THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 SPORTS World Series of Poker Photo of the day kicks off in Las Vegas LAS VEGAS: The 45th Annual World Series different countries and has a ripple effect of Poker kicked off seven weeks of play in on hotel, restaurant and entertainment Las Vegas on Tuesday, promising the tour- business in the city. nament champion at least $10 million and Some 30 percent of participants hail enticing tens of thousands of players with a from Nevada and California, and 74 percent prize pool estimated at $200 million. are from the United States. The rest come The 65-event series at the Rio resort from abroad, with large pockets from begins with a $500 casino employees’ Canada, Australia and Europe. game, a sort of warm-up for organizers, and Ninety-four percent of participants are will culminate July 5 with the start of the male, and the average player age is 38. “It’s No-Limit Hold’em Main Event. That event a very mentally tiring game, which is why narrows the playing field to nine people you see this kind of younger age demo- over the course of 10 days before finalists graphic,” said series spokesman Seth break for several months and reunite in Palansky. The tournament has been boost- November for the finals. ed by the expansion of online poker, which An estimated 80,000 players will enter gives players a less-intimidating space in the tournament, and organizers expect which to learn and practice their game. they’ll cross the $200 million prize give- Online play also moves faster than the in- away threshold for only the second time in person game, giving players more experi- their history. Last year, the World Series of ence more quickly. Poker gave out $197 million in prize mon- “It’s totally built the numbers that we ey. This year’s tournament includes a $1 have,” Palansky said. At any given time in million charity buy-in game held every oth- the next seven weeks, 5,000 players might er year. Capped at 56 players, the June 29 be sitting at the tournament’s poker tables event typically attracts poker professionals at the Rio. Events - which have buy-in levels and amateurs used to making high-stakes as low as $500 - average about 1,300 play- bets. About 10 percent of the proceeds will ers each. benefit The One Drop Foundation, a non- Winners of each event take home the profit created by Cirque du Soleil founder signature WSOP gold bracelet. Last year’s Guy Laliberte and dedicated to providing top poker player, Michigan native Ryan clean water to developing countries. Other Riess, outlasted 6,351 players to win his niche contests include a senior event for title and $8.4 million at the age of 23. players age 50 and up, and a women-only Players to watch this year include game. Conceived as an event to attract Canada native Daniel Negreanu, the reign- tourists to Las Vegas as the weather heats ing WSOP Player of the Year. Negreanu pre- up and convention activity slows down, the viously took the title in 2004 and is the first series draws players from more than 100 to win the coveted ranking twice.—AP The Red Bull Extreme Sailing Team performs during day 4 at the Extreme Sailing Series Act 3 in Qingdao, China. — www.redbull.com England thrash Sri Lanka MANCHESTER: Chris Jordan led England’s attack as they bowled out Sri Lanka for just 67 on the way to completing a crushing 10-wicket win in the third one-day international at Old Trafford yesterday. The Sussex paceman took a career-best five wickets for 29 runs as England, after fit-again captain Alastair Cook won the toss in overcast conditions, dismissed Sri Lanka in just 24 overs. Cook (30 not out) and Ian Bell (41 not out), then made easy work of their meagre target, although left-hander Cook was dropped on 12 at square leg by Sachitra Senanayake. Bell finished the day/night match with a straight six off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath as England, now 2-1 up in this five-match series, hit back just three days after being bowled out MONTREAL: Max Pacioretty No. 67 of the Montreal Canadiens plays the puck against for 99 during Sri Lanka’s 157-run win at Chester- Kevin Klein No. 8 of the New York Rangers during Game Five of the Eastern le-Street. Conference Final in the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. —AFP “The lads came out firing, desperate to prove a point today, and we did that,” Cook told Sky Sports. “When we got the chance Jords really hit Canadiens defeat Rangers the mark,” explained