Olympics’ banning of trans athletes goes against their mission: Readers discuss

Readers discuss goal of the Olympics, Artemis II and Iran’s politics (Picture: Yves Herman/Pool Photo via AP, File)

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Olympics does not represent 'hope for all', reader says

Tuesday was International Transgender Day of Visibility, which makes what is happening to the Olympics bitterly ironic. With its new ruling limiting women’s sports to ‘biological females’ (whatever that means), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is sending out a clear message – trans, 
non-binary and intersex women are not welcome at the Olympic Games.

Due to a mere accident of birth – one that will have already caused them a huge amount of suffering – a small minority of women are being excluded from the world of sport. IOC president Kirsty Coventry said ‘the Olympic flame shines as a beacon of hope for all’. Unless you’re a trans, non-binary or intersex woman, it seems. Helen Shaw, Liverpool

‘Iran has proxies everywhere’, says reader

Kevin (MetroTalk, Wed) is worried about civilians losing their lives in the Middle East and asks how the US, Israel and Iran can be held accountable.

Many don’t seem to want to understand that Iran has proxies everywhere, funds Hezbollah and Hamas and is responsible for the deaths and torture of thousands of innocent people, including its own, across the world.

What may be worth noting are the famous (and not-so famous) Iranians in the UK supporting this move to decimate the evil Iranian regime and who say their family and friends support the US and Israel. Sara, London

Is launch of Artemis II paving the way for ‘exploitation of Mars’?

This reader says sending Artemis II to the moon could be a bad thing (Picture: Geoffrey Swaine/Shutterstock)

Amid the excitement of the launch of the manned Artemis II mission to circle the moon, nobody seems to have given a thought to the fact that its mission is to explore the possibilities of exploiting the moon’s natural resources and for it to be a stepping stone for a similar future exploitative mission to Mars.

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Have we really not learnt anything from the exploitation of our own planet? I’ve no doubt the eyes of the Conquistadors of the 15th and 16th centuries gleamed with greed and their hearts quickened at the prospect of the riches in store from the new world spread out before them. At least this time there will be no natives to cheat and murder.
Peter, Bradford-on-Avon

Trans girl banned from girl guiding: reader says she is a ‘boy’

Regarding the ‘anguish’ of the ten-year-old trans girl excluded from Girlguiding (Metro, Wed). It’s because he’s a boy. He can still maintain the kind friendship he experienced from the girls and maybe joining a mixed-sex youth organisation, such as Woodcraft Folk, would bring him equal happiness.
Patricia Baker-Cassidy, Oxford

‘Trans ideology does not benefit the individual’, says reader

Why does your report refer to a ten-year-old boy as ‘she’?

Colluding with someone’s desires, delusions and fantasies is not kind, and puts pressure on others to go along with the lie. Trans ideology must not be allowed to trump reality. In the long run, it benefits neither the individual nor society. Trevor Sidnell, Uxbridge

‘If people don’t like certain laws and customs then they shouldn’t go to that country’

J Smyth (MetroTalk, Wed) says countries such as the UAE like to give a rose-tinted view of life there but the reality is that their human rights records are ‘abysmal’ and people can get sent to prison for kissing in public.

If people don’t like certain laws and customs then they shouldn’t go to that country. Matt, Sheffield

This reader says stay away from countries you don’t agree with (Picture: Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images)

Is UK government copying tactics of Social Democratic Party in Denmark?

To try to combat Reform UK and the rise of the far-right, the government is planning to copy the tactics of the Social Democratic Party in Denmark by toughening rules on immigration.

And yet in the Danish general election last month, the Social Democrats recorded their worst result since 1903, while far-right parties more than doubled their seats.

The same thing will happen to Labour if they keep trying to ‘out-Reform Reform’. Appeasement never works. JWA Caley, St Pancras

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FA Cup semi-final draw: Chelsea, Leeds, Man City and Southampton learn their fate

Four teams remain in the hunt for this year’s FA Cup (Picture: Getty)

Manchester City will do battle with Championship outfit Southampton for a place in this year’s FA Cup final after their emphatic quarter-final victory over Liverpool.

