On Jan. 18, Microsoft will broadcast an Xbox Developer Direct, the company announced last week. MachineGames’ upcoming Indiana Jones game is expected to be highlighted, alongside Obsidian’s Avowed, Oxide Games’ Ara: History Untold, and Ninja Theory’s Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. No Activision Blizzard titles are expected on the broadcast.
When is the Xbox Developer Direct?
The Xbox Developer Direct will be broadcast at 12 p.m. PST / 3 p.m. EST / 9 p.m. CET on Xbox’s YouTube and Twitch channels. You can watch the livestream, via YouTube, in the embedded video above. After the direct airs, ZeniMax Online Studios will broadcast The Elder Scrolls Online 2024 Global Reveal at 1 p.m. PST / 4 p.m. EST / 10 pm CET.
What games are in the Xbox Developer Direct?
Here’s the slate, straight from Microsoft:
Indiana Jones game: MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, will reveal their upcoming Indiana Jones game, an action-adventure that puts players in the leather jacket of the legendary archaeologist. Developer_Direct will showcase more than 10 minutes of game and developer insights, including details about the game’s setting and story, how fans will actually play as Indy, additional details from his next globe-trotting adventure, and the premiere of the first gameplay trailer.
Avowed: The team at Obsidian will share the first deep dive into the gameplay experience fans can expect in Avowed, their upcoming fantasy action RPG, set in the fantastical, vibrant Living Lands. Learn more about how Obsidian’s expertise in building worlds with deep themes, dynamic gameplay, and thoughtful reactivity come to life in Avowed where players will have agency to make choices to shape every step of their adventure.
Ara: History Untold: Hear from the leads at Oxide Games – a studio founded by veterans of the strategy genre and the creators behind classic strategy titles including Civilization V – as they unveil exclusive new gameplay and share more details about the inspiration, key features, and road ahead for their upcoming historical grand strategy game.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II:Ninja Theory take us behind the scenes at their studio in Cambridge to give us some insight on how they are crafting Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. The team will speak to the ambition and meticulous care involved in creating Senua’s journey of survival.
It’s unclear whether Microsoft will show off other games during the Developer Direct, beyond the planned The Elder Scrolls Online broadcast that will follow the main event.
Several Microsoft rumors have been swirling of late, like Sea of Thieves — an Xbox console exclusive — potentially coming to PlayStation 5, according to Game Files’ Stephen Totilo. Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb also said he’s heard of Sea of Thieves coming to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, alongside other Xbox exclusives. However, it seems unlikely that those reported releases would be announced during the Jan. 18 Developer Direct.
With three elegantly simple words, Josh Bowen spoke for millions of NFL fans:
“This shit sucks.”
The Kansas City native, who owns John Brown Smokehouse in Queens, had no clue that Saturday’s Chiefs-Dolphins wild-card game was airing exclusively on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, until we spoke this week. When I told him, he didn’t believe me at first. “I was just assuming this was gonna be on TV like a normal playoff game would be,” he said. “So I’m gonna have to pay for a subscription to watch a playoff game?”
The idea of being forced to sign up for a streaming service in order to show playoff football to the hundreds of Chiefs fans packing his restaurant doesn’t just annoy Bowen. It offends him. “It’s un-American to be charging for playoff games,” he says.
On the other hand, money grabs are actually an American tradition (as is complaining about paying for something that used to be free). But this specific money grab is new. Last year, NBCUniversal reportedly shelled out $110 million to the NFL for the rights to broadcast one playoff game on its digital platform. Unless you live in the Kansas City or Miami areas, there will be no way to watch Chiefs-Dolphins on traditional, local television. It’s the first NFL playoff game that will only be available on a streaming service.
Sure, having to pay six bucks to catch a single game (and then maybe a few episodes of The Office) isn’t a grave injustice. But pay-per-view football is impossible not to rail against. It’s the kind of nakedly cynical concept that unites us all. On his podcast, sports radio legend Mike Francesa dubbed it an “utterly disgraceful, greedy reach by the NFL.” Founder of The Ringer, Bill Simmons, called it “one of the all-time sports television disasters.” Wichita Eagle opinion editor Dion Lefler opened his column on the subject by quoting Tom Petty’s “The Last DJ”: “As we celebrate mediocrity, all the boys upstairs want to see / how much you’ll pay for what you used to get for free.”
Hell, even Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu weighed in: “Us playing on peacock ONLY is insane I won’t lie,” he tweeted before offering to pay for three-month subscriptions for 90 people. And right on time, apoplectic fans started to blame Taylor Swift for the NFL’s decision to put the weekend’s marquee matchup on a platform that most of the country doesn’t have.
The numbers-juicing conspiracy theories are exhausting and easy to dismiss, but it’s just as easy to understand the anger behind them. As the entertainment industry has fractured and live events have become the last remaining reliable draw for mass viewership, sports leagues—particularly the NFL, which astonishingly accounted for 93 of the 100 most-watched programs in 2023—have found themselves in a position of pure leverage. They’re the last working well in town, and everyone’s thirsty. But by letting the NBCUniversals, Amazons, and Netflixes of the world break their bank accounts for broadcast rights, leagues like the NFL have also jeopardized the viewer experience.
“It’s all take and no give,” says Leigh Nelson, a Chiefs fan who lives in Denver. She’s not naive. She understands the NFL’s digital push. It’s 2024, after all. “That part isn’t necessarily new,” she says. But she can’t shake that this is a playoff game. “There’s something about a playoff game that feels like it kind of belongs to the fans a little bit more than a regular game does.”
The fact that fans are basically being given no choice but to buy a Peacock subscription is, of course, ironic. The promise of streaming was that it would give viewers endless choices. But in practice, the shattering of TV’s old (yet profitable) model has led to an impossible one in which being a (law-abiding) completist requires a host of recurring monthly payments. To watch the full slate of NFL games this season, you needed access to the major TV networks, Amazon Prime Video, ESPN, the NFL Network, YouTubeTV (the only place you can buy the Sunday Ticket package), and sometimes Peacock (the streamer broadcast a game between the Bills and Chargers during Week 16). The league has also stretched out its schedule like pizza dough over the last decade, strategically sprinkling games throughout the week. Simply figuring out how to watch can be a pain in the ass.
