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Ctg Abahani Ltd emerge champions in CJKS Premier Cricket League
Chittagong Abahani Limited emerged champions in the CJKS-Ispahani Premier Cricket League'2022-23 while CPA Sports Association finished runners-up after the closing match at the MA Aziz Stadium in the port city on Wednesday.
Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram and President of Chittagran Jila Krira Sangstha (CJKS) Abul Bashar Mohammad Fakruzzaman was the chief guest at the day's closing function and later he distributed the prizes.
General Manager of the league sponsor Ispahani Group of Industries Shah Moinuddin Hasan was also present at the function as special guest.
Indore GM Chess: Sakline Sajid of Bangladesh makes draw with Indian WIM Chandreyee Hajra
Bangladesh CM Sakline Mostafa Sajid made a draw with Indian WIM Chandreyee Hajra in the 5th round match of the 1st Mayor's Trophy Indore International Grandmasters Chess Tournament held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India on Tuesday.
After the day's 5th round match, Sakline Sajid have secured 3 points from five matches.
Bangladeshi GM Enamul Hossain Razib earned 2.5 points , IM Abu Sufian Shakil and CM Ikramul Haq Siam of Bangladesh earned 2 points each.
In the day's other 5th round matches, GM Enamul Hussain Razib won against Antony Jesumarian Leslie of India, IM Abu Sufian Shakil drew with Rachit H Gurnani of India while CM Ikramul Haq Siam lost to Arul Annandh of India.
Fagernes Int'l Chess: Bangladesh IM Fahad Rahman makes good start
Bangladeshi International Master Mohammad Fahad Rahman made a good start in the Fagernes International Chess'2023 beating Malta's Candidate Master Jake Mizzi in the first round match held in Oslo, Norway on Sunday.
The 2nd round match scheduled to start on tonight (Monday night) Bangladesh time.
IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman due to play Norwegian Grandmaster Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal in the day:s 2nd round.
A total 92 players from 22 countries, including 13 Grandaasters, 21 International Masters, 3 Women Grandmasters and 1 Women International Master are taking part in the event
UFC, WWE combine to form $21.4B sports entertainment company
WWE and the company that runs Ultimate Fighting Championship will combine to create a $21.4 billion sports entertainment company.
A new publicly traded company will house UFC and World Wrestling Entertainment brands, with Endeavor Group Holdings Inc. taking a 51% controlling interest in the new company. Existing WWE shareholders will hold a 49% stake.
The companies put the enterprise value of UFC at $12.1 billion and WWE’s value at $9.3 billion.
The new business, which does not yet have a name, will be lead by Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel. Vince McMahon, executive chairman at WWE, will serve in the same role at the new company. Dana White will continue as president of UFC and Nick Khan will be president at WWE.
“Together, we will be a $21+ billion live sports and entertainment powerhouse with a collective fanbase of more than a billion people and an exciting growth opportunity,” McMahon said in a prepared statement Monday.
He also provided some idea of where the focus of the new company will be, saying that it will look to maximize the value of combined media rights, enhance sponsorship monetization, develop new forms of content and pursue other strategic mergers and acquisitions to further bolster their brands.
A synergy already exists talent wise between WWE and UFC, with stars such as Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey crossing over between the two businesses.
The deal between Endeavor and WWE catapults WWE into a new era, after functioning as a family-run business for decades. McMahon purchased Capitol Wrestling from his father in 1982, and took the regional wrestling business to a national audience with the likes of wrestling stars such as Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The company, which changed its name to World Wrestling Federation and later World Wrestling Entertainment, hosted its first WrestleMania in 1985.
The announcement of the WWE transaction arrives after McMahon, the founder and majority shareholder of WWE, returned to the company in January and said that it could be up for sale.
Rumors swirled about who would possibly be interested in buying WWE, with Endeavor, Disney, Fox, Comcast, Amazon and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund all in the mix.
Media industry analysts viewed WWE as an attractive target given its global reach and loyal fanbase, which includes everyone from minors to seniors and a wide range of incomes.
The company held its marquee event, WrestleMania, over the weekend. Last year, WWE booked revenue of $1.3 billion.
