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Stuart Bingham given immediate chance for revenge he desperately craves over snooker rival Neil Robertson

STUART BINGHAM has been given the chance for immediate revenge over rival Neil Robertson after Sunday’s World Grand Prix final hammering.

The snooker ace upset the odds in Hong Kong with a semi-final win over world No1 Judd Trump.

Stuart Bingham chalking his cue.
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Stuart Bingham has the chance to avenge his Grand Prix defeat to Neil Robertson[/caption]
Neil Robertson of Australia during a snooker match.
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Robertson won the weekend final in Hong Kong 10-0[/caption]

Bingham also knocked out Mark Williams, Wu Yize and Mark Selby on his way to the final.

However, Ballrun’s amazing streak came to a brutal end when he faced Robertson for the main prize.

Bingham failed to make any kind of impact as he was thrashed 10-0 in the Far East.

It saw Robertson bag the easiest £180,000 jackpot of his career so far.

But Bingham has now been granted a chance for immediate revenge after being drawn against Robertson in the Players Championship.

The pair collide on Tuesday March 18 in the 1pm session.

And there will be an incredible prize of £150k to play for as the world’s best 16 players take to the tables in Telford.

Speaking after his Grand Prix defeat, Bingham admitted he was eager to face Robertson once again and right some wrongs.

Cheltenham Festival betting offers and free bets

He said: “My goal was to get to the final. My finally really was against Judd.

“I’ll take the positives and then I’m in Telford. I’ll be after Neil, I want him in the draw.

“He ain’t going to beat me 10-0 then!”

The rest of the Players Championship matches have also been made, with Mark Allen facing Kyren Wilson on Monday March 17.

Also taking place that day at 7pm is Mark Williams vs Ding Junhui.

While Mark Selby and Si Jiahui make up the second 1pm fixture the following day.

The 7pm games on Tuesday March 18 see Trump face Lei Peifan and Shaun Murphy take on Barry Hawkins.

And on Wednesday March 19, the final games between John Higgins and Chris Wakelin, plus Xiao Guodong vs Wu Yize, start at 1pm.

The quarter-finals then start later that evening and run until Friday afternoon.

They are immediately followed by the first semi-final, with the second occurring on Saturday night and the final on Sunday.

Players Championship draw and schedule

Monday March 17
7pm
Mark Allen v Kyren Wilson
Mark Williams v Ding Junhui

Tuesday March 18
1pm
Neil Robertson v Stuart Bingham
Mark Selby v Si Jiahui

7pm
Judd Trump v Lei Peifan
Shaun Murphy v Barry Hawkins

Wednesday March 19

1pm

John Higgins v Chris Wakelin

Xiao Guodong v Wu Yize

Quarters

Wednesday March 19 – Evening

Thursday March 20 – Afternoon & Evening

Friday March 21 – Afternoon

Semis

Friday March 21 – Evening

Saturday March 22 – Evening

Final

Sunday March 23 – Evening

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Mum’s symptoms initially mistaken for muscle twitches – now she’s been given ‘death sentence’

HOLLY Turner was devastated when her sister was diagnosed with an incurable disease that stole her mum just years earlier – but she never imagined she was next.

“It’s a death sentence,” says her mother-in-law, Linda McQueen.

Portrait of Holly Turner, a woman diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
SWNS
Doctors initially dismissed Holly’s muscle spasms as benign fasciculation syndrome, a condition causing frequent muscle twitches.[/caption]
Woman in a black gown standing outdoors at night under string lights.
But in 2022, a nerve conduction test showed hyper-excitable neurons, an early sign of motor neuron disease
SWNS

“She’s trying to act normal around Koby [her son], saying things like ‘Well, Koby, I might be here when you grow up.’”

Holly, 45, from Hastings, East Sussex, lost her mum to motor neurone disease (MND) in 2013 but had no idea she carried the genetic mutation herself.

Tragically, just four years ago, her sister, then 50, started struggling to walk and was diagnosed with the same cruel condition.

Holly helped care for her – then, chillingly, her own muscles began to spasm.

Doctors initially dismissed her symptoms as benign fasciculation syndrome, a condition causing frequent muscle twitches.

But in 2022, a nerve conduction test showed hyper-excitable neurons, an early sign of MND.

Two years later, she was given the devastating official diagnosis.

MND is a fatal and incurable condition affecting around 5,000 people in the UK.

It damages nerves, causing muscle weakness, speech issues, and breathing problems.

Holly herself is now struggling to walk without extreme pain.

However, she is focused on making as many memories as she can with her 14-year-old son.

Linda, 66, a part-time carer, describes her as “a selfless and devoted mother whose life has always revolved around others.”

Holly’s sister was diagnosed in summer 2022 and tragically passed away in July 2023.

The family had already endured the heartbreak of losing their mother to the same disease.

“They helped care for their mum,” Linda explains.

Holly Turner, 45, diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
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The disease has already killed Holly’s mum[/caption]

“It started with her voice slurring -they thought it was a stroke. By the time they knew it was MND, they had no idea it was genetic.”

Holly’s own health declined rapidly.

By October 2021, she was hospitalised for 11 days due to fainting episodes and was later diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

Making good memories

When she finally received her MND diagnosis in July 2024, she had to break the devastating news to Koby.