“While most of humanity is benefitting from the shift to streaming, sports fans are sort of fucked,” says Alan Wolk, cofounder of the media analysis firm TVREV. “It’s like, ‘Where do I watch the game? Where is it? Do I have to subscribe to this new service now that I don’t really care about? And I don’t even know where it is.’ And all that. There’s a lot of anger.”
This season, Bowen had to keep his restaurant open on Christmas because his team had an afternoon game that day. “The person who made this year’s Chiefs schedule is hereby banned from John Brown,” he wrote on Facebook. “Next year we expect a game in Europe at 3 a.m., on a Wednesday, on CSPAN. … Merry Christmas to each and every one of you. Except Raiders and Broncos fans.”
Bowen knows that streaming is “the future,” but the way the NFL treats its viewers bothers him. He also knows that it could be worse. “There are Chiefs bars out there that don’t even have HD TVs yet,” he says. And then there are the millions of aging fans at home who haven’t made the switch to streaming yet. They want to watch the damn game, too.
All of this leads to one obvious question for the NFL: “Is it eventually going to bite them in the ass?” Wolk asks. “Because fans, I think, see it as a money grab. It’s not like you’re making it convenient for me. You’re just trying to make more money. And then that could translate to, ‘Well, to hell with this.’”
It could. Then again, it hasn’t yet. In 2023, NFL ratings shot up. At this point, there may be no controversy that will curb our ravenous hunger for football. No matter how irritating and difficult it’s becoming to consume it, simply not watching isn’t a real option. Our loyalty isn’t to the league. It’s to a sport that, despite its well-chronicled ugliness, gives us more surprising, exciting moments than anything else on TV. It’s to our teams, which are part of our identities. Not tuning in feels like an act of self-betrayal.
So on Saturday night, fans in Patrick Mahomes and Tua Tagovailoa jerseys across America will be scanning the channel listings, screaming “Where the fuck is the game?!” at their 70-inch flat-screen TVs. After a few minutes, though, they’ll forget that they had to subscribe to a streaming service to watch. And the next day, all they’ll think about is who won and who lost. They probably won’t even remember to cancel Peacock.
But ever since HBO rebranded to Max, guess what? You can call it TV again, and nobody can stop you.
We’re here to round up some of the best TV shows available to watch on Max. More than enough people have likely already extolled to you the virtues of The Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, and Game of Thrones. (If not, where have you been?) Consider this a supplementary list. A Max 2.0, if you will.
For more great TV, check out our lists of the bests shows of 2022 and 2023, which include many selections on Max.
Editor’s pick: Rome
Image: HBO
Before the fantasy renaissance Game of Thrones kicked off, Rome was the setting for HBO’s best sword-swinging prestige play. And while this amped up historical drama didn’t quite hit the heights of HBO’s A Song of Ice and Fire adaptation, it’s still plenty entertaining, and one of the most interesting shows on Max.
Rome’s first season chronicles the rise and fall of Julius Caesar. The story is told through the lives and intrigue of the most powerful players, including Game of Thrones vets Ciarán Hinds as Caesar and Tobias Menzies as Brutus, but also through two lowly soldiers (Ray Stevenson and Kevin McKidd), who just happen to be around to witness some of the biggest moments in this period of Rome’s history.
As fun as Rome is as a series in its own right, it’s equally as fascinating as a historical document for HBO. While it feels slightly out of step with the slower dramas the network was known for at the time, like The Wire, Deadwood, or The Sopranos, Rome’s quick-paced brutality and prestige sheen make it feel right at home in the current line up for Max. — Austen Goslin
Fringe
Image: Fox
Back in 2008, J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci launched a series that was intended to be spiritual successor to The X-Files by way of Lost. Over the course of five seasons, Fringe became that and so much more: a cerebral procedural drama about urban legends, parallel universes, anomalous oddities, and a beleaguered mad scientist’s long quest for redemption.
The series centers on Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), an FBI agent assigned to investigate unexplained phenomena related to a mysterious series of occurrences known simply as “The Pattern.” With the help of a Department of Homeland Security consultant (Joshua Jackson) and his eccentric father (John Noble), a brilliant yet troubled researcher known for his speciality in the field of “fringe science,” Dunham is tasked with unmasking the culprits responsible for these strange phenomena and bringing them to justice.
The series overcame multiple threats of cancellation and precipitously declining ratings to amass a passionate cult following, all while delivering one of the most complex and emotionally moving storylines seen in a mainstream sci-fi TV drama. Featuring guest appearances from such lauded sci-fi icons as Leonard Nimoy and Peter Weller and an absolute standout supporting performance by the late Lance Reddick as Fringe Division director Phillip Broyles, Abrams and company’s show is an enduring series worthy of reappraisal and admiration. —Toussaint Egan
Unicorn: Warriors Eternal
Image: Cartoon Network Studios/Williams Street
What do you get when you combine Arthurian legend, the “rubber hose” art style of Osamu Tezuka and Max Fleischer, and the determination of one of the most successful American animators of the past 20 years? You get Unicorn: Warriors Eternal, of course — the passion project of director Genndy Tartakovsky and writer Darrick Bachman set in a Victorian steampunk world.
The series follows a trio of immortal warriors: Melinda, a powerful sorceress; Seng, a cosmic monk; and Edred, a warrior elf, who are reincarnated across several generations by the wizard Merlin to fight an unending battle against an ancient evil. Upon realizing her destiny as the latest reincarnation of Melinda, a young bride-to-be named Emma Fairfax sets off in search of how to get her old life back while fending off the droves of malicious henchmen her reawakening has brought about.
Brilliantly animated and exquisitely original, Unicorn: Warriors Eternal is without a doubt one of the best animated series Max has to offer. Both Tartakovsky and Bachman have expressed interest in exploring the world of Unicorn more in future installments. Only time will tell if that comes to fruition, but one of the best ways to help ensure that it does is by watching the entire series in full. You won’t regret it. —TE
Banshee
Image: Cinemax
Like Antony Starr in The Boysand Warrior on Max? Have I got some good news for you!