Pep Guardiola’s side hope to go one better after falling at the final hurdle last season, with the Spaniard looking to lift the famous trophy for a third time in his tenth year at the Etihad.

Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick and Antoine Semenyo also netted as City breezed past the eight-time winners to ramp up the pressure on Arne Slot and reach the semi-finals on Saturday.

Their opponents, Southampton, secured a spot in the last four after stunning Premier League leaders Arsenal in front of a rapturous St Mary’s crowd.

In this year’s other semi-final at Wembley, Leeds will face off against Chelsea after getting the better of West Ham on penalties at the London Stadium.

Lucas Perri was the hero for Leeds, making two big saves in a nerve-shredding shootout, to seal the club an FA Cup semi-final place for the first time in 39 years.

Crystal Palace, the holders, saw their defence come crashing to a halt in the third round as they suffered one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition at the hands of Macclesfield.

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FA Cup semi-final draw

Chelsea vs Leeds

Manchester City vs Southampton

Crystal Palace are the current holders after beating Manchester City in last year’s final (Picture: Getty)

When will the FA Cup semi-finals and final be played?

The two semi-final ties will take place on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26 at Wembley.

The two winning teams will return to the famous, 90,000-capacity stadium for this year’s final on May 16.

Ball numbers for FA Cup semi-final draw

Guardiola is looking to win a third FA Cup with City this season (Picture: Getty)

1. Southampton
2. Chelsea
3. Manchester City
4. Leeds United

Are there replays in the FA Cup this year?

Leeds won at West Ham to advance to the semi-finals (Picture: Getty)

There are no replays in any of the full rounds of this season’s FA Cup.

The FA made the decision to scrap all replays from the first round onwards in last year’s competition and that has continued into the 2025/26 campaign.

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Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder LIVE: Fight updates and latest undercard results

Chisora and Wilder collide with their careers likely to be on the line (Picture: Getty)

Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder collide in what could be a brutal heavyweight showdown in the capital tonight.

It is fight no50 for both men as they approach the end of long careers that have delivered some unforgettable nights in boxing.

For Chisora, who counts a trilogy with Tyson Fury and two wars with Dillian Whyte among his past battles, he has already insisted tonight will be his last dance. But one more victory could have him reconsidering those plans after the final bell.

For Wilder, defeat is not an option. Damaging losses to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang have already pushed him out of the world title picture, and another to ‘Del Boy’ could signal the end of the road for ‘The Bronze Bomber’.

Metro’s LIVE blog will bring you all the undercard action, fight analysis and minute-by-minute coverage of the main event in London tonight.

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‘So poor’ – Liverpool legend slams £34m star after Man City FA Cup loss

Liverpool were thumped by Manchester City (Picture: Getty)

Liverpool legend Steve Nicol slammed the performance of Mohamed Salah after the Reds were thumped 4-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup.

A hat-trick from Erling Haaland and a well-taken finish from Antoine Semenyo saw Arne Slot’s side dumped out of the cup competition on Saturday.

There was plenty of attention on Salah pre-match, with the Egyptian making his first appearance since announcing his decision to leave Anfield at the end of the season.

The 33-year-old, who signed for £34million from Roma back in 2017, has struggled for form this season and turned in another disappointing display on Saturday, spurning a great opportunity early on before seeing a penalty saved by James Trafford in the second half.

And former defender Nicol, a five-time league champion with Liverpool, admitted he is flummoxed by how much Salah’s levels of performance have declined this season.

‘This is unprecedented,’ Nicol told ESPN. ‘How can you go from almost winning the Player of the Year last year to this? To the fact that now you don’t look as though you know where the goal is.’

Analysing Salah’s early miss, he added: ‘The fact is, he had plenty of time to get it under control and pick his spot. But his touch is so poor.