The company is also a social media powerhouse. It surpassed 16 billion social video views in the final quarter of last year. It has nearly 94 million YouTube subscribers and has more than 20 million followers on TikTok. Its female wrestlers comprise five out of the top 15 most followed female athletes in the world, across Facebook, Twitter & Instagram, led by Ronda Rousey with 36.1 million followers.
WWE had more than 7.5 billion digital and social media views in January and February of this year, up 15% from the same time frame a year ago.
The new company plans to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the “TKO” ticker symbol. Its board will have 11 members, with six being appointed by Endeavor and five being appointed by WWE.
“We like the assets of UFC and also WWE in a world where linear TV is losing market share to streaming, thus live sport content is in high demand,” wrote Jeffries analyst Randal Konik said in a note to clients.
The transaction, which was approved by the boards of Endeavor and WWE, is targeted to close in the second half of the year. It still needs regulatory approval.
Shares of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., based in Stamford, Connecticut, are up 33% this year, but fell more than 6% before the opening bell on Monday. Shares of Endeavor, based in Beverly Hills, California, rose more than 4%.
Indore GM Chess: Bangladeshi IM Abu Sufian Shakil earns 1.5 points after 2nd round
Bangladeshi International Master Abu Sufian Shakil earned 1.5 points after the 2nd round match of the 1st Mayor's Trophy Indore International Grandmasters Chess Tournament in Madhya Pradesh, India on Sunday.
Bangladeshi GM Enamul Hossain Razib scored one point, CM Sakline Mostafa Sajid scored 0.5 point while CM Ikramul Haq Siam yet to open the account after the day's 2nd round.
In the 2nd round matches IM Abu Sufian Shakil drew with Indian GM Deepan Chakraborty, GM Enamul Hussain Razib drew with India's Nithin Babu, CM Sakline Mostafa Sajid drew with GM Mirzoeb Azer of Azerbaijan and CM Ikramul Haq Siam lost to Arush in Chitre of India.
Fed Cup Football: Bashundhara Kings to play Muktijoddha SKC in first quarter-final on Tuesday
The quarterfinals of the Federation Cup Football begins on Tuesday (April 4) with league champions Bashundhara Kings taking on Muktijoddha Sangsad KC in the first quarterfinal on the day at 3:15 pm at the Bir Shrestha Fl Lt Matiur Stadium in Munshiganj.
Dhaka Abahani Limited will face Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in the 2nd quarterfinal on April 11, also at 3:15 pm at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj.
Dhaka Mohammedan SC will encounter Chittagong Abahani Ltd in the 3rd quarterfinal on April 18 at 3:15 pm at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla.
In the 4th and last quarterfinal, Sheikh Russel KC will play Rahmatganj MFS on May 2 at 3:15 pm at Bir Shrestha Fl Lt Matiur Stadium in Munshiganj.
The first semifinal will be held on May 9 at 3:15 pm at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj while the 2nd semifinal scheduled for May 16, also at 3:15 pm at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla.
The final match between two winning semifinalists billed for May 30 at 3:15 pm at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla while the 3rd- place deciding match between two losing semifinalists will be held on May 23 at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj.
Bangladesh CM Siam finishes 54th at Delhi International Open Chess
Bangladeshi Candidate Master (CM) Ikramul Haq Siam finished 54th in the 20th Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2023, securing 7.5 points after the 10th and last round matches held in the Indian capital New Delhi Thursday.
Another Bangladeshi CM Saqlain Mostafa Sajid finished 110th with 7 points. Aayan Rahman finished 280th with 6 points and Ashiya Sultana 846th with 3.5 points.
In today's matches, CM Siam drew with India's Agnibo Chakraborty, CM Sajid lost to Azerbaijan's GM Mirzoeb Azer, Aiyan lost to India's Arshpreet Singh, and Ashiya lost to Dhruv Sehgal of India.
A total of 1,072 players, including 19 grandmasters and 10 international masters from 17 countries, joined the event.
Daylong Independence Day Rugby Tournament on Friday
The four-team Independence Day Rugby (Rugby Seven-Men's) Tournament' 2023, organized by Bangladesh Rugby Union, will be held on Friday at the Outer Stadium in Paltan maidan of the capital.
Four teams, split into two groups, will participate in the daylong meet.
Participating teams are: Group A - Gulshan Niketan Club, Munshibari Rugby Club Group B - Luxmibazar Rugby Club and Victoria Sporting Club.