Warrior creator Jonathan Tropper’s first show, Banshee,follows an expert thief recently freed from prison who accidentally becomes the sheriff of a small fictional Pennsylvanian town.
It’s a perfect fish-out-of-water setup for a great lead performance, and Starr is fantastic, carrying this show much like he does The Boys. It’s also one of those shows that falls in between the era of serial television and the era of “10-hour movies,” and the mix often gives Banshee the best of both worlds, as Starr’s Lucas Hood uses his unconventional background and skills to be a very different kind of sheriff. Not everything works in the show — some of the plotlines are more thought through than others — but it’s a consistently good time anchored by a great premise and a fantastic leading performance. —Pete Volk
Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski’s seminal 1992 reinvention of the Dark Knight changed American animated television forever. Set in an anachronistic 1950s vision of Gotham City, the show follows billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne/Batman, of course, but also a rogues’ gallery almost as large as his arsenal of gadgets and vehicles.
The dark color palette and art deco aesthetic is as much a revelation to behold now as they were over 30 years ago. The series’ writing delivered some of the more memorable and defining stories related to Batman’s various nemeses, while also inventing its own enduring original character in the form of Harley Quinn, the paramour and sidekick to Batman’s adversary the Joker. There’s too much to say about Batman: The Animated Series to fit into only one article, let alone one blurb. To say that it is one of the best series to watch on Max is an understatement; it’s practically a prerequisite. —TE
Veep
Image: HBO
For every profession, there’s a TV show that makes people who work that job go, Yeah, that’s the one that got it really right. When watching Veep, the insult-filled comedy about a dysfunctional vice president and her dysfunctional staff, it won’t bring you comfort to know that it’s the show most D.C. insiders nod along to as the best reflection of their life. But the genius of Veep is you can put that out of your mind for a spell; you’re laughing too hard to care.
In Veep, you can see the roots of big shows to come: Succession and its insult comedy, the comedy of errors of Barry. But Veep is singular because it is just always fucking on. Where most shows are finding themselves in the first season, Veep confidently charges out with guns blazing and F-bombs flying. And it only gets stronger from there. As you watch, and you inevitably remember that this is how our elected officials (at the very least) feel they should be reflected, it might seem terrifying. Then again, in a way it makes sense; Occam’s razor tells us the simplest explanation is often the right one. And that’s the same ethos that makes Veep’s comedy so cutting — these are the simplest people, doing the simplest mismanagement you can imagine. At least here, it’s funny. —Zosha Millman
Watchmen
Photo: Mark Hill/HBO
People have a lot of opinions about Watchmen. One of the more popular ones is that no one should bother adapting or expanding on it, and they are, generally speaking, right. Damon Lindelof’s sequel/reinvention of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ acclaimed comic appeared about as ill-conceived as every prior attempt to revisit Watchmen, and Lindelof even seemed apologetic about attempting the same. How lucky we all are that he did: HBO’s Watchmen was dazzling, a nine-episode limited series that took the superhero metaphor to uncharted territory, turning a deconstruction of superheroes into a stylish contemplation of American power and racism. Violent, funny, and surprisingly moving, HBO’s Watchmen lures you in the same way the comic did: A man is found dead, and that death exposes a conspiracy that threatens to unravel the entire world. —Joshua Rivera
I May Destroy You
Photo: Natalie Seery/BBC/Val Productions
Michaela Coel’s searing black comedy follows Arabella, an author with a viral success under her belt and a terrible case of writer’s block keeping her from her next one. When Arabella blacks out following a night with friends at the pub, she learns that she was raped, and attempts to reconstruct the night as best she can. What begins with abject horror grows — thanks to Coel’s incredible performance and razor-sharp writing alongside co-writer Sam Miller — to become a morbidly hilarious, compassionate portrait of modern womanhood, where violence is an occupational hazard of being alive and surviving trauma becomes a marketable asset. I May Destroy You is remarkable for the tonal tightrope it walks but also its unsparing eye, which lets no one — not the audience, nor its characters — off the hook when it comes to its most biting satire or devastating blows. —JR
Starstruck
Photo: Mark Johnson/Max
A rom-com about Jessie (Rose Matafeo) — an unassuming Kiwi woman living in London, where she works at a movie theater — and Tom Kapoor (Nikesh Patel), the actor and movie star that she keeps running into and falling in love with, Starstruck makes charm look easy. Like most romantic comedies, a lot of this is due to Matafeo and Patel’s easy chemistry, as both play characters with a naturalism that makes the unlikeliness of their relationship less of a big deal and more of a big complication. It is just hard to get involved with someone whose whereabouts are news, which forces the 20-something Jessie to be way more decisive than any 20-something is about anything. Starstruck is, at least in part, a rom-com about how many good romances are ones that nearly don’t work out, and its old-school screwball approach to modern love makes it feel both specific and timeless. —JR
Station Eleven
Photo: Ian Watson/HBO Max
Look: If you’re going to watch one pandemic show, you should make it Station Eleven. The story itself is simple: In a world where a flu-like pandemic wiped out the bulk of civilization, Kirsten (Mackenzie Davis) leads a traveling theater troupe in the Great Lakes area. A run-in with a dangerous wanderer makes her revisit her past, and stare down a dangerous future.
Like a lot of HBO shows, Station Eleven tells its story by braiding individuals and their stories together. Through the various perspectives and players of the story, Station Eleven builds something new: a treatise on the value of art, the things that stick with us, and the people we choose to keep in our hearts, whether for reasons happy or sad. Without being too preachy, the show breaks free of mere COVID-19 relevance. What makes Station Eleven a relevant watch isn’t what makes it a powerful one. What we carry through the pandemic isn’t all we’ll take away. —ZM
The Leftovers
Photo: Van Redin/HBO
The show kicks off a few years after 2% of the population has vanished. Not a fiery rapture, nor a giant robot plucking a few people off the face of the planet before life goes on. No — this is more like a quiet missing, the sort of act that’s confounding just for how sudden it is, and all the more so when the world keeps spinning. Such trauma is total disorientation for everyone in The Leftovers, whether they like it or not. The world has been rocked, and as some try to hold on to their old way of life, others want to get as far away from it as they can.