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Salah saw his penalty saved by James Trafford (Picture: Getty)

‘Where’s the power? He’s obviously, his whole body shape’s wrong.

‘And even the penalty kick. He doesn’t have his head up. You watch the majority of people take penalty kicks nowadays.

‘They’re all watching where the goalie is. But Mo is so concentrated and so unsure that he has to concentrate on the ball and make sure he gets a good strike.

Virgil van Dijk’s performance was also criticised (Picture: Getty)

‘And so all that other stuff that you would normally do with your head up, because you’re confident, has completely and utterly disappeared.’

Elsewhere, former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley called into question the form of Virgil van Dijk after the Dutchman gave away the penalty which opened the floodgates in Manchester.

‘He’s been poor as well,’ Burley said of the Liverpool captain. ‘Two guys that were paid a King’s ransom in the summer, two leaders, he’s the captain, two guys that have taken this Liverpool team on their shoulders in different aspects, have been two of the worst performers.

‘Obviously, [Ibrahima] Konate has had a very, very bad season, but in terms of leadership, positioning and defending with Van Dijk’s quality, he’s been poor.’

Asked about the performances of experienced players like Salah and Van Dijk post-match, Slot said: ‘I wouldn’t like to point out to individuals after a loss like this or after a disappointing season that we are having. I think it’s about the team.

‘Mo [Salah] had a few good chances, which is always important because you want players like him to get chances, and I think that’s what in general we did this season, getting him or other players in good positions.

‘Unfortunately, if you look at not only today but the whole season, the amount of goals we scored is far too low for the amount of chances we created, but definitely for the Liverpool standard.’

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Lord of the Rings fans blast ‘disrespect’ of recasting major character with rom-com heartthrob

The next Lord of the Rings movie will not feature one major star (Picture: Moviestore/Shutterstock)

Lord of the Rings fans are making their fury known following confirmation that a huge character is set to be recast.

Currently slated for release in December 2027, The Hunt for Gollum will transport cinemagoers back to J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth to explore an untold chapter.

Running parallel to The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), it will follow Gandalf and Aragorn’s hunt for Gollum after he escaped from Mordor.

While this isn’t a new storyline as such, the events took place mostly off-screen in the original movies.

The upcoming fantasy flick will welcome back Andy Serkis as both director and, of course, to play Gollum, while Sir Ian McKellen will reprise his legendary role of Gandalf.

An actor who won’t be back, however, is Viggo Mortensen, whose expert portrayal of protagonist Aragorn in the trilogy scored him international recognition and numerous awards.

The Hunt for Gollum is set to be released in December next year, exploring a previously untold chapter (Picture: THA/Shutterstock)

So, when it was revealed that Aragorn will be played by another star for the next outing, it’d be an understatement to say devout fans had strong opinions.

Speaking in a new interview with ScreenRant, Serkis addressed the casting: ‘I don’t know what’s out there at the moment, but I know there’s a lot of speculation, but let’s just say we are recasting the role, and we are on the way to finding someone.’

There’s no denying that Mortensen, 67, is synonymous with the warrior; hence, long-time viewers are fearing the worst when it comes to choosing who will step into his shoes.

This comes despite the actor himself saying in 2024 that it would be ‘silly’ to play Aragorn again if he weren’t ‘right’ for it, due to his age.

Taking to X, @DrealMb declared Mortensen as ‘unforgettable’ in the part, demanding only ‘the best’ to succeed him.

‘Nobody can top Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn,’ stated @MadsPosting, with @ReyClipz saying that while it ‘makes sense’ for him to be recast, since the film is essentially a prequel and Mortensen is in his late sixties, ‘they really just should have left [it] alone’.

Fans are raging upon learning Viggo Mortensen will not reprise the role of Aragorn (Picture: Moviestore/Shutterstock)

Now aged 67, the actor would likely have to be de-aged to return for the prequel (Picture: Moviestore/Shutterstock)

‘Nobody can replace Viggo and they shouldn’t try to.’

