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: led England’s attack as they bowled out Sri Lanka for just 67 on the way to completing a crushing 10- win in the third one-day international at Old Trafford yesterday. The Sussex paceman took a career-best five for 29 runs as England, after fit-again won the toss in overcast conditions, dismissed Sri Lanka in just 24 overs. Cook (30 ) and (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 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. fires me up and it was nice to get one MANCHESTER: England’s Ian Bell plays shot off the of Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga dur- Conference finals. “Rene Bourque played a great game. He over on them today.” ing their 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 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.” 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 by . 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. T. Dilshan c Buttler b Anderson 2 Bowling: Anderson 7-2-10-2 (1w); Gurney 6-1-23-0; utes from a power-play after New York’s penalised for diving. Heavy cloud cover favored England’s attack K. Sangakkara c Buttler b Jordan 13 Jordan 8-0-29-5 (3w); Tredwell 3-1-2-2 Chris Kreider was sent to the penalty box But Montreal regained control when but conditions alone could not explain how Sri M. Jayawardene lbw b Tredwell 12 for tripping. Bourque scored late in the second period Lanka were bowled out on Wednesday with a D. Chandimal c Bell b Jordan 6 England A. Mathews c Buttler b Jordan 11 That goal set the tone for a chaotic then early in the third as New York’s frustra- mammoth 26 overs remaining. A. Cook not out 30 A. Priyanjan run out (Bopara) 2 slugfest between the two Original Six rivals tions boiled over. James Anderson, on his Lancashire home I. Bell not out 41 with the Rangers levelling the game mid- John Moore was given a five-minute N. Kulasekara c Tredwell b Jordan 5 ground, got England going with an opening S. Senanayake c sub (Woakes) b Tredwell 0 Extras (w2) 2 way through the opening period when major penalty for elbowing Dale Weise that burst of two wickets for no runs in five balls, with R. Herath not out 0 Total (0 wkts, 12.1 overs) 73 Derek Stepan, who was recalled despite could lead to a possible suspension before both Tillakaratne Dilshan and Lahiru Thirimanne L. Malinga lbw b Jordan 2 Did not bat: J Root, G Ballance, E Morgan, R Bopara, J suffering a broken jaw in Game Three, scor- Montreal’s David Desharnais finished off caught behind by his county colleague Jos Extras (lb3, w4) 7 Buttler, C Jordan, H Gurney, J Anderson, J Tredwell ing from a wrist shot. the scoring with an empty netter less than Buttler. Total (all out, 24 overs) 67 Bowling: Kulasekara 3-0-14-0 (2w); Malinga 3-0-13-0; The Habs regained the lead two minutes five minutes from the end. “The league will Dilshan was undone by an especially good Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Dilshan), 2-13 (Thirimanne), 3-32 Herath 3.1-0-29-0; Senanayake 1-0-8-0; Priyanjan 2-0-9-0 later when Tomas Plekanec snapped a shot do what it has to do. I think he was penal- which cut back into him, Buttler taking (Sangakkara), 4-45 (Chandimal), 5-58 (Jayawardene), 6- Result: England won by 10 wickets. past New York’s unsighted goaltender ized on the ice,” Vigneault said. “John is defi- Henrik Lundqvist to end the first period 2-1 nitely not the type of player to try to hurt in front. There were six goals, three from someone, but it was a late hit and it was each team, in a crazy second period that the right call on the ice.”—Reuters Gambhir recalled for England Test tour

MUMBAI: Opener was named in England since 1959, has struggled in tests were also rested for the series along with Dhoni, in an 18-man squad announced yesterday for an abroad in recent years and was blanked 4-0 on , Dhawan, , upcoming Test series in England. its last tour of England in 2011. Mohammad Shami and . The left-handed Gambhir, who last played India play two warm-up three-day games in The matches of the India-Bangladesh one-day tests for India during a home series against England before the five-match test series. The series will be played in Mirpur on June 15, 17 England in December 2012, is seen as a backup tests will be played at (July 9-13), and 19. for regular openers and Shikhar Lord’s (July 17-20), The Rose Bowl (July 27-31), Dhawan. Old Trafford (Aug. 7-11) and Kennington Oval India squads The 32-year-old Gambhir, who has scored (Aug. 15-19.) For England Test series: Murali Vijay, Shikhar 4,021 runs in 54 tests with 11 centuries, is one of India will also play five one-dayers and a Dhawan, Gautam Gambhir, , only three in the squad to have played test one-off Twenty20 game during the tour, the Virat Kohli, , , cricket in England before. Dhoni and pace team for which will be announced later. India Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Wriddhiman bowler are the other two with also named a 15-member squad led by Suresh Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, , test experience in England. Raina for a short three-match one-day series in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, , Ishwar Ishant is the most experienced in a six-man Bangladesh from June 15-17. Pandey, Ishant Sharma, , Varun pace attack which is without experienced left- Raina, who had failed to make the cut for Aaron, . armer , who suffered a shoulder India’s last one-day assignment - the Asia Cup in For Bangladesh ODI series: Robin Uthappa, injury recently. There is also a all- Bangladesh - was named captain amid specula- Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ambati rounder in Stuart Binny, who has been picked in tion that either batsman Rohit Sharma or off- Rayudu, (captain), , CORSICA: The sailing boat Eileen races during the 12th edition of the Regates a test squad for the first time. spinner Ravichandran Ashwin would lead a sec- , , , Imperiales sailing race in Ajaccio’s bay, off the French Mediterranean Island of The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led squad, which ond-string side. Parvez Rasool, Akshar Patel, , Corsica. In the background is the sailing boat Oiseau de Feu. —AFP will be playing India’s first five-match test series But as it turned out, Sharma and Ashwin , Stuart Binny, .—AP