And so The Leftovers (and everyone in it) spins out from there. Like so much of modern media, The Leftovers is “about” “grief.” But as it kaleidoscopes out and picks out one character or another to focus an episode around, it tells a story much more heady and richer than so many other tales of grief and coping. And as it goes on, The Leftovers grows more bold, more mysterious, until reaching its final chapter, an all-timer of a finale. Each of these chapters and characters is its own fault line, but in The Leftovers, you never know when things will come tumbling down. —ZM
Adventure Time
Image: Cartoon Network
I’ve recently rewatched Adventure Timefor the second time, and I’m happy to report it still holds up even as you continue to age out of its target demographic.
The tales of Jake the Dog, Finn the Human, and the rest of their colorful friends and foes deftly move between silly humor and intense drama in ways few other shows have. While ostensibly a children’s show, Adventure Time isn’t precious with its audience: It isn’t afraid to delve into serious topics (the finale remains a remarkable feat, using the end of a long-running show as an allegory for grief), tell complex stories and jokes, or throw in a few real scares.
That’s all packed into a story with a massive scope, told in bite-size episodes as hilarious as they are moving. And the show looks good while it’s doing it, consistently pushing itself and the medium to find new ways to express itself. That’s how Adventure Time can be an excellent show for children that also gained a dedicated fandom of adults: It’s just That Good.
When you’re done with Adventure Time, the post-finale specials Distant Lands and the new spinoff Fionna and Cake are also on Max and worth your time. —PV
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Graeme Swann reflects on his early England days on the revamped Sky Sports Cricket podcast and describes Nasser Hussain as ‘being something from a comic’ when he was England captain!
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Anton Toloui delivers his verdict on Man Utd’s 2-0 win against Wigan in the FA Cup. Erik ten Hag was positive in his post-match press conference and played down any worries that his players are not scoring enough goals.
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Sky Sports’ Gary Cotterill and Ben Grounds analyse Arsenal’s worrying form under Mikel Arteta as they crashed out of the FA Cup in the third round to Liverpool after a 2-0 defeat.
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Ange Postecoglou insists Eric Dier’s absence from the Tottenham squad was due to injury and not related to reports of a possible move to Bayern Munich.
Luke Littler defeated 7-4 by world No 1 Luke Humphries in final; Premier League Darts returns to Sky Sports on Thursday February 1 as Cardiff kicks off the 17-week extravaganza all the way through to the Play-Offs on Thursday May 23 at London’s O2
By Raz Mirza at Alexandra Palace, London
Last Updated: 04/01/24 2:31am
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Check out the best moments from the 2024 World Darts Championship
Check out the best moments from the 2024 World Darts Championship
Luke Littler’s World Darts Championship dreams were finally ended by world No 1 Luke Humphries in a sensational final at Alexandra Palace on Wednesday night.
Humphries fought back from 4-2 down to win five consecutive sets and claim his maiden world title 7-4 to make it four major victories in a row following his success at the World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts, and Players Championship Finals in recent months.
“I’ll draw a lot from this and this will be a moment that will never be forgotten,” Humphries told Sky Sports. “I don’t want to say that I’ve completed darts but everything that you want on the resume I’ve done now, so now it’s now about motivating yourself to do more and more.
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Humphries said he couldn’t ask for more after claiming the World Darts Championship title
Humphries said he couldn’t ask for more after claiming the World Darts Championship title
World Darts Championship Final
Luke Humphries
7-4
Luke Littler
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Luke Humphries hits the winning darts to defeat Luke Littler 7-4 in the World Darts Championship final
Luke Humphries hits the winning darts to defeat Luke Littler 7-4 in the World Darts Championship final
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Littler was pleased with his incredible run to the final, despite defeat to Humphries
Littler was pleased with his incredible run to the final, despite defeat to Humphries
Humphries may have been the champion, but Littler received a hero’s reception at the end of the match and he is the story of the tournament.
Life will never be the same for Littler, who now has a global profile, as his exploits have transcended the world of darts.
He may have fallen just short of achieving sporting immortality, but this is just the beginning for Littler and his time will surely come, with many tipping him to become a multiple world champion
The 16-year-old from Warrington said: “It has been unbelievable. The one negative was I lost too many legs with my throw so Luke could break me.
“That was the only negative, I just couldn’t hold my own throw and I didn’t win. Every game has been good but that one has just really annoyed me, especially the three missed to keep it going.
“That’s what the crowd wanted but fair play to Luke, he deserves it.”
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Humphries started the better by capitalising on a slow start from Littler to take the opening set 3-1 with a 99.2 average despite eight missed darts at doubles.
It didn’t take ‘The Nuke’ long to discover his best in the second set, coming from 2-1 down by producing two 12-dart legs with the aid of a spectacular 142 checkout and a ‘Shanghai’ 120 finish.
2011-12 – Luke Humphries wins £225 from 16 Development Tour events and soon after stops playing darts.
18 months later, a friend was a player short in his Super League team and Luke steps in to help out.
Wednesday night: Humphries wins the PDC World Championship and is world No 1.
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Littler hit checkouts of 142 and 120 checkouts to win the second set
Littler hit checkouts of 142 and 120 checkouts to win the second set
The third set also went the distance with ‘Cool Hand’ edging it from 2-0 down to regain the upper hand with a 116 checkout to take it, but the Warrington teenage sensation struck back to secure the fourth set 3-1 and restore parity with a 99 average and an impressive 47 per cent on the doubles.
It was 2-2 in sets and 9-9 in legs with nothing to separate the two players.
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Littler took out this amazing 122 checkout to the despair of Humphries
Littler took out this amazing 122 checkout to the despair of Humphries
For the first time in the match, the player who started the set won it after nine break of throws in 22 legs, with World Youth Champion Littler going ahead for the first time in the match before wrapping up the fifth set, averaging a ton.