Plenty are echoing that view, with @TheManlet_King begging, ‘Please just don’t make this’, and @PalmyrPar adding: ‘There’s no purpose in it at this point’.

‘As expected but still very big shoes to fill’, tweeted @SavinTheBees.

‘this is the franchise EVERYONE knows you should not touch, and not only are you going to do that, but you’re also gonna f**k with it’s most beloved character?? you guys are ASKING for backlash’, raged @toofarST.

Who will play Aragorn in The Hunt for Gollum?

Further Aragorn casting details are yet to be released – but did one LOTR star just let a secret slip?

Appearing on Josh Horowitz’s podcast, Elijah Wood, who played hobbit Frodo Baggins, was happy to entertain the idea of rom-com heartthrob Leo Woodall taking on the role.

It’s been reported that rom-com star Leo Woodall, 29, will take on the role next (Picture: Mat Hayward/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)

‘It’s a tough act to follow for someone to play Aragorn, but Leo Woodall, if that’s true…’, Horowitz began.

‘That is true,’ Wood responded, although he started laughing immediately after, making it unclear whether he was confirming Woodall’s hiring, or agreeing that it is, indeed, difficult for anyone to play the part after Mortensen.

He added: ‘That is tough. I can’t imagine. But that’s gonna be great.’

A clip of the moment soon surfaced on social media, with fans undeniably angry at even the mere conjecture.

@getrichordietri said it would be ‘disrespectful’ to cast Woodall, 29, best known for The White Lotus, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, and most recently, Netflix’s Vladimir.

Do you think Leo Woodall should play Aragorn?Comment Now

Others branded it a ‘downgrade’, with @LilDivmond saying their interest has now ‘dropped significantly’.

Although it wasn’t all negativity, as @julian_lyngaas noted Woodall does ‘look like’ the original star, and @Robbiepierce rejoiced: ‘Finally giving us a hot Aragorn, prayer is real y’all’.

It was also claimed that Woodall is simply ‘too pretty’ to play the ranger, which we’re sure is a compliment in some way.

Who else is in The Hunt for Gollum?

News of Aragorn’s recasting follows the announcement of Kate Winslet joining the cast.

The 50-year-old Titanic actress is set to play a ‘female lead’, but further details are being kept under lock and key.

It’s already been confirmed that Kate Winslet will play a ‘female lead’ (Picture: Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage)

Elijah Wood has strongly hinted that he’ll be back as Frodo Baggins (Picture: New Line/Everett/Shutterstock)

Deadline reported that Serkis and Peter Jackson spent most of last year coaxing Winslet to agree to the film, which she will film in New Zealand from May to October.

Along with Serkis, 61, and Sir Ian, 86, Wood, 45, has also strongly hinted that he’ll be back, as he doesn’t want another actor playing Frodo.

In a new interview with The Times this month, Wood was directly asked if he would appear in the upcoming Warner Bros. project, to which he smiled in response.

‘It hasn’t been officially announced, but at a convention last August, Ian sort of let the cat out of the bag,’ he began.

‘So there is a good chance. I’m not able to officially say anything until it’s announced, but I will say I’m thrilled with the prospect of another film.

‘It’s always a little nerve-racking when people talk about new movies for a world like Middle-earth. Everyone gets a little protective and hopes it retains its level of integrity, but this story is fun, thrilling.

‘There is a genuine feeling of getting the band back together. I’m just excited.’

The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled for release on December 17, 2027.

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Emmerdale star addresses connection between Graham and Coronation Street’s Jodie

They have a connection, but what is it? (Picture: ITV/Metro)

At the start of January, Emmerdale’s Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough) left us all stunned when he returned from the dead.

The character, who was apparently murdered in 2020, got caught up in the Corriedale crash. He had a woman in the back of his van tied up, who turned out to be Coronation Street’s Jodie Ramsey (Olivia Frances-Brown).

