Shaun Murphy defeated four-time world champion John Higgins to advance to the final of a major snooker tournament. The victory levels their head-to-head record at 11 wins each, highlighting the competitive nature of their long-standing rivalry. Murphy's triumph over the veteran Scottish player represents a significant achievement as he progresses to compete for the championship title.
Ralph Krueger, the former coach of Switzerland's national ice hockey team, has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease but continues his work in coaching education and lectures. Krueger led the Swiss national team from 1998 to 2010, during which time he helped establish Switzerland as a consistent presence among the world's top hockey nations. Under his guidance, Switzerland significantly improved its international standing and became a regular competitor at the highest levels of international hockey competition.
Croatian striker Andrej Kramaric has signed a new contract with German Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim. His previous contract was set to expire at the end of June 2026. The club has not disclosed the details of the new agreement, including its duration or financial terms.
Australia won the gold medal at the Mixed Doubles World Championship, defeating Sweden in the final match. Canada secured the bronze medal by beating Italy 11-3 in the third-place playoff. The championship concluded with Australia capturing their first world title in the mixed doubles format, while Sweden had to settle for silver despite reaching the final.
Slovak striker Strelec found the net for Middlesbrough in their recent match, but his team's slim mathematical hopes of securing direct promotion to the Premier League have ended. Ipswich Town has confirmed their return to England's top flight, clinching one of the automatic promotion spots from the Championship. Middlesbrough needed Ipswich to drop points in their remaining fixtures to have any chance of overtaking them for direct promotion, but those hopes have now been extinguished with Ipswich's successful campaign.
Slovakia's under-18 national hockey team will compete in the World Championship final on Saturday at 7:00 PM. The young Slovak players have reached the gold medal game, marking a significant achievement for the country's youth hockey program. The team's success comes as they seek to add to Slovakia's hockey legacy at the junior level.
Tampa Bay evened their series against Montreal at 3-3 after a decisive goal in the 70th minute. Gage Goncalves scored the winning goal from close range, finishing off a play involving Dominic James and Brandon Hagel. Meanwhile, Las Vegas and Buffalo both advanced to the next round of their respective competitions.
Montreal Canadiens lost 1-0 in overtime to the Tampa Bay Lightning at home, tying their playoff series at 3-3. Slovak forward Juraj Slafkovsky expressed disappointment with his performance and had a confrontation with an opponent who delivered a body check during the game. The series will be decided in a seventh game scheduled for Sunday night to Monday morning in Tampa Bay.
Futsal Team Levice lost to Lučenec in the second match of the Slovak Extraliga final series. The defeat puts Levice at a disadvantage in the championship series, with the third decisive match scheduled for Friday, May 8 at 7:00 PM in Lučenec. The Extraliga represents the top tier of Slovak futsal competition, with teams competing for the national championship title.
Two hockey players have completed transfers between Slovak professional teams, with Nauš and Romančík moving from HK Poprad to HKM Zvolen. The 30-year-old Romančík concluded a difficult season marked by health problems that affected his performance. Both clubs compete in Slovakia's top professional hockey league, with such mid-season or off-season transfers being common as teams adjust their rosters for improved competitiveness.
Tröster has been appointed as the new general manager of HK Poprad, replacing Gurčík in the position. The new executive director has stated his ambition to elevate the club among the top teams in fan engagement, partnership development, and sporting performance. HK Poprad competes in Slovakia's top ice hockey league, and management changes often signal shifts in organizational strategy and priorities for professional sports clubs.
Žilina advanced to a cup final, with veteran players taking center stage despite the club's reputation as a breeding ground for young talent. The Slovak football club, known for developing promising players who move on to prominent European clubs, saw 31-year-old winger Faško and 30-year-old captain Káčer emerge as the heroes of their semifinal victory. Coach Staňo commented that the team's second goal provided crucial reassurance during the match.
Canadian hockey players will not compete in the 2026 Spengler Cup, marking their absence from the prestigious international ice hockey tournament held annually in Davos, Switzerland. Four teams have been confirmed for the 98th edition of the tournament: host team HC Davos, a United States university selection, Sweden's Frölunda HC, and Switzerland's SCL Tigers Langnau. Tournament organizers will announce the remaining two participating teams at a later date. The Spengler Cup is one of Europe's oldest international hockey tournaments, traditionally featuring professional and national teams from around the world during the post-Christmas period.
Three coaches have been nominated for the NHL's Jack Adams Award, recognizing the league's top coach. The nominees are Cooper, Muse, and Ruff, though their team affiliations were not specified in the announcement. The Jack Adams Award honors the coach who has contributed most to his team's success during the regular season. Last season's winner was Spencer Carbery of the Washington Capitals, who guided the team to a successful campaign in his coaching role.
MŠK Žilina defeated FC Košice in a football match played in Žilina. The visiting Košice team created early pressure, mounting two attacks down the right wing that brought them into the penalty area at the start of the game.
Slovakia's under-18 ice hockey team defeated Latvia 1-0 in the semifinal to advance to the World Championship final, ending a 23-year wait since the country last reached a final at this age level. The achievement also marks Slovakia's first appearance in any world championship final across all age categories in 14 years. The team, coached by Peter Kúdelka who boldly predicted before the tournament that "we will be world champions," is now one victory away from Slovakia's first U18 world title. The current generation has surpassed recent Slovak hockey talents including Juraj Slafkovský, the first overall NHL draft pick in 2022, and Dalibor Dvorský, demonstrating the depth of Slovak hockey development.
Slovakia's synchronized swimming duo placed fourth in the technical duet event at an international competition held in China. The result demonstrates continued progress for Slovak synchronized swimming, reflecting the sport's ongoing development in the country. The performance marks another solid showing for Slovakia's aquatic athletes on the international stage.
José Mourinho has denied that Real Madrid contacted him with an offer to coach the team. The Portuguese manager previously led the Spanish giants from 2010 to 2013, during which time he won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup. Mourinho's statement comes amid speculation about potential coaching changes at Real Madrid.
Slovakia's women's table tennis team defeated Madagascar to secure first place in their group at an international tournament. The team, coached by Jaromír Truksa, had already guaranteed their advancement to the top 32 teams following their 3-1 victory over Chile on Thursday. The group stage victory positions Slovakia among the tournament's leading nations as competition moves to the knockout rounds.
Police have implemented security measures for a football match between Dunajská Streda and a Bratislava team scheduled for Saturday at 8:30 PM. The game is taking place in Bratislava, requiring law enforcement to prepare additional safety protocols for the event.