The new world No 1 found himself under pressure here as Littler made it nine legs from the last 11 to open up a two-set advantage at 4-2.
Humphries reeled in his second 170 finish in a matter of days in a seventh set which was full of carnage.
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Humphries took out ‘The Big Fish’ in the final
Humphries took out ‘The Big Fish’ in the final
Littler responded with a third ton-plus finish of the final – a 122 checkout – which Wayne Mardle described as “spiteful, dirty, nasty!” in the commentary box, before Humphries survived a set dart with Littler missing a crucial double 2 for a 5-2 lead.
The three-time major winner immediately capitalised on double 14 to reduce the deficit.
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Could this have been the moment that Littler’s grip on the World Championship title slipped away?
Could this have been the moment that Littler’s grip on the World Championship title slipped away?
And Humphries piled in a classy 121 checkout on the bull to make it back-to-back sets to get back on level terms with a 114.17 set average, but it also coincided with Littler dropping off.
The 28-year-old Newbury thrower threw back-to-back 108 checkouts to lead 2-0 in the ninth set and although the teenager battled back to level up, a 180 to start the set and a 36 checkout enabled Humphries to win the leg and set in 11 darts.
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Humphries also sunk this 121 checkout in a sensational final
Humphries also sunk this 121 checkout in a sensational final
A relentless Humphries made it four sets on the spin as he took full control of the final to go within a set of the title, despite Littler reeling in a ‘Big Fish’ of his own.
However, it was ‘Cool Hand’ who got his hands on the Sid Waddell Trophy to become the 12th different PDC World Champion after pinning double 8 for the match and then sinking to his knees in pure joy.
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Humphries pinned back-to-back 108 checkouts
Humphries pinned back-to-back 108 checkouts
Talking about Littler, Humphries said: “I’m not just saying this because it will please everyone, but Luke has been an unbelievable talent.
“Not just about the dartboard, he has been fantastic with all the media that has come about with him and he took the defeat so well.
“He said go on and celebrate. You will never see another down-to-earth 16-year-old kid like him who is just something else.
“I really hope he’s in the Premier League because, if he don’t want to play in it fair enough, but I think he’d be a pleasure to play alongside this year.
“He’s one of the best players in the world, there is no doubt about that.”
Humphries’ 103.67 average is the highest ever recorded in a match of 45+ legs
His win included 23 180s and five 100+ checkouts
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Littler nailed his own 170 checkout in an incredible final
Littler nailed his own 170 checkout in an incredible final
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Watch highlights of Humphries’ thrilling win over Littler in the World Championship final
Watch highlights of Humphries’ thrilling win over Littler in the World Championship final
How the world of social media reacted to Humphries win…
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Premier League Darts returns to Sky Sports on Thursday February 1 as Cardiff kicks off the 17-week extravaganza all the way through to the Play-Offs on Thursday May 23. Stream Sky Sports Darts without a contract through NOW
Scottie Scheffler has been voted PGA Tour player of the year over Masters champion Jon Rahm; a new season of golf begins on Thursday with The Sentry – live on Sky Sports Golf from 6pm on Thursday
Last Updated: 03/01/24 7:54pm
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Scottie Scheffler explained that he was thankful and relieved to win the 2023 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass but added he was very tired following the tournament
Scottie Scheffler explained that he was thankful and relieved to win the 2023 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass but added he was very tired following the tournament
Scottie Scheffler has been named PGA Tour Player of the Year as he won the Jack Nicklaus Award for a second consecutive year.
Scheffler is the first player to win Player of the Year honours in back-to-back seasons since Tiger Woods won the award in three straight years from 2005-2007.
The 27-year-old won twice during the 2022-23 season, successfully defending his title at the WM Phoenix Open and winning The Players Championship by five strokes.
In 23 starts, Scheffler recorded 13 top-fives and 17 top-10s, both high marks for any player in a single season on the tour since 2005.
He also set the PGA Tour record for most Official Money earned in a single season at $21,014,342, breaking his own record set last season ($14,046,910).
The Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards are determined by a member vote, with PGA Tour members who played in at least 15 official FedExCup events during the 2022-23 season eligible to vote.
Scheffler received 38 per cent of the vote for the Jack Nicklaus Award and was selected over four other nominees: Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm.
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Scottie Scheffler sunk a 20ft putt to win the 2023 Players Championship to return to the top of the world rankings
Scottie Scheffler sunk a 20ft putt to win the 2023 Players Championship to return to the top of the world rankings
Eric Cole, the only rookie to advance to the 2023 BMW Championship, has been announced as the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, receiving the Arnold Palmer Award.
Cole recorded two runner-up finishes on the season, including the 2023 Cognizant Classic (lost in a play-off) and the 2023 Zozo Championship.
Cole received 51 per cent of the vote for the Arnold Palmer Award and was selected over three other nominees: Ludvig Åberg, Nico Echavarria and Vincent Norrman.
New season of golf begins on Thursday
The 2024 PGA Tour season begins with The Sentry from January 4-7, held on the Plantation Course at Kapalua, Hawaii – live on Sky Sports Golf with the first round starting at 6pm.
World No 1 Scheffler leads the field which includes Team Europe Ryder Cup stars Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Aberg, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose.
The episode reportedly aired on Tuesday, January 2, per PBS.
During the sitdown, the singer reviewed her ancestry results with the host. However, as she looked them over, she had a huge reaction.
“What the world!” she exclaimed. “You are kidding me! Derek Jeter!”
According to Gates, Ciara and Jeter, a former New York Yankees baseball player, share a “long identical stretch of DNA on their 14th chromosome.” This indicates that the pair are “distant cousins.”
Amid the episode’s premiere, Ciara took to Instagram to share a clip of the moment with fans.
“The moment I learned @DerekJeter was my cousin! Crazy! Thank you @drhenrylouisgates for such an incredible experience! This was a dream come true to learn about my family genealogy!” the singer wrote in the caption of her Instagram post.
Check out the moment below.