While we’ve gone on to discover that Jodie is a woman who shouldn’t be messed with, we don’t actually know why she was in the back of Graham’s van, and what happened in the lead up to her being in there.

We get somewhat closer to getting our answers next week in Emmerdale, as Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry) finds Graham bloodied and bruised following a brutal attack.

Jodie was introduced to us during Corriedale (Picture: ITV)

Star Zoe Henry explained more: ‘She doesn’t know she’s going to see Graham. She goes up to Home Farm reluctantly. Vanessa says: “You need to go up to Home Farm, you need to check out Kim’s horses”. I think she knows that is loaded, there’s a risk. She goes there and Graham has been attacked – and unbeknownst to her at this point, stabbed.

‘So she goes into medical mode, gets him into Home Farm and tries to get the wound dressed. She wants to take him to hospital but he won’t go.’

Zoe revealed: ‘It transpires that this has happened because of Rhona. So Jodie – who was at the back of the car in the Corriedale ep – that was a job for Graham and she got away, so he failed the mission.’

Rhona learns that Graham has only been attacked because she asked him for help with finding Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle) a couple of days ago. If Graham didn’t take the risk, his whereabouts would’ve remained unknown.

‘He laid low and hoped that would be the end of it, but then when Dylan went missing Rhona pleaded with him for help and said: “Can you help find him?” And in doing so, he exposed where he was and so therefore these people that he’d been working for came to find him and that was then teaching him a lesson’, Zoe said.

Graham’s past catches up with him (Picture: ITV)

‘So it’s Rhona’s fault – and I think that’s why Rhona is glad that she’s found him and she was there.’

Alongside the ongoing drama at Home Farm, Graham has been busy making it very obvious that he still loves Rhona. He’s said it so many times and on the odd occasion, it’s been clear that Rhona still feels something for Graham as well. However, Rhona has actually done the right thing and not acted on it because she doesn’t want her marriage to fall apart.

This is soapland though, which means Rhona’s moral compass can only work for so long. While she’s busy tending to an unwell Graham, the chemistry between them suddenly reignites only this time, those flames are bigger than ever before.

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‘He’s been stabbed on his side, so in the physical act of trying to dress that wound, she’s very close to him and she’s touching his skin. I imagine in that moment it’s like, bam, you’re back to where you were six years ago’, Zoe told us.

Rhona gets close to Graham again (Picture: ITV)

‘They were a couple, they were obviously intimate and that proximity just brings everything back. It’s risky, it’s exciting and it’s also terrifying for Rhona.’

Rhona will make her choice between Marlon and Graham soon and for Zoe, given everything Rhona and her family have just been through with Celia and Ray, it seems she’s made up her mind when it comes to which team she’s on.

‘The amazing story that Amelia’s [Flanagan, who plays April] just told – the whole Celia and Ray thing – has just cemented Rhona’s role, not as April’s mother but as close as she could ever be to Donna. I think that would be as difficult to walk away from as it would be to walk away from Marlon.’

‘And I think about how would Graham and Rhona exist in that village? It feels impossible. I mean, nothing’s impossible because it’s soap! But I question how they’d manage that.’

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Steven Gerrard disagrees with Gary Neville over ‘shock’ Chelsea and Arsenal transfer claim

Liverpool legend and ex-England midfielder Steven Gerrard (Picture: Getty)

Steven Gerrard shut down Gary Neville’s suggestion that Mohamed Salah could ‘rock up’ at Chelsea or Arsenal after leaving Liverpool.

Salah, one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players, announced last month that he would be leaving Anfield at the end of the season.

Since joining Liverpool in 2017, Salah has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances, putting his third in the club’s list of all-time record goalscorers.

The Egyptian superstar, 33, has helped Liverpool win two Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues and three domestic cups.

Salah signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool last summer but will leave on a free transfer at the end of the season after ‘reaching an agreement’ with the club.

