Snooker
The World Snooker Championship moves into its second week with all but two of the seeds making it through the first round.
Joe Perry and Peter Ebdon were the only members of the top 16 to fall.
Perry was beaten 10-6 by impressive youngster Jamie Cope and Ebdon lost 10-5 to Nigel Bond as the 1995 runner-up turned back the clock.
But six-time champion Steve Davis looked a shadow of his former self in his 29th Crucible appearance as Aussie Neil Robertson enjoyed the easiest first round win, 10-2.
And it's fair to say the championships have not been vintage so far and there has yet to be a final frame decider.
But with the big-hitters all through, you would have to assume the best is yet to come. The top players certainly seem to be on scoring form.
They have made a fantastic 30 centuries already and surely the Crucible record of 68 will not be standing by the end of this year's competition.
The last 16 draw has set up some exciting match-ups which look like they are going to be a lot closer than those in the first round.
World champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has been drawn against another fast player around the table in Mark Allen.
The opening session finished all-square at 4-4 but O'Sullivan did not play at his best and would seem to have left enough in reverse to make it to the quarter finals.
A high-quality match between seven-time champion Stephen Hendry and the Chinese protege Ding Junhui is also level at 8-8 after two sessions.
Hendry may have won this match 13-7 at the same stage of last year's world championships but it was Ding who made the early running this time.
He took the first two frames, including an 129 break in frame two, although Hendry hit back and the match was level at 4-4 after the opening session.
In the next session, Hendry won four frames out of five, including a break of 114, to lead 8-6.
But Ding's break of 87 made is 8-7 before a dramatic final frame of the session in which both players had chances to win it on the black.
Ding emerged victorious from that particular battle and may now have a psychological edge going into this evening's final session which could prove to be the difference.
In the rest of the draw, Bond's reward for his first round win is a match against Ryan Day who beat Stephen Lee in an easy 10-4 first round victory.
The winner of Bond v Day is likely to meet O'Sullivan in the quarter finals.
Cope's second round match is against two-time winner John Higgins with the victor drawn to play a quarter final against 2006 champion Graeme Dott or the highly-rated Mark Selby.
In a repeat of the UK Championship final, the out-of-sorts 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy faces Marco Fu.
Fu comfortably beat Joe Swail 10-4 in the opening round and could be a good outside bet, although Hendry or Ding will await the winner.
In the bottom quarter of the draw, Ali Carter will play Robertson and Mark King faces Stephen Maguire who beat Jamie Burnett in the all-Scottish first round match - this time by 10-5.
My prediction for the quarter-final line up: O'Sullivan v Day, Higgins v Selby, Fu v Ding, Robertson v Maguire.
Football
Premier League:
The midweek matches made it very much advantage Manchester United.
United beat Portsmouth 2-0 to go three points clear (with a game in hand) on the same night Chelsea could only manage a 0-0 stalemate against Everton in a dress rehersal for the Cup final next month.
On the night before, Liverpool drew 4-4 again, a week after being knocked out of the Champions League with that score.
This time it was against Arsenal at Anfield, with Andrei Arshavin having hit all of the Gunners' goals.
Liverpool can return briefly back to the summit of the Premier League table and will expect to beat a dreadful Hull City team at the KC Stadium.
But United play in the Saturday tea-time match and will enjoy home advantage against Tottenham Hotspur.
Chelsea travel across the capital and face seventh-placed West Ham, still leading the charge for the final Europa Cup place.
At the other end of the table, it looks increasingly desperate for West Bromwich Albion.
The Baggies are now nine points adrift after their 4-2 defeat against Manchester City and their home match against struggling Sunderland is perhaps a final chance to keep their hopes alive.
On Sunday, Middlesbrough face a daunting trip to Arsenal who unbeaten in 19 matches after the draw at Anfield.
The Gunners' unbeaten run is the longest by any team in the top flight at any stage this season. Arsene Wenger must really regret the slow start his side made to the campaign.
Later that day, Blackburn Rovers will look to pick up at least a point in the Lancashire derby at home against Wigan Athletic.
The Latics are safe and have little to play for as they have demonstrated in their last two matches, conceding four goals in each.
Newcastle United must wait until Monday night as Alan Shearer seeks his first win as manager in a vital game against Portsmouth.