At this time, Derek Jeter has not publicly reacted to the revelation.
Instagram user @princedre._ referred to the singer’s rapper ex, Future.
“Future Going To Diss Jeter In His Next Song 😂🤦🏾♂️”
While Instagram user @niccicloset remarked on two celebrity look-a-likes.
“Let’s settle this once, and for all Kirk Franklin and Piles take a DNA test”
Instagram user @kay.xxloveee added.
“How I find out who I’m related to 😭😭 cuz I just knowwwww Chris brown my husband.”
One user, @shelovecj, remarked on the physical resemblance between Ciara and Jeter.
“Oddly enough they do look like they could be cousins”
While another user, @iam_lalah2, remarked that Black Americans should receive free DNA testing.
“Black Americans should get this for free. This should come with graduation or getting your GED or turning 18. It’s the least the U.S. could do. Let every one get a chance to know their roots.”
Tracy Morgan Recently Revealed That Nas Is His Cousin
As The Shade Room previously reported, in December, Tracy Morgan revealed that Queens-bred rapper Nas is his cousin. The comedian explained that he made the discovery in his upcoming episode of ‘Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.‘
“The last question he asks you,” Morgan explained while on the premiere episode of the ‘Connect The Dots’ podcast. “He said, ‘We want to know who did this show that you’re related to.’ I turn the last page, and guess who’s sitting there? Nas. Me and Nas is third cousins on my mom’s side.”
Morgan explained that he and Nas had been good friends before the revelation. However, he and Nas shared an emotional reaction to the news.
Check out Morgan’s explanation of the moment below.
“I was probably judgemental of the guys that went at the start and I think that was a bit of a mistake on my part,” concedes Rory McIlroy; McIlroy hopes “this division” in golf ends soon amid continuing extended talks between established tours and Saudi’s PIF over framework agreement
Last Updated: 03/01/24 11:42am
Rory McIlroy has expressed regret at being “too judgemental” on the tranche of players who initially defected to LIV Golf.
McIlroy, who had been initially outspoken in his criticism of the players who joined the Saudi-funded series in 2022, admitted he “basically went through the last two years with this altruistic approach of looking at the world in the way I’ve wanted to see” but had now “accepted reality” and that LIV is “part of our sport now”.
“I was probably judgemental of the guys that went at the start and I think that was a bit of a mistake on my part because I now realise not everyone’s in my position or in Tiger [Woods]’ position,” McIlroy told the Stick to Football podcast with Sky Bet.
“You get this offer and what do you do?
“We all turned professional to make a living playing the sports that we do and I think that’s what I realised over the past two years, I can’t judge people for making that decision.
“So if I regret anything it was probably being too judgemental at the start.”
Asked how his relationship was with the players who had switched from the established tours, McIlroy replied: “Most things are cool, the one thing that has bothered me is I think we have all grown up and played on European Tour, PGA Tour and that has given us a platform to turn in to who we have and give us the profile.
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Rory McIlroy say its ‘certainly strange’ not having Ryder Cup veterans Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter around and it’ll really hit them this week.
Rory McIlroy say its ‘certainly strange’ not having Ryder Cup veterans Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter around and it’ll really hit them this week.
“So when people have played that for, say, 15 or 20 years and then they jump to LIV and then they just start talking cr** about where they’ve come from, that’s what bothers me because you wouldn’t be in this position if you didn’t have what you had coming up.”
McIlroy added: “I don’t begrudge anyone for going and taking that money and doing something different but don’t try and burn the place down on your way out.
“That’s sort of my attitude towards it because some people are happy playing in the existing structure, and that’s totally fine too. But I think it’s just created this division that hopefully will stop in the near future because I think it’s the best thing for golf.”
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Relive Rory McIlroy’s two wins, which saw him claim a fifth Race to Dubai title, and his starring role in Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph.
Relive Rory McIlroy’s two wins, which saw him claim a fifth Race to Dubai title, and his starring role in Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph.
The 34-year-old, a four-time major winner and current world No 2, said he had “never had an offer” from LIV to switch himself.
“I just didn’t engage,” he added. “At this point I’ve pretty much set my stall out.”
More to follow…
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Luke Littler says he must “stay composed and try and get over that line” when he takes on Luke Humphries in the final; watch the World Darts Championship final at 7.30pm on Wednesday – live on Sky Sports Darts
By Raz Mirza at Alexandra Palace, London
Last Updated: 03/01/24 12:17am
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The best of the action from the World Darts Championship semi-finals at Alexandra Palace
The best of the action from the World Darts Championship semi-finals at Alexandra Palace
Teenage sensation Luke Littler admits it’s “beyond believable” that he has reached the World Darts Championship final where he will face Luke Humphries.
Littler became the youngest player ever to reach the final when he defeated Rob Cross 6-2 with quite a bit to spare.
The 16-year-old, who is days away from his 17th birthday (Jan 21), now has a shot at claiming an historic place in the sport as he takes aim at the title at Alexandra Palace.
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The best moments from Littler’s remarkable semi-final win over Rob Cross
The best moments from Littler’s remarkable semi-final win over Rob Cross
Live World Darts Championship
January 3, 2024, 7:30pm
Live on
He is now on the cusp of producing one of the greatest sporting stories of all time, which would rival Emma Raducanu’s US Open win in 2021.
“It’s not even sunk in yet,” said Littler. “I threw big averages on the floor the past year and I’m happy to bring it on to the big stage.
“I’ve got to stay focused, be Luke Littler and relax. It’s beyond believable. I only set a goal of winning one game and coming back after Christmas and I’m still standing.
“I can’t imagine lifting the trophy. I have to just beat whoever is in front of me. I’ve got to stay mature, got to be myself and keep myself to myself.
“I’ve got to stay composed and try and get over that line.”
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Luke Humphries booked his place in the final after whitewashing Scott Williams and he will now face teenager Littler
Luke Humphries booked his place in the final after whitewashing Scott Williams and he will now face teenager Littler
Littler has knocked out two former World Champions in Raymond van Barneveld and Cross, and now he has he sights set on holding aloft The Sid Waddell Trophy when he faces the best player on planet darts in Humphries.