The Anfield legend has been heavily linked with moves to Saudi Arabia and the MLS since announcing his imminent departure.

But Neville has questioned if Salah will try to keep playing at the top level for another season or two before perhaps moving to Saudi or America at a future date.

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Mohamed Salah is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season (Picture: Getty)

If that proves to be the case, landing spots for Salah are not entirely clear, with Neville dismissing moves to the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and PSG as unrealistic.

The former Manchester United and England defender raised a ‘ridiculous’ suggestion after questioning whether Salah could ‘rock up’ at one of Liverpool’s Premier League rivals, Chelsea or Arsenal.

But Liverpool hero Gerrard was quick to dismiss that theory and tipped Salah to move to the Saudi Pro League, where he himself managed between 2023 and 2025.

Man Utd and England legend Gary Neville (Picture: Getty)

Speaking to Gerrard, fellow ex-Liverpool star Jamie Carragher said on The Overlap: ‘You went to LA Galaxy and with Mo Salah now, do you think he will do a MLS or a Saudi move or do you think he will still think he can play at the top level and move to another big club?’

Gerrard responded: ‘Knowing him, he’ll still have himself down as one of the best players in the world.

‘That’s why the fallout [at Liverpool] came apart, he was probably struggling with the transition of not starting every game. But I think that’s his mentality.’

Mohamed Salah announces Liverpool exit

Unfortunately the day has come. This is the first part of my farewell. I will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.

I never imagined how deeply this club, this city, these people would become part of my life. Liverpool is not just a football club. It’s a passion. It’s a history. It’s a spirit.

I can’t explain it in words to anyone not part of this club. We celebrated victory. We won the most important trophies and we fought together through the hardest time in our life.

I want to thank everyone who was part of this club throughout my time here, especially the team-mates, past and present.

Neville then said: ‘You’ve both said the same thing now about Salah, that he will still think he’s the best player in the world and you don’t think it’s right for him to go to the US or Saudi.

‘Has he got a shock in him though? I’m going to put something ridiculous out there… could he rock up at Chelsea or Arsenal?

‘He’s been to Italy before and he’s not going to Barcelona or Real Madrid. In a different time I could have seen him at PSG but that’s not going to happen now.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWC2VKjjB-N/?hl=en

‘These players have egos that means they have to play at clubs that suit their brand and way of thinking.’

Responding to Neville’s theory, Gerrard said: ‘I’m not saying it’s not right for him to go to Saudi or MLS. I’m talking about what he might be thinking in his head and where does he see himself… 

‘I don’t think he will do that [join a Premier League rival]. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s another big club somewhere else, but I don’t think he would move to a rival.

Salah is an all-time Liverpool legend (Picture: Getty)

‘I think it will be Saudi. I’ve lived over there and knowing how he’s thought of over there, I think it will be Saudi.

‘It wouldn’t shock me if he moved to Italy but if I had to put money on it I would go with Saudi.

‘There’s some good players in the top-end out there and he would be playing with some good players, some very good players.’

Carragher, meanwhile, tipped Salah for a move back to Serie A and suggested he would regret joining a Saudi Pro League side this summer.

‘I could see Italy, I could see Milan or Inter,’ Carragher added. ‘I think he thinks he’s still one of the best players in the world.

‘And that’s almost retiring going over there in my eyes. I think he could do another two or three years somewhere and then go there.’

While Liverpool failed to retain their Premier League trophy this season, Salah will hope to help the Reds salvage a poor campaign by qualifying for the Champions League.

Arne Slot’s side also have aspirations of winning the Champions League and FA Cup ahead of quarter-final ties against PSG and Manchester City.

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John Higgins names his favourite to win the World Snooker Championship

John Higgins fancies the defending champion at the Crucible (Picture: Getty Images)

John Higgins thinks history could be made at the World Snooker Championship this year, backing Zhao Xintong to break the infamous Crucible curse.

Zhao became China’s first world champion when he beat Mark Williams in the 2025 Sheffield final, having downed Ronnie O’Sullivan in the semis.

