MS Dhoni (India)
Mahendra Singh (MS) Dhoni is known for being one of India’s top stars. His exceptional leadership helped India win the first-ever T20 World Cup in 2007 and led his country to win the 2011 ODI World Cup.
Dhoni was always a calm player, earning him the moniker ‘Captain Cool’, which was a fantastic name for him as it described him well. Dhoni had a great attitude that people admired because he was always quietly focused on his tasks. With that focus on the matches, he put in some key performances as a wicketkeeper and batsman.
He mentored a new generation of Indian players, and he is a big reason why the country is such a powerhouse in the sport. With his humble approach to the sport, the younger generation felt they could be like him. His influence on the younger players has led to another golden generation of talented cricketers in India and other countries.
Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
While he often gets overlooked, Jacques Kallis is an underrated Godfather of the sport. He has over 10,000 runs and 290 wickets across Test and ODI cricket. Kallis is arguably the greatest all-rounder cricket has ever seen, which is common now, but only a few can do it at a high level like Kallis.
During his career, Kallis was always the focus of the opponents’ scouting report. Former England captain Michael Vaughan was always wary of playing against Kallis because everyone knew the South African player would always make an impact as a batsman or a bowler.
He was a big reason behind South Africa’s success with batting, and he did that while serving as a frontline seamer. The influence might often be understated by casual cricket fans, but true cricket fans know how much Kallis deserves all the love he is getting.
Cricket will keep getting new Godfather candidates
Across the sport of cricket, multiple nations have produced legends. Most cricketing countries will bring out top-tier players again, who could become bigger legends than those who precede them.
In most sports, some players are good enough to have long-lasting legacies. They could be famous beyond their careers because they were impactful and influential enough to be remembered by multiple generations. All the cricketers mentioned here are potential Godfathers of the sport, and their names deserve to be etched into history.
PUBG esports is known for its focus on first-person perspective (FPP) gameplay. This format has shaped the competitive scene, attracting players and fans alike. However, the PUBG Players Tour (PPT) marks a major shift towards third-person perspective (TPP) competition.
This change raises a big question: Is this a smart move to grow PUBG esports, or does it risk splitting the core audience? The answer depends on how well PUBG can balance its vision.
What is the PUBG Players Tour (PPT)?
The PUBG Players Tour is a year-long official TPP-focused tournament series kicking off in 2025. It’s built on a three-tier structure across five regions: Korea, China, APAC, EMEA, and the Americas.
The PPT will feature open scrims (PPS), regional cups (PPC), and masters, bringing the best players into a global showdown. Its goals are to open the doors to more players, align competition with how most people play PUBG and create a steady path for rising talent.
Pros of the shift to TPP in PUBG esports
The shift to TPP connects PUBG esports with its casual player base and opens new gameplay styles. Here are the key advantages of this move:
Accessibility: Many players prefer this perspective, making it easier for them to connect with the competitive scene.
Creative gameplay: Players can explore different tactics, leading to more dynamic and entertaining matches.
Increased viewer engagement: Following player movement and tactics is easier without the disorienting FPP camera.
Support for fresh talents: The PPT supports grassroots players and rising talents through open scrims and cups.
Cons and risks of the TPP focus
TPP adds new opportunities, but it also creates risks for PUBG esports. These are the main concerns to watch:
Divides resources and attention: It takes time, staff, and money to run FPP and TPP formats. This could spread the esports team thin or force hard choices about where to invest.
FPP dominates the core competitive scene: Many pros and longtime fans still prefer FPP for its raw, high-skill feel.
Weaken brand identity: The shift to TPP could weaken PUBG’s brand identity, which has been closely tied to FPP gameplay.
Can PUBG’s PPT broaden without fragmenting?
The PPT has the potential to expand PUBG esports if managed well. However, careful community engagement is required to ensure that FPP and TPP players feel included. PUBG esports is working to connect ranked play with esports, promoting better gameplay.
Other games have juggled multiple formats before. PUBG now has a chance to show it can do the same—and make TPP esports a permanent part of its identity. The PUBG Players Tour may be a gamble, but it could also be a game-changer.
Cricket is an exciting sport, and most of the time, batting first comes to mind. Explosive numbers usually stand out in cricket, so batsmen and bowlers are often the star players. Wicket-keepers also deserve a spotlight because they play a big role.
Only a few players have mastered the art of wicket-keeping. One player who could arguably be the best to ever play the position is Jack Russell, one of England’s greatest players in its long history.
Russell had unmatched technical skill
During his career, Russell was known for his quick hands, but he was more than that. He was a master technician with his movements behind the stumps. Precision was always a big part of his glove work, which impressed the fans who watched the matches.
Russell rarely missed a beat, as he easily dealt with late movement off the seam or a variable bounce. It is tough to keep up with top-tier players like England’s spin-bowling maestro Phil Tufnell or swinging bowler Angus Fraser.
Adaptability was one of Russell’s biggest strengths as he kept playing around the world on suboptimal pitches, but his footwork never wavered.
His consistency made him a technically proficient wicket-keeper who continues to be the gold standard. That makes him one of the best in his position during his time, and possibly the greatest ever.
Russell had many iconic performances and records
The aesthetics of his game were not the best part of Russell’s game. He combined that elegant play with some of the best numbers and performances you can get from a wicket-keeper.
Russell’s most iconic moment came during a match against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1995. He had a match-saving 93 not out, which showed his mental toughness and technical skill under pressure.
In first-class cricket, Russell racked up 540 dismissals, including 1,192 catches and 91 stumpings. Those numbers place him in the top tier of keepers. For England, he played 54 Tests and 40 One-Day Internationals, which he kept contributing to as a crucial keeper.
A strong cultural and cricketing influence
Russell was more than just a cricketer because he was a character off the field. He left a lasting impression on people who liked English cricket as he was famous for his fun training routines, painting skills, and even his love for tea. He can be described as a cult hero for England, as he was a serious player, but he had some eccentric tastes.
His legacy remains strong today because he inspired the modern-day keepers. Players like Ben Foakes and Jonny Bairstow see him as their idol, which should cement Russell as one of the best, even the outright best.
