They’re at all times discovering stuff right here. Each time the trustees of Alexandra Palace undertake some renovation work on the 151-year-old constructing, they uncover artefacts from the venue’s previous: a type of individuals’s historical past in detritus. Often it’s simply rusty cash and ticket stubs. However then there was the time they discovered completely preserved vials of early prototype tetanus vaccine embedded in a wall, a relic from when the place was a primary world conflict hospital. Or a little bit of Victorian period graffiti from a disgruntled tradesman, studying: “The wages of sin is loss of life, the wages of a carpenter is worse.”

What’s going to they discover of in the present day, a long time therefore, within the palace’s dusty niches and beneath its rotting floorboards? What’s going to the archivists of the long run make of the crumpled nun’s wimple, the light receipt for a halloumi pitta pocket (solely £12.50 at 2024 costs), the a number of small plastic sachets containing traces of mysterious white powdery residue? What tales will they inform of us, right here, now?

Most likely not – if we’re being completely trustworthy – the story of how Thibault Tricole overcame Joe Comito within the opening recreation of the night time earlier than succumbing to the defending champion, Luke Humphries, in spherical two. Or Keane Barry upsetting Kim Huybrechts, or Jermaine Wattimena persevering with his glowing 2024 with a high-quality win over Stefan Bellmont.

Not that any of this was unimportant or trivial. Humphries regarded high-quality, in case you’re questioning, no less than when he wasn’t wandering into the one 5. However in a curious inversion of the conventional dynamics of big-time sport, there are occasions when what occurs on the stage feels fully transient. It’s all the pieces else – the palace, and its individuals – that can endure.

So to the 2025 Skilled Darts Company world championships, a elevating of the curtain that now additionally appears like a type of cultural ceremony, the one sporting occasion that additionally serves as a reminder that you simply haven’t began your Christmas buying but. Up the hill they puff of their padded costumes and stretchy colored material, pilgrims on the piss, songs of reward and songs of plunder, and in addition a music about Yaya Touré. Who’s taking part in? Ah, some French bloke.

Tricole regarded a pale shadow of the participant who knocked Gerwyn Worth out of the Gamers Championship Finals final month: wilting slightly beneath the lights as Humphries blew him away with a barely practical common of 91. As a substitute, it was his first opponent, Comito from Perth, who even in a 3-1 defeat stole the hearts of the gang on his Ally Pally debut. A 40-hour spherical journey for one recreation of darts. Don’t take heed to anyone who calls this a pub pastime.

Wattimena, the European Championship finalist, averaged near 100 in his whitewash of Bellmont. However maybe the efficiency of the night time belonged to the 22-year-old Barry from County Meath in Eire, who averaged 95 in his 3-1 win over a wayward Huybrechts. In his wise glasses and straggly beard, Barry seems much less like an expert darts participant and extra like an undercover PhD scholar researching skilled darts gamers for his remaining thesis. However there’s expertise to burn, and if he can beat Worth on Monday might be in line for the most important payday of his profession.

The wages of sin is loss of life; the wages of a world championship darts participant is £7,500 for a single night time’s work, rising to a possible £500,000. Cash runs this sport now: all 90,000 tickets for this occasion bought out in quarter-hour this summer time, and Barry Hearn reckons the PDC might fill this venue 3 times over. And so, for all of the custom and affection wrapped up in darts on the Palace, you wonder if this can be a marriage on borrowed time.

Formally, the PDC are adamant they’re not going anyplace for now. Unofficially, they’re undoubtedly occupied with it. The Saudi exodus continues to be a way off, however London’s ExCeL and Olympia are each on the desk. After all, that is what any self-respecting capitalist does when demand outstrips provide. Darts didn’t get wealthy out of warning.

However, equally, some venues simply match. From Victorian pigeon racing to Twenty first-century drone racing, from suffragette conferences to same-sex marriage ceremonies, from darting superheroes to guys dressed as superheroes, this has at all times been a spot the place peculiar individuals come to know at extraordinary desires. Up the hill they puff, getting their Palace repair whereas it’s nonetheless obtainable, busily treading in the present day’s fast thrill into tomorrow’s high-quality mud.