Now the Cyclone faces the Crucible curse as no first time world champion has ever defended their title at the Sheffield theatre.

Kyren Wilson was the latest to fall to the curse last year, but he is in good company as every modern great has been struck by the hex on the venue.

Higgins, who has won the World Championship four times, reckons Zhao can be the man to break the curse, believing his break-building prowess could fire him to the trophy again.

The Wizard of Wishaw was beaten by Zhao in the Players Championship final in February and labelled the Chinese superstar a ‘genius’ on the table.

Asked who is favourite for this year’s World Championship, Higgins said: ‘I think Xintong, the way he plays and how easy he wins frames, and just the way he goes about the patterns he’s got. I think Xintong is favourite.’

Zhao Xintong breezed to the World Championship title last year (Picture: Getty Images)

Pushed on whether the power of the curse will be a problem, the Wizard of Wishaw said: ‘No, I don’t think so. He’s that special a player, I think.’

Zhao is the only player who has won two ranking titles so far this season, with the trophies dished out to a wide array of cueists.

Barry Hawkins was asked the same question on Crucible favourite and the recent Welsh Open winner could not settle on an answer.

‘It’s so wide open,’ he said. ‘Who won the last tournament? Oh, Thepchaiya, I wouldn’t make him favourite, no.

‘It’s so hard. You’ve got [Judd] Trump. He’s been there or thereabouts all year, won a tournament.

Barry Hawkins enjoyed a great run to the Welsh Open title last month (Picture: Getty Images)

‘Ronnie looks like he’s playing well, Xintong, if anyone’s going to break the curse, it could be him, there’s so many good players.

‘Mark [Selby] has got a chance. Looks like he’s been playing well most of the season, he’ll be grafting. I wouldn’t like to guess, to be honest. It’s too wide open.’

Hawkins wasn’t putting himself in the conversation, though, saying of his own chances: ‘Oh, mate, I just want to win the first game. I don’t fancy my chances at the moment, no.

‘I just want to get there and feel part of the tournament. It’d be nice just to get through that first hurdle. I think I’ve lost three first rounders the last four years. So first thing’s first, win that first game.’

The World Championship is set to stay at the Crucible until 2045, following last week’s announcement that the venue will be renovated and its capacity increased by 500 seats.

The reaction to the news has been largely positive, but the Hawk suggested it might not be enough of a boost to the numbers and the event could have moved elsewhere.

‘It’s great that snooker is staying there,’ said Hawkins. ‘I was one of the people that thought it needed a bigger and better venue. The tournament is too big for it, we can outsell that tournament three, four times over I think.

The Crucible is set to be renovated and expanded in 2028 (Picture: Getty Images)

‘Do I think 500 seats is going to be enough? I don’t think it will to be honest with you.

‘It will be interesting to see what it looks like when it’s all done. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure it will be good.

‘I wanted it to stay in Sheffield, but a bigger and better venue, we’ll see.’

Higgins and Hawkins are both looking to add another title to their collections before they head to Sheffield, competing at the Tour Championship this week.

Mark Selby awaits Higgins in the Tour Championship quarter-finals (Picture: Getty Images)

In a repeat of last year’s final, which Higgins won, the Scot takes on Mark Selby in the quarter-finals over two sessions on Thursday.

There is enormous respect between the two four-time world champions, with Higgins saying of Selby: ‘I think every single player that holds a snooker cue knows how great a champion he is.

‘That’s all you should really be bothered about. You shouldn’t be bothered about the wider public and what they say about you or whatever. Every snooker player that plays the game knows what an unbelievable champion Selby is.

‘One of the greatest players that’s ever held a cue.’

Higgins got the better of Mark Williams on Tuesday night (Picture: Getty Images)

Higgins beat another of the greatest to ever do it in his opening game in Manchester, downing fellow Class of 92 legend Mark Williams 10-8, which he feels will be a big boost for his confidence.

