6 January 3, 2018 Iran Named Asia’s Third Allen, Crabbe Best in New FIDE Rankings Help Nets Beat TEHRAN (Press TV) - The Islamic Republic of Magic 98-95 Iran, thanks to the remarkable performances of its international masters and grandmasters at continental and international chess tournaments, has been named the third greatest country in Asia. According to the latest rankings released by the international organization that connects the various national chess federations around the world and acts as the governing body of international chess competition, Iran earned 2,533 points on average to sit in the 31st slot in the world. claimed the second global slot in the latest FIDE rankings with 2,713 points, and took the position as Asia’s best. India landed in the 5th world spot with 2,673, and was selected the continental runner-up. Moreover, FIDE chose Russia as the top-ranked in world, with 2,746 points. BROOKLYN, NY - JANUARY 1, 2018: Jarrett Allen #31 of the The of America collected 2,697 Brooklyn Nets shoots the ball against the Orlando Magic on January points to earn the third position, while fourth-placed 1, 2018 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Ukraine collected 2,679 points. The Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) names Iran as the third best country in Azerbaijan stood sixth in the world rankings with Asian continent. NEW YORK (AP) -- The Brooklyn overall. 2,662 points. Nets had heard enough about not being Crabbe made two free throws to give able to win on the second night of back- the Nets their three-point lead with to-back games. 18 seconds left. He then followed it Allen Crabbe was tired of hearing by blocking Evan Fournier’s 3-point Wozniacki Races to Victory in Auckland Classic Opener his defensive approach questioned. attempt with seven seconds left, and AUCKLAND (Reuters) - Caroline Madison Brengle with a 6-3 6-0 reaching the final in 2015 and The win set up a second round With the game on the line late in the DJ Augustin missed Orlando’s final Wozniacki capped 2017 with the triumph in their first round encounter despite being tested by Brengle encounter against Croatia’s Petra fourth quarter on Monday night, they chance to tie. biggest win of her career when on Tuesday. early the contest, the Dane pulled Martic, who overcame Czech player collectively answered. ‘’I’m just trying to take more she claimed a maiden WTA Finals The world number three is away once she found her rhythm and Marketa Vondrousova 7-6(2) 6-3 in Rookie Jarrett Allen had a career- pride in it. I’m low key tired of triumph in October and the Dane has still searching for her first grand claimed the last seven games to seal their first round tie to advance. high 16 points, Crabbe added 15 hearing people trying to question my carried that momentum into the new slam triumph but after emerging victory. Elsewhere, former world number points and blocked a potential tying defense,’’ Crabbe said. ‘’Coming over season with a ruthless display to kick victorious in the elite eight-woman “I thought I played pretty well, two and 2013 Auckland champion shot, and the Nets edged the Orlando here in this new role there are a lot of off her Auckland Classic campaign. event in Singapore, her raised levels especially considering it’s the first Agnieszka Radwanska was forced Magic 98-95. expectations now, so I don’t want to The top seed has a chance to usurp of play could see her make that match back of the year,” Wozniacki to dig deep to remain on a semi-final ‘’I wish that reporter was here that be the liability, especially in film the world number one Simona Halep breakthrough in Melbourne later this told reporters. “It took me a couple collision course with Wozniacki kept telling us that we were not good next day.’’ with a victory in New Zealand month. of games to kind of just get the when the Pole eked out a 6-2 4-6 6-2 on back-to-backs,’’ coach Kenny The Magic led by as many as eight and the 27-year-old needed just Wozniacki is also searching for rhythm and then I started playing victory over ’s Beatriz Haddad Atkinson said jokingly. ‘’I wanted to points in the first half, but couldn’t 58 minutes to race past American a first triumph in Auckland after better and better. Maia. thank him for motivating us.’’ gain control of the game in a fourth Caris LeVert also had 15 points, quarter that featured 13 ties and 11 while DeMarre Carroll chipped lead changes. in 14 points, 10 rebounds and the Said Fournier of his failed shot: ‘’I Klavan’s Historic Goal Edges Liverpool Past Burnley tiebreaking free throw with 34.5 felt (bad) all night long. Could never seconds remaining. Rondae Hollis- find my rhythm. So yeah, it wasn’t BURNLEY, (AFP) Salah, who had thigh and groin injuries Jefferson scored 13 for the Nets, who good enough for sure.’’ - Liverpool defender Ragnar Klavan has respectively. opened up the new year with a win Orlando squandered a 93-90 lead scored a dramatic injury-time winner Liverpool were fortunate not to after closing out 2017 with a 1-4 road with 1:51 to go in the fourth after as the Reds consolidated their place in be punished early on when Trent trip. Gordon made a pair of free throws. the Premier League’s top four with a 2-1 Alexander-Arnold was caught by Scott The Nets are 3-5 in the back end of a Hollis-Jefferson then made two free victory over Burnley. Arfield who slipped in Ashley Barnes, back-to-back. throws to close the lead to 93-92 with Jurgen Klopp’s side had taken the lead but the Clarets striker lifted his shot over Aaron Gordon had 20 points and 12 1:31 remaining and LeVert converted just after the hour after a fine strike from the crossbar. rebounds, and Elfrid Payton added 17 on a three-point play to put the Nets Senegal forward Sadio Mane - his eighth The Reds found their rhythm and points for an Orlando team that has up 95-93. Orlando’s Wes Iwundu goal of the season - but Johann Berg a intricate passing move culminated lost its last seven games on the road. then answered with a basket to even it Gudmundsson levelled three minutes in a shooting opportunity for Alex Bismack Biyombo posted his own again at 95-all. from time with a diving header. Oxlade-Chamberlain, who saw his low double-double with 13 points and a Carroll was then fouled under the However, Klavan - the first Estonian angled drive beaten away by Burnley season-high 17 boards for the Magic, basket and put the Nets ahead for to score a goal in Premier League goalkeeper Nick Pope. who have now lost 11 of their last 12 good. history - ensured Liverpool clinched all Liverpool dominated possession as the three points when he nodded in from first half wore on but without Coutinho’s close range in the fourth minute of quick-thinking creativity in midfield Liverpool’s Ragnar Klavan (17) scores his side’s second goal of the added time. they struggled to break Burnley down. game against Burnley during the English Premier League soccer match Salah Named Arab Player of Year Liverpool had scored 30 goals in eight Burnley threatened sporadically as against Burnley at Turf Moor, Burnley, England, Monday Jan. 1, 2018. away games in all competitions before they looked to soak up the pressure, this clash, but found Burnley more although Simon Mignolet was called full-back’s deflected cross found Mane Burnley equalized in the 87th minute stubborn opposition. into action to save Arfield’s glancing in the centre of the box. when Charlie Taylor’s cross from the left For the majority of the game the Reds header. The Senegal forward controlled the was flicked on by substitute Sam Vokes were required to show a grittier side to Without Coutinho and Salah this was ball turned on sixpence and lashed an and the stooping Gudmundsson headed their play compared to the free-flowing a game when Liverpool needed Mane unstoppable shot past Burnley keeper past Mignolet. seen this season. to step up and recapture his scintillating Nick Pope and high into the roof of the However, Liverpool scored with the Klopp made seven changes from the form of last season, and despite largely net. seconds ticking away when Oxlade- side which came from behind to clinch struggling he provided a moment of Liverpool looked the more likely Chamberlain’s free-kick was headed a 2-1 win over Leicester City 48 hours quality. to score a second and a brilliant save back across goal by Dejan Lovren to previously. When Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Pope kept out a thumping shot leave centre-back partner Klavan with The visitors were without in-form intelligently picked out the run of from Alexander-Arnold which looked the simplest of headers from a few yards duo Philippe Coutinho and Mohamed Alexander-Arnold on the right flank, the destined for the top-right corner. out.

One-Legged Egyptian Soccer Players Aim for Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring his side’s second goal against Leicester City during the English Premier League soccer a League of Their Own match at Anfield, Liverpool, England, Saturday Dec. 30, 2017. CAIRO (Reuters) - A group a ball - they soon decided to aim federation which could regulate a rules: seven leg-amputee players of Egyptian soccer players have higher. domestic league for the disabled. play on each opposing team, and CAIRO (AFP) - Liverpool and for this year’s World Cup finals in formed a team for one-legged “I started bringing the people in “In each governorate we are the goalkeepers must have one arm. Egypt striker Mohamed Salah was Russia. players, hoping to start league for and coach Yousry, the team coach, asking the players to form a team to Crutches are not allowed to named Arab Player of the Year for Syrian winger Omar Khribin, disabled players in the country. called me to start training me on spread the game,” said team coach the ball and there is no offside rule 2017 Monday in a poll of around who plays for Al-Hilal in Saudi “The Miracle Team,” consists of freestyle football,” team captain Yousry Mohamed Ibrahim. or limits to substitutions. 100 journalists from several Arabia, came second and another twenty-five players from across Mahmoud Ibrahim Tawfik, who Despite their enthusiasm, the team There are 42 nations who now Arab countries. Syrian player, Omar Al-Soma, of Egypt who meet twice a week to lost a leg in a road accident more faces a raft of challenges: a lack have national Salah, 25, has been an instant Saudi side Al Ahli, was third. train on a pitch in Cairo. While the than 20 years ago, told Reuters. of funding, a paucity of special federations, according to the World success at Liverpool since joining Salah is also favorite to win team began training in freestyle The team hope to inspire other playing crutches and difficulties Amputee Football Federation. The from AS Roma, scoring 17 goals in the African Player of the Year soccer - a non-competitive art disabled Egyptians to take up the finding a regular pitch for training. next amputee football World Cup is the Premier League already and 23 title which will be announced in where players perform tricks with and eventually establish a Amputee Football has special being held in later this year. in all competitions. the Ghanaian capital Accra on He also helped Egypt to qualify Thursday.