Bolton, like Pompey, are on 37 points and realistically need just one more win to be safe.
Gary Megson's men face Aston Villa at home and might extend the Villans run without a win to 12 matches.
In the other two matches, Stoke can move into the top half of the table but will have to beat Fulham at Craven Cottage to do so.
And Everton, unbeaten at home since early December, will look to be the next team to capitalise on Manchester City's woeful away form.
The Championship:
Wolverhampton Wanderers gained promotion to the Premier League last weekend.
Wolves will be joined by Birmingham City if the Blues beat Preston North End who have an outside chance of the playoffs.
Burnley currently occupy the last playoff position and will seal it with victory at Southampton as they are four points clear of Lancashire rivals Preston, and Swansea City.
Southampton were relegated without kicking a ball in midweek but must play to finish above the drop zone or face a ten-point penalty next season.
With Charlton Athletic already down, only one place remains to be filled for relegation.
Norwich City on 46 points start the weekend two points adrift and will not play until Monday when they face Reading.
Barnsley are just two points clear and immediately above the relegation places but might benefit from Wolves having already sealed promotion and effectively the championship.
Nottingham Forest, on 49 points, will look to extend their unbeaten run to five matches away at Bloomfield Road against Blackpool, who are safe on 52 points.
Plymouth Argyle, on 50 points, and Derby County, on 51 points, are not mathematically safe but they can change that with three points against QPR and hapless Charlton respectively.
League One:
With Leicester City already promoted as champions, only one automatic place remains.
Peterborough United currently occupy second spot and will win promotion this weekend if they beat Colchester United away and third-placed MK Dons slip up at home to mid-table Walsall.
Both Peterborough and MK Dons are guaranteed at least a playoff place, alongside Millwall and Leeds United.
Only sixth position remains unresolved. Tranmere Rovers are in sixth, one point clear of Scunthorpe United but the Irons have a game in hand.
This weekend, Rovers face Yeovil Town at home while Scunthorpe will be the visiting guests at Leicester's promotion party.
At the other end of the table, Hereford United are already relegated and Cheltenham Town will join them with anything less than a win at home to Carlisle United.
The last two relegation places will remain undecided until the final day with Carlisle, Crewe Alexandra and Northampton Town all on 46 points, Brighton on 48 points and Swindon Town on 49 points.
Hartlepool United and Yeovil Town are not mathematically safe but should be fine on 50 points.
League Two:
In the tightest of the leagues, Brentford can win promotion by beating Darlington away.
Wycombe Wanderers and Exeter City can also go up automatically if they beat Port Vale away and Morecambe at home respectively, while Bury fail to beat Gillingham away.
Bury and Gillingham look to have secured a playoff spot at least and Rochdale will also seal theirs if they beat rock-bottom Luton Town.
The final playoff spot is still up for grabs with Dagenham & Redbridge currently seventh and facing Notts County away this weekend.
Shrewsbury Town are outside the playoff on goal difference only and are at home to Lincoln City this weekend. Chesterfield, two points behind, are away to Accrington Stanley.
At the other end of the table, Luton Town's 30 point deduction proved decisive and the Hatters, who won the Football League trophy at Wembley this season, will finish bottom of the league.
Chester City must beat Aldershot away to avoid filling the second relegation place. They are four points adrift of Grimsby Town and Bournemouth who face each other this weekend.
Blue Square Premier:
In the top flight of non-league football, the championship race has went to the wire.
Burton Albion once enjoyed a handsome lead over Cambridge United in second but it has now been cut to three points.
The Brewers should still manage it but face Torquay United who will be playing to secure a playoff place.
Cambridge need a four-goal swing in their favour in goal difference as well three points against Altrincham to win the league.
And so it is likely they will join local rivals Histon in the playoffs. Stevenage Borough and Torquay are yet to secure their place. Stevenage face midtable Mansfield away.
Kidderminster, who face Kettering at home, and Oxford United, who play Northwich Victoria at home, will look to take advantage of any slip ups.
At the other end of the table, Lewes, Northwich and Woking are already down.
Woking were relegated most recently when midweek wins for Grays Athletic and York City meant they went down without playing.
York and Barrow could still go down but if Weymouth lose to York tonight, they will be relegated to the Blue Square South.
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