‘I’ve beat a lot of great players this year, but I’ve been losing games against them as well,’ he said. ‘So when you beat those sort of guys, it gives you an inner confidence, because I’ve been losing a lot of those matches, to a lot of them.

‘It’s special [to beat Williams]. Especially in the last two or three years, because we have played in such big events. He’s just always managed to pip me at the post and do great breaks, and it was good to get one back on him there. So it’s a great win for me.’

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Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City? Joe Cole reveals his pick to win the FA Cup

Manchester City are Joe Cole’s pick to win this year’s FA Cup (Picture: Getty)

Ex-England and Chelsea star Joe Cole says he has a ‘sneaky feeling’ Manchester City will go all the way in this year’s FA Cup to lift the trophy for an eighth time.

City secured the first piece of silverware of the season courtesy of a Nico O’Reilly-inspired victory over Arsenal in last month’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

And while Pep Guardiola’s men were denied a place in the Champions League quarter-finals by Real Madrid, they remain in the mix in both the English top flight and in the FA Cup.

It would require a stunning nine-point swing in order for Guardiola to be crowned a Premier League champion for a seventh time in his illustrious City career.

But victory over Arsenal at the Etihad on April 19 may have some Arsenal fans fearing the worst after what has been a painful 22-year wait for the title, stretching back to Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles.

In the cup, meanwhile, City have been handed a tough quarter-final draw at home to eight-time winners Liverpool, a year after Erling Haaland and Co fell at the final hurdle at the hands of Crystal Palace.

Elsewhere, Arsenal and Southampton do battle at St Mary’s for a semi-final spot, while Chelsea play host to League One outfit Port Vale and West Ham entertain Leeds in an all-Premier League affair at the London Stadium.

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Guardiola’s men saw off Newcastle to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals (Picture: Getty)

Palace stunned City to win the cup last season (Picture: Getty)

Ahead of the weekend’s fixtures, Joe Hart, Glenn Hoddle and Cole sat down with TNT Sport’s Darren Fletcher to discuss their thoughts after a rollercoaster few months in English football’s most famous competition.

‘I’ve just got a sneaky feeling for Joe [Hart]’s mob [Manchester City],’ former Chelsea, Liverpool and West Ham winger Cole said.

In response, ex-England and Manchester City goalkeeper Hart chimed in: ‘To add to that, the way Pep was reacting and with how invested he was… people think he’s got one toe out of Manchester City.

‘But there was no sign of that, was there? He was ready to scrap, he was fighting, he was living and breathing everything they were doing.’

Arsenal lock horns with Southampton for a place in the semi-finals (Picture: Getty)

Irrespective of which clubs make it to this year’s final, Cole is anticipating an ‘incredible’ showpiece at Wembley.

‘Nostalgia is a big thing in this current age,’ the ex-England international – who won two FA Cups with Chelsea – explained.

‘There’s always been people harping on about the good old days, but now, music, fashion and football, all three things go hand in hand and the FA Cup encompasses all three things.

Chelsea face League One outfit Port Vale in the quarter-finals (Picture: Getty)

‘I think there has been a big push back and this year’s FA Cup final, something incredible is going to happen, it has to.’

According to Hart, Palace’s historic victory over City last year will have ‘given hope to everyone’ of upsetting the odds and getting their hands on the trophy.

‘You look at the achievement of Palace last season, they beat Manchester City and, of course, I wanted Manchester City to win,’ the 2011 FA Cup winner said.

‘But it united them, gave them their medals and their flowers and that badge of honour that they had worked so hard for.

‘It was an incredible performance and that can only give hope to everyone left in the competition.’

Ex-England manager Hoddle agreed, adding: ‘That performance has given hope to everyone: if they can do it against the odds, against the very best, then we can do it.’

POLL

Who will win this year's FA Cup?

• Manchester City
• Liverpool
• Southampton
• Arsenal
• Chelsea
• Port Vale
• West Ham
• Leeds

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