The Welshman’s calendar 12 months thus far nonetheless consists of Nordic Darts Masters and Australian Darts Masters titles – the latter of which featured an 8-1 demolition job of teenage sensation Luke Littler within the closing.

However the more moderen ache – significantly his absence from the Grand Slam, a event Value has gained thrice – was finally bittersweet because of spouse, Beth, and his daughters Emily and Bethany.

“We bought married simply earlier than the Grand Slam in 2018 and yearly clearly anniversaries come round however I used to be at all times within the Grand Slam, so it has been a bittersweet second this 12 months,” he added.

“Clearly I needed to play within the Grand Slam, that by no means occurred however then I get to spend time with my household, my spouse.

“My daughter’s simply had her 14th birthday, my different daughter her 18th, and I bought to have a good time my anniversary, which I have never accomplished since 2018.”

The uncommon luxurious of being round his family members helped to reinvigorate a participant who has gained 12 televised titles since quitting rugby to show his hand to darts full-time in 2014.

Latest exhibitions have supplied solace for Value – who has loved practising with shut pal and former participant Barrie Bates, the person who persuaded Value to earn his tour card little greater than a decade in the past.

It has culminated within the ex-Neath, Cross Keys and Glasgow Warriors hooker feeling he might be the person to beat as soon as once more on the World Championship – with Value going through Keane Barry within the second spherical on Monday evening.

“Individuals say I’ve performed unhealthy this 12 months, I have never performed unhealthy this 12 months, I’ve simply had unhealthy outcomes, and the swing of issues hasn’t gone my means,” he mentioned.

“I simply stored rolling and rolling, saying all the things will click on and issues will come and other people cannot maintain doing what they’re doing in opposition to me, however they simply did.

“That is testomony to the game and the gamers taking part in lots higher round me.

“I am straightforward to beat once I’m not taking part in at my finest, however beat me at my finest? I believe I am again to my finest.

“I have been taking part in very well in exhibitions, I have been practising with my mate Barrie Bates.

“There isn’t any cause why I can not win. If I play anyplace close to the best way I’ve the final two weeks then no one beats me.”

In a subsequent report, TASS described the injury to the Volgoneft 212 as catastrophic: “Within the situations of the storm, the bow of the tanker was torn off.” 

Unverified footage on Telegram additionally seems to point out one of many vessels damaged in half, with streaks of oil seen on the floor of the water. The incident occurred within the early hours of Sunday within the Kerch Strait waterway separating annexed Crimea and mainland Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a working group to be set as much as “arrange rescue operations and cleanup works after the oil spill,” his press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated.

Two rescue tugboats and two helicopters have been dispatched. The Russian emergencies ministry stated one crew member had died.

Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesperson for the Ukraine navy, accused Russia of violating maritime working guidelines. “These are fairly outdated Russian tankers. You may’t go to sea in such a storm,” Pletenchuk stated. “The Russians violated the working guidelines. The result’s an accident.”

Each vessels have a loading capability of about 4,200 metric tons of oil merchandise, in accordance with Reuters.

This story has been up to date.

Two Russian oil tankers have been badly broken within the Black Sea, inflicting an oil spill, authorities in Russia have mentioned.

Footage launched by Russia’s Southern Transport Prosecutor’s Workplace confirmed the bow of 1 tanker fully damaged off, with streaks of oil seen within the water.

Each tankers are believed to have drifted earlier than working aground offshore. At the very least one crew member was reportedly killed.

The incident passed off within the Kerch Strait, which separates Russia from Crimea – the Ukrainian peninsula illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014.

A rescue operation involving tugboats, helicopters and greater than 50 personnel noticed 13 crew members rescued from one tanker, earlier than being suspended on account of unhealthy climate.

Fourteen crew members who had been stranded aboard a second tanker had been additionally rescued, the Russian emergencies ministry mentioned on Monday.

President Vladimir Putin has ordered a working group to be set as much as cope with the incident, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev – and authorities are investigating for prison negligence.