“My grandson has already seen family members suffer and pass from MND – he is absolutely devastated,” Linda says.

“When Holly walks, she can only do so for a few minutes before her legs start to burn. The muscles are dying.”

Linda has now launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for red light therapy, which they hope could slow the disease’s progression.

They’re also hoping to fund a holiday for Holly and Koby.

“She wants to ensure her son has good memories with her,” Linda says.

“He really wants to go to Italy, and she’s always been interested in the culture.

“We just hope she can get away sooner rather than later.”

What is motor neurone disease?

MOTOR neurone disease (MND) is a condition that impacts the brain and nerves, causing weakness over time.

It affects up to 5,000 adults in the UK at any one time. It is most common in people in their 60s and 70s.

Symptoms happen gradually and may not be obvious at first.

Early signs can include:

  • Weakness in your ankle or leg – you might trip, or find it harder to climb stairs
  • Slurred speech, which may develop into difficulty swallowing some foods
  • A weak grip – you might drop things, or find it hard to open jars or do up buttons
  • Muscle cramps, twitches and spasms
  • Weight loss – your arms or leg muscles may have become thinner over time
  • Stiff joints which limit range of movement
  • Difficulty stopping yourself from crying or laughing in inappropriate situations
  • Saliva problems, where it pools in the mouth or becomes sticky
  • Weakened coughing, which makes it harder to clear the throat
  • Breathing problems

There is no cure, and MND can significantly shorten life expectancy.

But treatments, which can reduce the impact of symptoms, include specialised clinics, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, diet advice and medicines to reduce muscle stiffness.

Source: NHS and Motor Neurone Disease Association

They are looking into a Marella cruise, which offers special assistance for Holly’s mobility needs.

Linda admits Holly was initially reluctant to set up the fundraiser.

“She doesn’t like the limelight, and she’s overwhelmed seeing her face all over Facebook.

“But she knows if he doesn’t do this, she won’t get to make these memories.”

Linda adds: “Everybody wants to help, but they feel powerless. This is the only way we can actually do something for her now.”

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Chilling videos show eerie ‘blood rain’ as beach is turned bright RED in Biblical scenes: ‘The power of God’

HAUNTING footage captured the moment blood-red water flooded a beach popular with tourists, freaking out confused onlookers.

The popular Silver and Red Beach on Hormuz Island saw scenes of horror, as its mineral-rich coast was soaked by heavy rainfall which caused a bizarre phenomenon.

Red rain on Hormuz Island beach.
instagram/@hormoz_omid/
This bizarre ‘blood rain’ phenomenon sees landscape washed in red by heavy rain[/caption]
Red rain on Hormuz Island.
instagram/@hormoz_omid/
Tourists gathered at the Silver and Red Beach on Hormuz Island to marvel at its colour[/caption]
Red waves washing ashore on a beach.
instagram/@hormoz_omid/
Social media users praised God for the Biblical scenes, with this user saying ‘I’m willing to go to the Strait of Hormuz just to see these scenes’[/caption]

Millions of viewers watched the Biblical scenes on “rainbow island” – a largely uninhabited and quiet island which is miles away from Iran’s mainland.

One user said: “The power of God …. How beautiful and amazing.”

The frightening yet unique scenes are a year-round attraction at the coast, caused by the high iron oxide content in the volcanic soil.

These minerals mix with the heavy tide to give the shoreline a bright red colour, which looks as if someone has dropped a large bucket or red paint in the sea.

The rich volcanic soil is also known as “gelack” soil, and has industrial purposes, as it is used in dyeing, cosmetics, glass and ceramics.

It also plays an important role in local cuisine, with natives using it in sauces and jams.

What causes red seawater?

The phenomenon occurs when sea water mixes with the beach’s volcanic soil.

The soil is high in iron oxide content, and is known as gelack soil.

It is high in iron oxide due to the volcanic rocks on the island.

When it mixes with tides, the result is a glowing blood-red sea water that looks like something out of a movie.

Gelack soil, or red ochre, is an export of the region.

It is used in cosmetic products for dyeing and is also an edible food item.

It can also be used in glass and ceramics.

Locals often use the soil when making jams and sauces for native cuisine.

The Iran Tourism and Touring Organisation says on its tourist board:  “Walking along the shore you will encounter parts where sand glitters with metal compounds, especially mesmerising at sunset or sunrise. 

“The soil colour around you keeps changing as you walk or ride and you can visit a unique red edible soil and other 70 colourful minerals in Hormuz Island.”

Last year, separate videos wrongly claimed that the same beaches had turned red due to severe weather.

Tourists, however, can experience the rare phenomenon any time of year, in any weather.

Scenes like this are not unique to Iran.

In Torrevieja, Spain, there is a strange pink lake that owes its colour to an unusual bacteria in the salt.

And in the UK, thousands of tiny bio-luminescent plankton could be seen emitting light when being disturbed by waves.

This made the shore of the Sheerness Beach in Kent light up a glowing electric blue.

People standing on red ground during a red rain.
instagram/@hormoz_omid/
Tourists flocked to see the unreal scene[/caption]

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