the left-handed opener, who missed the second ODI with a groin strain. NEW YORK: Rene Bourque scored a hat- ended with Montreal leading 5-4. The Jordan added: “It was really emphatic today trick as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Canadiens, who lost the first two games of and, after we lost at Durham, we wanted to fight New York Rangers 7-4 in a high-scoring the series at home, extended their lead to back hard. We were surprised at how quickly we thriller on Tuesday to stay alive in the 4-1 early in the second period when Max won but we’re happy. “Playing international National Hockey League’s Eastern Pacioretty then Bourque both scored. cricket fires me up and it was nice to get one MANCHESTER: England’s Ian Bell plays shot off the bowling of Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga dur- Conference finals. “Rene Bourque played a great game. He over on them today.” ing their One Day International cricket match at Old Trafford cricket ground.—AP Needing to win to avoid elimination in was a force out there, you know?” said Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews slammed a well-judged catch. Sangakkara was caught the way to surpassing his previous best of three the best-of-seven series, the Canadiens Canadiens’ head coach Michel Therrien. his side’s top order, saying: “The poor shot selec- behind off Jordan and the Sussex star then had for 25 in England’s series-opening 81-run win won a wild and ill-tempered Game Five to “He’s a very good scorer, so definitely that tion was the main reason why we only got 67.” Dinesh Chandimal taken at short extra-cover by against Sri Lanka at The Oval last week. The exit reduce the deficit to 3-2 and retain some was a great performance by him.” However, he added: “The English team is hard Bell. of Mathews was the cue for a flurry of wickets, hope of reaching the Stanley Cup finals for New York coach Alain Vigneault took the to beat on home soil but I’ve got the team to do But it was off-spinner James Tredwell who, that included a direct hit run out by Ravi Bopara. the first time in 21 years. unusual step of replacing Lundqvist, who it.” Kumar Sangakkara top-scored for Sri Lanka with his first ball, took the prize wicket of Barbados-born Jordan, 25, appropriately The next game will be today with the allowed four goals from 14 shots, with Cam with 13 in an innings where the only other bats- Jayawardene when the right-hander was plumb wrapped up proceedings when he had last man eventual winner to play either the Los Talbot and the visitors responded with men to make it into double figures were Mahela lbw on the back foot. Lasith Malinga lbw for two. The series continues Angeles Kings or the Chicago Blackhawks three goals in a four and a half minute blitz. Jayawardene (12) and Mathews (11). Mathews was then caught behind off Jordan, at Lord’s on Saturday before concluding at for the NHL championship. “I pulled him because I thought at that time The tourists lost their last six wickets for nine who in his 12th match at this level was well on Edgbaston on June 3.—AFP “Sometimes it seems that wherever we needed a little momentum shift, and I runs in six overs. Sri Lanka’s total was their third you’re going the puck seems to be follow- thought it might catch everybody’s atten- lowest at this level, following the 43 they made ing you,” said Bourque. “My linemates did a tion,” Vigneault said. against South Africa at Paarl in 2012 and 55 SCOREBOARD great job of getting the puck to me and we “It did for a while but obviously it didn’t against the West Indies at Sharjah in 1986. had a lot of shots on net.” work out.” Rick Nash started the comeback It was also their lowest in England, with their MANCHESTER: Kingdom: Final scoreboard in the third one-day international between England and Sri Lanka at Montreal got off to a flying start on with a power play goal then Stepan beat previous worst in the country also coming at Old Old Trafford yesterday: home ice when Canadiens forward Alex Canadiens’ goalie Dustin Tokarski, who Trafford when, as a non-Test nation, they made Sri Lanka 60 (Mathews), 7-65 (Priyanjan), 8-65 (Kulasekara), 9-65 Galchenyuk tipped in a slap shot from PK made 23 saves, and Kreider scored his sec- 86 against eventual champions the West Indies L. Thirimanne c Buttler b Anderson 7 (Senanayake), 10-67 (Malinga) Subban to score inside the first two min- ond off a power-play when Plekanec was at the inaugural World Cup in 1975.