Michelle Bockmann, an analyst at transport trade journal Lloyd’s Listing, informed the BBC the 2 vessels are owned by the corporate Volgatanker and had been comparatively small.

That they had been carrying round 4,300 lifeless weight tonnes of oil every, in response to Russian officers quoted by Tass information company.

A tanker used for buying and selling Russian crude oil internationally typically has a a lot bigger carrying capability of round 120,000 lifeless weight tonnes, Bockmann mentioned, which means it’s doubtless these tankers had been used for transporting oil by means of Russia’s rivers or in coastal waters.

The Kerch Strait is a key route for exports of Russian grain and additionally it is used for exports of crude oil, gasoline oil and liquefied pure gasoline.

In 2007, one other oil tanker – Volgoneft-139 – cut up in half throughout a storm whereas anchored off the Kerch Strait, spilling greater than 1,000 tonnes of oil.

Russian oil imports have been closely sanctioned by allies of Ukraine for the reason that Kremlin ordered the full-scale invasion of the nation in February 2022.

In recent times, Russia has been accused of utilizing a so-called ghost fleet of tankers, which are sometimes poorly maintained and lack correct insurance coverage, to maneuver oil and circumvent sanctions – although Bockmann mentioned it didn’t seem the tankers concerned in Sunday’s incident had been a part of that fleet.

Further reporting by Joshua Cheetham

Russell Martin has been sacked as Southampton supervisor after the Premier League’s backside membership’s heavy 5-0 defeat by Tottenham proved the ultimate act of his reign.

Having guided the membership’s return to the highest division by way of final season’s Championship playoffs, beating Leeds within the remaining, Martin has struggled since Southampton’s promotion. He leaves Saints backside of the Premier League on 5 factors from 16 matches.

On Sunday, as his staff conceded 5 first-half targets, Saints followers sang songs criticising Martin’s type of play, and St Mary’s emptied as supporters voted with their ft, many leaving the stadium after Pape Sarr scored Tottenham’s fourth aim within the twenty fifth minute.

A membership assertion conveyed the information that grew to become inevitable throughout that first-half efficiency. It learn: ”We are able to verify that we’ve got taken the tough resolution to half methods with our males’s first staff supervisor, Russell Martin.”

The assertion continued: “Going into the beginning of the season, all of us knew the challenges that we’d face this 12 months as we readjusted to life within the high flight, competing in the most effective and best league on the earth. Nonetheless, the truth of our state of affairs is evident. The board have supported Russell and his employees and been open and clear relating to our expectations. We’ve all been on the identical web page in recognising the urgency of needing outcomes to enhance.”

In a post-match interview, Martin, 38, requested if he anticipated the followers to get their want of his departure, stated: “Not a clue, mate. Not a clue. You’re asking the improper individual. I’ve accomplished nothing however battle in my life and my profession, so, we’ll maintain working and maintain combating till I’m advised I’m not going to any extra.”

Martin’s dedication to an open and attacking type, asking defenders to convey the ball ahead, has malfunctioned repeatedly within the greater echelon, however the former Swansea supervisor, who joined Saints in the summertime of 2023, remained unrepentant about his strategy.

Southampton confirmed that their under-21s supervisor, Simon Rusk, will step up on an interim foundation whereas they choose a everlasting substitute.

Earlier than the information was introduced, Martin stated he understood followers’ reactions. “After I put my ego into it as a supervisor, it hurts quite a bit as a result of we work so laborious each single day, but it surely’s not private. I don’t know them, they don’t know me. It’s a criticism of the job I’m doing, I perceive.”

Southampton have sacked supervisor Russell Martin after their 5-0 hammering by Tottenham on Sunday.

The end result leaves Southampton backside of the Premier League and 9 factors adrift of security. Underneath-21s supervisor Simon Rusk will take over on an interim foundation, beginning with the Carabao Cup quarter-final towards Liverpool on Wednesday, stay on Sky Sports activities.

There have been audible boos aimed toward Martin from Southampton followers throughout and after Sunday’s match. In response, Martin stated in his post-match press convention: “The followers have been wonderful for us since we have been right here from day one.