“I’ve just got to beat whoever is in front of me tomorrow. It’s not even sunk in yet,” he said. “This World Championship I’ve got nothing to lose, it’s just a free hit and here I am still standing. There’s no pressure, I just take everything in my stride.
“I’ve got to believe in myself, believe in my ability and so far, so good.”
Littler, who revealed he received pre-match messages from footballers Luke Shaw and Rio Ferdinand, only qualified for the tournament by winning the World Youth Championship in November and his fairy tale run has put the PDC under pressure to hand him a place in the forthcoming Premier League.
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Humphries was in scary form after he hit six-ton-plus finishes in his semi-final win
Humphries was in scary form after he hit six-ton-plus finishes in his semi-final win
Humphries delivered one of the best ever performances at the tournament as he whitewashed Michael van Gerwen’s conqueror Scott Williams 6-0.
“The way he’s played, I’ve seen it many times,” Humphries said of Littler. “When you come up on this stage it can be a lot tougher but he’s just proved he’s got a lot of bottle.
“Nothing is going to faze him. If he plays like he did tonight, tomorrow is not going to faze him at all, so I will probably have to play the game of my life.
“I will probably have to play like that again to stand a chance of beating him.
“I know what’s in front of me and what the task is. I’ve got to play at my best tomorrow but I’m hoping I make him play his best as well and we give the fans hopefully one of the best World finals we have ever seen.”
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John Cross from The Mirror and ESPN’s Mark Ogden discuss Littler’s remarkable journey and compare him to various sporting 16-year-olds such Wayne Rooney
John Cross from The Mirror and ESPN’s Mark Ogden discuss Littler’s remarkable journey and compare him to various sporting 16-year-olds such Wayne Rooney
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Humphries went fishing for ‘The Big Fish’ during his whitewash win in the semi-finals
Humphries went fishing for ‘The Big Fish’ during his whitewash win in the semi-finals
Pundit Wayne Mardle admits Littler continues to perform beyond the highest level, calling his performances “magnificent”.
“He averages 106.05 in the biggest match of his life,” Mardle said. “The kid just takes it all in his stride. Absolutely magnificent.
“If you’re sat at home and witnessed that or are here, you’ve witnessed something utterly mind-boggling. A 16-year-old is in the final of the World Championship.”
A 13-year-old streamer, Blue Scuti, became the first ever human to beat the classic game of Tetris on NES. Blue Scuti broke 3 world records in total — including that monumental accomplishment — during a semifinal match for the 2023 Classic Tetris World Championship (CTWC). On Tuesday, he posted the full video onto his YouTube channel.
It might be funny to think that a 34-year-old game had never been beat before — but that’s precisely the case. Since Tetris (or Classic Tetris) was released on the NES it was genuinely considered unbeatable. Players would play for as long as they could, until reaching the 29th level, at which point pieces would fall so fast it seemed impossible to keep up. Only an AI had ever beat it — until Blue Scuti came on the scene.
Blue Scuti’s winning strategy was a culmination of the technique that younger players have been developing in recent years. These newer strategies, like “hypertapping” and later “rolling,” emerged in 2016 and 2020 respectively, allowing players to operate the NES controller even faster than the buttons by tapping the underside of the controller. By 2022, most players that placed in in CTWC used some version of these strategies.
In the 38-minute video, you can see Scuti grow more tense as he approaches ever greater levels. Right after making a great save, he gets to the game’s frozen screen — signaling victory — and ecstatically says “oh my god” while yanking off his gloves. “My hands feel tingly, I can’t feel my hands,” he says, with his face in his hands.
In a post game interview with streamer ITZsharky, Blue Scuti describes the nerves after playing for 30 minutes, but that he was “still managing to hit the 5 taps.” He added, “You miss one 5 tap and the run can end.”
Michael van Gerwen was stunned by Scott Williams in the World Darts Championship quarter-finals
Michael van Gerwen’s hopes of a fourth World Darts Championship title were dashed in stunning fashion by Scott Williams at the quarter-final stage on New Year’s Day.
Williams pulled off a sensational 5-3 scalp of Van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace, punishing 27 missed darts at doubles from the three-time champion to set up a meeting with Luke Humphries.
World Darts Championship: New Year’s Day Evening Results
Michael van Gerwen
3-5
Scott Williams
Luke Humphries
5-1
Dave Chisnall
Rob Cross, only former PDC world champion left and in the semi-finals for the first time since winning the title on debut
Luke Littler, 16 years old, in the semi-finals on his debut
Scott Williams in his first major semi-final
Luke Humphries, the pre-tournament favourite, into his first Ally Pally semi-final
Seasonal prize money prior to the World Championship: £32,750
Minimum prize money at the World Championship: £100,000
Scott Williams is in to the semi-finals and the world’s top 32
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Scott Williams produced one of the biggest shocks in World Darts Championship history by beating Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-finals
Scott Williams produced one of the biggest shocks in World Darts Championship history by beating Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-finals
Williams came charging out of the blocks by winning the opening set in straight legs, but ‘Mighty Mike’ took out 81 for back-to-back 11-darters to close out the second set 3-1 with a set average of 116.71 despite missing 12 darts at double.
Van Gerwen took out a magnificent 121 checkout before pinning double 16 to seize the initiative in the third set.
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Van Gerwen hits this magnificent 121 finish during his quarter-final clash against Williams
Van Gerwen hits this magnificent 121 finish during his quarter-final clash against Williams
However, the Dutchman threw in a stinker of a set, averaging just 78, and Williams railroaded it 3-0 to get back on level terms at 2-2.
Van Gerwen appeared to have fallen off a cliff when Lincolnshire showman Williams made it six legs on the spin to lead 3-2, but the three-time World Champion soon restored parity in three consecutive legs to stop the rot.
‘Shaggy’ punished more crucial mistakes from the world No 2 to seal the seventh set 3-1 and go within one of a sensational victory before taking the eighth 3-1 to secure a last-four meeting with either Luke Humphries or Dave Chisnall.