Munshibari Rugby Club will play Gulshan Niketan Club at 9:30 am on Friday while Luxmibazar Rugby Club will encounter Victoria SC at 9:45 am on the same day.
Winners of the two matches will play in the final, also on Friday at 10:20 pm at the same venue. General Secretary of Bangladesh Rugby Union Mousum Ali will present in both the inaugural and closing function of the meet.
Prizes of First Division Women's Chess League distributed
The prizes of the Walton First Division Women's Chess League, organized by Bangladesh Chess Federation, was distributed at a function at the Bangladesh Chess Federation Hall-Room here on Wednesday.
FM Iqbal Bin Anower (Dawn), Senior Executive Director of the league sponsor Walton Hi-Tech Industries was the chief guest at the day's prize distribution ceremony and handed over the prizes.Masudur Rahman Mallik Dipu, Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation was also present as special guest. Anjuman Ara Aksir, EC member of Bangladesh Chess Federation and Chairman of the Women's Chess Committee, presided over the function.
Bangladesh Police emerged unbeaten champions in this year's first division women's chess league securing 14 points from seven matches beating holders Bangladesh Navy by 2.5-1.5 game points in the 7th and last round match on Tuesday.
Last times champions Bangladesh Navy finished runners-up while Shahin Chess Club became third.
The champion Bangladesh Police received a prize money of Taka 25,000, the runners-up Bangladesh Navy received Taka 15,000 and the 3rd ranked Shahin Chess Club received Tk 10,000 alongside trophies and medals.
Board award winners of the league are: 1st Board-Wadifa Ahmed (Bangladesh Navy), 2nd Board-WCM Ahmed Walijah (Bangladesh Navy), 3rd Board- WGM Srija Seshadri (Bangladesh Police), 4th Board-Kazi Zarin Tasnim (Bangladesh Navy), Additional Board 1- WGM Velavan Varshini (Bangladesh Police) and Additional Board 2- Jannatul Preety (Shahin Chess Club).
Eight teams participated in this year's First Division Women's Chess League in round robin league system.
FIFA Int'l Series: Seychelles stun hosts Bangladesh to share two-match series
Lowly ranked Seychelles stunned hosts Bangladesh beating them by 1-0 goal in the 2nd and last match of the two-match FIFA Tier-1 International Football Series 2023 on Tuesday (March 28) at the Sylhet District Stadium.
With the day's feat, Seychelles and Bangladesh shared the two-match international series 1-1
After a barren first half, Michael scored the match winning goal for the tiny East African nation Seychelles in the 62nd minute of the match from a penalty silencing the local crowd.
T-Sports telecast the match live from Sylhet Stadium like the first match.
This was the first defeat for Bangladesh in their 3rd meeting with Seychelles and their 8th defeat in the 10th international matches under the Spanish head coach Javier Fernandez Cabrera.
Hosts Bangladesh, which started the day's match with 1-0 lead beating Seychelles by 1-0 goal in the first match, today tried their best against a physically superior African nation.
Finland-born Bangladeshi defender of the league champions Bashundhara Kings Tariq Raihan Kazi
scored the match-winner with his first-ever goal for Bangladesh in the match of the series on Saturday.
Earlier, the lone match between Bangladesh (FIFA ranking 192) and Seychelles (FIFA ranking 199) ended in a 1-1 draw in the four-nation football tournament in Sri Lanka in 2021
With the day's dismal performances, Bangladesh team again proved their limitation in international football despite making an week long training camp in the Saudi Arabian holy city of Madina ahead of the series
Spanish head coach of Bangladesh team Javier Fernandez Cabrera ,who did not include captain Jamal Bhutan in the first eleven, later fielded five substitute players in the match including Jamal Bhuyan but failed to change the fate of the match.
Defender Alamgir Mollah made his international debut for Bangladesh in the day's match replacing injured defender Remon Hossain.
Nigerian born new Bangladeshi citizen Eleta Kingskey also entered the field in the 2nd half, but again he spoiled two good chances.
Hosts Bangladesh, which made a good start in the two-match series beating Seychelles national team by 1-0 goal in a hard-fought first match, now
Bangladesh needed just a draw in the match to win the series, but they concede 0-1 goal defeat to share the series trophy.