“I perceive the frustration, I additionally perceive the fashionable world and soccer and what it’s and what it is about.”

Shortly afterwards, although, he added: “As an individual, [it doesn’t hurt] very a lot. However once I put my ego into it as a supervisor, it hurts loads since you work so laborious each single day.

“In fact, that hurts as a result of we work so laborious. However you must settle for it as half and parcel of soccer and it’s what it’s.”

Requested if the followers would get their want, he stated: “Not a clue, mate. Not a clue. You are talking to the fallacious man.

“Nevertheless it’s not private; I do not know them, they do not know me. So it is a criticism of the job I am doing, I perceive. I do not suppose you may criticise an individual when you do not know them. So it is a criticism of the job I’m doing.”

Martin’s departure was introduced by the membership lower than 90 minutes after the full-time whistle.

Martin, appointed in June 2023, led Southampton to promotion by way of the Championship play-offs, however has overseen only one victory and 13 defeats from 16 video games within the Premier League.

Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was a pundit for TNT in the course of the match. At full-time, earlier than the sacking was introduced, he stated: “I really feel very sorry for Martin.

“I feel the lads are nonetheless attempting for him. I do not suppose there’s any query of something on Russell Martin.

“The followers do deserve higher and so they’re sticking with us, and it is one we’ve got to maneuver on in a short time forward of Wednesday.”

Southampton’s assertion in full

“We will verify that we’ve got taken the tough choice to half methods with our males’s first group supervisor, Russell Martin.

“Going into the beginning of the season, all of us knew the challenges that we’d face this yr as we readjusted to life within the high flight, competing in the most effective and best league on the earth.

“Nonetheless, the truth of our scenario is evident. The board have supported Russell and his workers and been open and clear relating to our expectations. We now have all been on the identical web page in recognising the urgency of needing outcomes to enhance.

“We want to take this chance to thank Russell and his workers for all of the laborious work and dedication they’ve given the membership on and off the pitch during the last 18 months. Everybody related with Southampton FC will at all times have unbelievable reminiscences of final season, particularly the play-off last win in Might.

“Present U21s supervisor Simon Rusk will take cost of the group on an interim foundation till we announce a everlasting substitute.

“Behind the scenes, we’re inspired by the continued growth of expertise coming by way of our Academy. We’re happy with the contributions our younger gamers are making and are assured this can stay a supply of energy and pleasure for everybody related to the membership.

“We’re additionally deeply grateful for the continued assist and positivity proven by our followers. We’re witnessing first-hand the numerous hole between the Championship and the Premier League, however your understanding and fervour, even when outcomes haven’t been what all of us need, proceed to drive our long-term dedication to the membership.”

Saints’ sorry season in stats

• Southampton have solely scored 11 objectives in 16 video games this season – three fewer than another Premier League aspect. Their complete of 36 objectives conceded is the second-highest, after Wolves’ 40.
• Solely Derby County (-32 in 07/08), Sheffield United (-29 in 23/24), Barnsley (-29 in 97/98) and Sheffield Wednesday (-26 in 99/00) have had a worse aim distinction after 16 Premier League video games than Southampton’s -25 this season.
• Southampton have failed to attain in seven of their 16 video games. Solely Everton (eight) have failed to attain extra occasions within the Premier League this season.
• Southampton are the one group in Premier League historical past to go in at half-time shedding by a five-goal deficit on a number of events, doing so towards Leicester Metropolis in October 2019 in addition to towards Tottenham on Sunday evening.
• Southampton have made extra errors resulting in pictures (27) and extra errors resulting in objectives (11) than another Premier League aspect this season.

Evaluation: Low moments outweighed fleeting glimmers for Martin this time period

Sky Sports activities’ Dan Lengthy:

Russell Martin had a lot credit score within the financial institution after promotion from the Championship on the first time of asking final season, that when their first season again within the Premier League did not fairly go to plan at the start, the Southampton hierarchy caught by their man.

He caught by his rules and continued to play the possession-based recreation he has change into famend for, even when the chips had been down and the doubters had been out in power, decided to make it work.

There have been fleeting moments of promise, that a lot is true, however the low moments have far outweighed them.