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Williams said he probably should have beaten Van Gerwen a bit easier after knocking out the pre-tournament favourite
Williams said he probably should have beaten Van Gerwen a bit easier after knocking out the pre-tournament favourite
“I just knocked the best player in the world out,” Williams told Sky Sports.
“He wasn’t the Michael van Gerwen we’ve seen over the last couple of games but that’s not my problem.
“I hit the doubles and probably should have won it a little bit easier. I’m absolutely loving it up there. I love a crowd.”
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Wayne Wardle was surprised at how ‘erratic’ Van Gerwen was during his loss
Wayne Wardle was surprised at how ‘erratic’ Van Gerwen was during his loss
Wayne Mardle called Williams’ win a “massive shock”, but also admitted he did a “number” on the Dutch ace.
“Michael van Gerwen normally loses to someone who is a big hitter already, a world champion or a major champion,” ‘Hawaii 501’ said.
“Scott Williams did a number on him. He was there to clean up when he had to clean up and he held it together so well.
“Even Luke Littler and Rob Cross are giving it… ‘WHAT!?’ What an opportunity for everyone left in the tournament.”
Michael van Gerwen missed 30 doubles in his first three games. He missed 27 against Scott Williams
52.4 per cent (33/63) – First 3 games
29.0 per cent (11/38) – vs Williams
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Luke Humphries made it through to the semi-finals with this magical 117 checkout
Luke Humphries made it through to the semi-finals with this magical 117 checkout
Williams will take on Humphries in the semi-finals after ‘Cool Hand’ thrashed Dave Chisnall 5-1 with a 103.50 average, a dozen 180s, 40 per cent on the doubles and a high checkout of 164.
The World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship winner made it 17 victories in a row to break new ground at Ally Pally.
“It felt strange to be the frontrunner for once,” said Humphries. “I have been used to a lot of comebacks for the last few days and it has just been nice to be me.
“It was nice to be in front and keep pushing hard and I didn’t relent. Chizzy played really well, he made it really tough for me.
“I haven’t been myself in the first couple of games. Tonight, we saw the form I have been showing in the last few majors.
“I played as well as I needed to.”
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Humphries thinks the Worlds is wide open after Van Gerwen’s exit to Williams
Humphries thinks the Worlds is wide open after Van Gerwen’s exit to Williams
How Littler set up Cross semi-final…
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A look back the best of the action from the afternoon session of the World Darts Championship quarter-finals
A look back the best of the action from the afternoon session of the World Darts Championship quarter-finals
World Darts Championship: New Year’s Day Afternoon Results
Rob Cross
5-4
Chris Dobey
Luke Littler
5-1
Brendan Dolan
In the afternoon, Luke Littler’s amazing Alexandra Palace journey continued after he became the youngest semi-finalist ever after he beat Brendan Dolan 5-1 in the quarter-final.
‘The History Maker’ Dolan had beaten former World Champions Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson but could not compete with Littler, who finished with an average of 101.93 to thrill his adoring fans inside Ally Pally.
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All the best moments from Luke Littler in his quarter-final clash against Brendon Dolan
All the best moments from Luke Littler in his quarter-final clash against Brendon Dolan
“It feels unbelievable. I would never have thought I would have got to the semis on my debut year,” he said.
“Brendan was just another opponent in my way and I have brushed him aside and now I am into the semi-final.
“It’s going to take a lot to stop me, based on my performances so far. But it is about whatever Luke Littler turns up.
“I have got the ability to go all the way, if it’s not to be tomorrow night, it’s not to be.
“I know I have got a good chance and I have got a good feeling I could go all the way tomorrow.”
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Littler believes he is one of the best in the game at board management and he’s thinking about lifting the title
Littler believes he is one of the best in the game at board management and he’s thinking about lifting the title
He will meet Rob Cross for a spot in the final after ‘Voltage’ looked dead and buried when he was 4-0 down after barely 45 minutes as Chris Dobey played one of the matches of his life.
However, the off-stage break worked wonders for Cross as the former electrician sparked into life.
He reeled off four sets of his own and then took out 130 to seal a remarkable win but he will have to improve if he is stop the Littler train.
“Everyone loves an underdog story,” he said. “As the public and people looking at the game, everyone loves an underdog story.
“I am not being rude, I am on his side, I love an underdog story.
“It took a bit of pressure off me winning it first time as well.
“He’s fantastic and he deserves all the luck in the world, he is a nice young boy. Tomorrow we play darts, though, and I have to go down to business.”
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Cross came back from 4-0 down to Chris Dobey to complete a ‘darting miracle!’
Cross came back from 4-0 down to Chris Dobey to complete a ‘darting miracle!’
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The teenager was taking selfies after beating Brendan Dolan
The teenager was taking selfies after beating Brendan Dolan
What’s happening on semi-finals night at the World Darts Championship?
Luke Littler returns to the Ally Pally stage when he aims for a spot in the World Championship final
Littler will take on 2018 winner Cross in the first semi-final having already proven he is ready to compete on the biggest stage after taking out UK Open winner Andrew Gilding and his hero Raymond van Barneveld on his way to the last eight and he maintained that form against Dolan on New Year’s Day.
Cross produced one of the most memorable Alexandra Palace comebacks having gone 4-0 to Chris Dobey before reeling off four sets of his own and then taking out 130 to seal a famous win.
Live World Darts Championship
January 1, 2024, 7:00pm
Live on
Luke Humphries will face Scott Williams in the second semi-final on Tuesday
Having knocked out three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen, ‘Shaggy’ Scott Williams will take on ‘Cool Hand’ Luke Humphries as he continues his quest for a maiden Ally Pally title.
Humphries came into the tournament as the favourite after winning three of the last four majors but had endured a bumpy ride to the last eight, surviving a sudden death leg against Joe Cullen in the last round.
But he was back to his best in his quarter-final, dispatching Dave Chisnall 5-1.
The sport’s biggest event sees the remaining players compete for the Sid Waddell Trophy and £2.5m in prize money at Alexandra Palace. You can watch all the action live on our dedicated Sky Sports Darts channel.
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