LUKE LITTLER READY TO FINALLY CLAIM HIS PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP GLORY NOW
Luke Littler battles past Ricardo Pietreczko 10-6 to reach the Players Championship Finals quarter-finals. The world number one recovers from a slow start in Minehead as he chases another major title.
Luke Littler, the world's top-ranked player, rallied after an unsteady beginning to defeat Ricardo Pietreczko 10-6, securing his place in the quarter-finals of the Players Championship Finals held in Minehead.
Having recently surpassed competitor Luke Humphries in the rankings following his triumph at last week's Grand Slam of Darts, Littler earlier overcame Ross Smith 6-3 in the afternoon session, boasting an impressive match average of 102.
The 18-year-old continued to gain momentum against Pietreczko from Germany, who had narrowly defeated Gary Anderson in a tense final leg. Littler rebounded from a 3-1 deficit, taking command with an 8-5 lead after executing a remarkable 121 finish that featured two hits on the bullseye.
With determination to reach the quarter-finals, Littler maintained a 102 average despite his initial struggle and is focused on capturing another title—one that has eluded him thus far.
“Of course, I'm not pleased when I find myself losing. When it was 3-2 against me, I managed to level it at 5-5, and I knew I had to push forward from there,” Littler noted during his interview on ITV4.
“I realised there wouldn't be any more breaks; we were onstage until the end, and I succeeded in completing the task. My doubles weren't at their best tonight, but I plan to refine that aspect for tomorrow's session.”
“I am indeed pursuing this title—everyone is aware of that. It’s one that I have yet to add to my collection, and I will definitely be going after it tomorrow,” Littler concluded.
Gerwyn Price, the tournament's top seed due to his outstanding performances throughout the 34 Players Championship events this year, also advanced by overcoming Martin Schindler 10-6, setting him up for a match on Sunday, when the tournament will conclude.
In another exciting match, Nathan Aspinall edged past Dutch player Danny Noppert 10-8, with both athletes scoring six 180s.
Off the main stage at Butlin’s, Daryl Gurney—who had previously defeated Stephen Bunting earlier in the day—won against Adam Lipscombe in a final leg, securing his spot in the quarter-finals, where he will face Price.
James Wade continued his success after defeating former world champion Peter Wright by achieving a 10-6 win against Andrew Gilding.
Furthermore, Jermaine Wattimena from the Netherlands triumphed over Ryan Searle with a score of 10-8, marking his first advancement to the tournament's quarter-finals.
YANKEES MAKE SECOND OFFER TO CODY BELLINGER! WILL HE SIGN OR WALK?
The Yankees have made a second offer to Cody Bellinger. Plus, the latest on Edward Cabrera trade talks and Hal Steinbrenner's 2026 payroll.
The Yankees might have something unexpected up their sleeve.
Lately, they’ve been chasing Cody Bellinger, and it’s no secret he’s got plenty of teams after him. If he signs somewhere else, that’s a real gut punch for the Yankees this offseason.
Yankees insider Bryan Hoch from MLB.com thinks if Bellinger walks, the team won’t just sit around—they’ll look to make a big trade. Hoch said the Yankees have been pretty vocal about wanting Bellinger back, but the market’s crowded, and even the Mets across town want him. With owner Hal Steinbrenner talking about trimming the payroll, you have to wonder if the Yankees will actually put up the highest bid for Bellinger, no matter how good a fit he seems. Sure, they’ve got Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones in-house, but don’t be surprised if they swing for a big trade if Bellinger slips away.
Nobody really knows who that trade might be for, but it’d have to be a big bat to fill Bellinger’s shoes. Last season, in what could end up being his only year in the Bronx, Bellinger hit. 272 with 29 homers and 98 RBIs. Not easy numbers to replace.
Right now, the Yankees are laser-focused on bringing Bellinger back. According to Joel Sherman at The New York Post, they’ve already made a second offer to him. Sherman wrote that the Yankees’ sleepy offseason might finally be waking up—he and Jon Heyman both heard New York talking to the Marlins about pitcher Edward Cabrera, confirming a report from The Athletic. Sherman also learned about the second offer to Bellinger, and he thinks these two things are probably connected. If Bellinger comes back to play left field, with Trent Grisham in centre and Aaron Judge in right, moving either Domínguez or Jones in a trade suddenly makes a lot more sense.
We don’t know the exact terms of New York’s offer, but it’s obvious they want Bellinger back, and if they get him, it might mean Domínguez or Jones is on the move.
The Yankees haven’t made much noise this winter, hinting at a smaller payroll. Still, insiders Ken Rosenthal and Chris Kirschner from The Athletic say the Yankees are talking to the Marlins about a trade for Edward Cabrera. He’s 27, under team control through 2028, and is set to make $3.7 million in arbitration this year. As of Sunday morning, though, nothing’s close yet.
Cabrera would give the Yankees’ rotation a real boost, but for now, it’s just talk.
BREAKING: PETE CARROLL FIRED! RAIDERS SECURE NO. 1 PICK AND SEEK NEW LEADER
Pete Carroll is out in Vegas after a 3-14 season. Tom Brady and John Spytek hunt for a new coach with the 2026 No. 1 pick in hand.
The Las Vegas Raiders made a big move in January 2025, bringing in Pete Carroll on a three-year deal with an option for a fourth. He was about to turn 74, but the team was desperate for some stability after churning through four head or interim coaches since 2021. They were drawn to Carroll’s track record with the Seahawks—237 wins, a Super Bowl in 2013, and a reputation for leadership and culture-building. The hope was he’d reset the vibe and steady the ship as a sort of bridge coach.
Things didn’t go as planned. The Raiders limped to a 3-14 finish, grabbed the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the wheels just kept coming off. Veterans wanted out. Young players barely saw the field. There were fights over how to handle injuries. Carroll brought in some of his old Seahawks guys, but they looked past their prime. Two coordinators got fired along the way. It was a mess.
Mark Davis made it official that X: Pete Carroll was out after just one disappointing season. Now, general manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady are running the coaching search. Their top priority? Find someone who gets leadership and culture and can actually steer the team toward the long-term vision.
Word is, Tom Brady already has a favourite. Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk says Brady wants Brian Flores as head coach and Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator. Both guys have New England ties and a reputation for building a winning culture—the whole “Patriot Way” thing. Flores ran the Dolphins from 2019 to 2021, got let go in 2022, and has been the Vikings’ defensive coordinator since 2023. He’s also in the middle of a lawsuit against the NFL and several teams over discrimination and hiring practices. Daboll led the Giants from 2022 until halfway through 2025. If Brady gets his way, those two could be calling the shots in Vegas soon.