They had been on high early on towards Manchester United in September, however a missed penalty turned the sport and so they had been comprehensively overwhelmed 3-0. They had been 2-0 up towards Leicester with over an hour gone a month later, seemingly on the right track for his or her first win, however someway ended up shedding 3-2. They went toe-to-toe with Liverpool on the finish of November – shortly after solely shedding 1-0 away at Man Metropolis – however errors had been expensive that day.

There have been a smattering of boos when Tottenham scored the opener on Sunday night, however a mass exodus adopted once they had been 4-0 down inside half an hour – as did the primary actual requires Martin’s head, which grew louder and extra intense all through the sport. After the full-time whistle – by which level he had already disappeared down the tunnel – cameras picked up a banner that learn “R.M. Get Out Of Our Membership”.

In his post-match press convention, the 38-year-old spoke about how “as a supervisor, it hurts loads” to listen to the chants, although made it clear he didn’t take it personally. “It isn’t private; I do not know them, they do not know me. So it is a criticism of the job I am doing, I perceive,” he stated.

Requested if the followers would get their want, he added: “Not a clue, mate. Not a clue. You are talking to the fallacious man.” Sadly for him, the suitable particular person granted the followers’ want simply an hour after he spoke these phrases.

Southampton’s upcoming fixtures

Wednesday December 18: Southampton vs Liverpool – Carabao Cup quarter-final, kick-off 8pm, stay on Sky Sports activities

Saturday December 22: Fulham vs Southampton – Premier League, kick-off 2pm, stay on Sky Sports activities

Thursday December 26: Southampton vs West Ham – Premier League, kick-off 3pm

Sunday December 29: Crystal Palace vs Southampton – Premier League, kick-off 3pm

Saturday January 4: Southampton vs Brentford – Premier League, kick-off 3pm

Sunday January 12: Southampton vs Swansea – FA Cup third spherical, kick-off 4.30pm

LaLiga leaders Barcelona misplaced 1-0 to Leganes on Sunday with defender Sergio González’s early header sufficient to stun the wasteful hosts who misplaced their second consecutive league sport in entrance of their very own followers.

Whereas they’ve been glorious within the Champions League with 5 wins in six video games, Barcelona have struggled in LaLiga for over a month, with just one victory of their final six league matches.

Barca stay prime of the LaLiga standings with 38 factors, degree with Atletico Madrid, who they host on Saturday, and one level forward Actual Madrid in third, with each their title rivals having a sport in hand.

It was Leganes’ first-ever win at Barcelona and left them fifteenth within the desk on 18 factors.

Leganes took the lead from a nook after 4 minutes when visiting captain Gonzalez rose unmarked on the close to submit to fireside an unstoppable header previous goalkeeper Iñaki Peña.

Barca instantly went after the equaliser however, regardless of dominating proceedings all through the match with over 80% possession, they had been clueless as they sought to beat a disciplined and properly organised five-man Leganes defence, spurning a handful of alternatives.

They didn’t hit the goal with 16 of their 20 photographs within the sport and after they did, they hit a wall in Leganes goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic who made three spectacular saves within the first half.

The 32-year-old Serbian keeper made a superb reflex save to disclaim a first-time effort from Robert Lewandowski within the tenth minute after wonderful particular person play by Raphinha down the left.

Then, he labored his magic with a shocking save within the thirty third minute to palm a Raphinha volley in opposition to the crossbar and stepped up once more a couple of minutes later to dam a Lewandowski effort when the striker was one-on-one.

The hosts’ frustration grew after the break and so they missed a number of possibilities with Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha all losing good alternatives whereas Lewandowski and Jules Koundé missed sitters from shut vary.

“It is unattainable for us to go dwelling feeling comfortable after what occurred immediately,” a visibly annoyed Pedri advised DAZN. “We did not have the spark that’s wanted up-front to attain targets and we’ve to enter video games higher, we won’t permit our rivals to attain targets to start with like this.

“I feel we had created possibilities however we’ve to know end. It is onerous to seek out a proof for why we’ve been struggling in LaLiga however we have to get a transfer on.”