Digest

SNOOKER

Liang closing on world championship spot

China's Liang Wenbo is one victory away from the main draw of the Snooker World Championship after a 6-2 victory over Alfie Burden in a third-round qualifier in Sheffield on Saturday.

Liang, ranked 34th in the world, failed to record any century breaks but was consistent enough to seal the win over the 75th-ranked Englishman.

Liang, 33, will next face Irish veteran Fergal O'Brien for a place in the world championship proper. The Chinese potter's best result at the worlds is a quarterfinal finish in 2008.

In other third-round qualifiers, Lyu Haotian lost to Eden Sharav 6-2 and 16-year-old Wu Yize was ousted by Alan McManus 6-3.

China's Ding Junhui and Yan Bingtao have already earned their places in the main draw, which will be staged at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre from July 31 to Aug 16, thanks to their top-16 rankings.

SOCCER

Conte dismisses Messi talk as 'fantasy football'

Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte on Saturday dismissed talk of a reported move by the Chinese-owned Italian club for Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

"We're talking fantasy football, a situation that cannot be approached at Inter for many reasons," Conte said after Inter beat Genoa 3-0 to move second in Serie A.

Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, 33, has spent his entire professional career at Barcelona with his contract due to expire in 2021.

"I don't think there is a madman in the world who does not want Messi, but he is really far from us and what we want to build," added Conte.

Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta also brushed aside talk that the northern side wants Messi to rival Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Leo is not our goal and I don't think he wants to leave Barcelona," said Marotta.

Xavi tests positive for COVID-19 in Qatar

Former Spain and Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez has tested positive for the coronavirus.

The 40-year-old, now the coach of Qatari club Al-Sadd, said Saturday that he was tested according to the Qatar league's protocol and that the latest test showed he had contracted COVID-19.

"Fortunately, I'm feeling OK, but I will be isolated until I am given the all-clear. When the health services allow it, I will be very eager to return to my daily routine and to work," Xavi said on Instagram.

Al-Sadd announced on its website that Xavi would not be joining the rest of the team for its league game against Al-Khor later Saturday.

It is third-place Al-Sadd's first game since the league was suspended in March due to the pandemic. The league resumed on Friday.

BASKETBALL

Zion quarantining after return to NBA bubble

Zion Williamson will be out of quarantine by the time New Orleans plays in the first official game of the NBA restart at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Whether the Pelicans will play him that night or not remains anyone's guess.

The NBA said Saturday that Williamson will have to serve a four-day quarantine for leaving the league's Disney bubble on July 16 to tend to an urgent family matter. The 20-year-old returned to Disney on Friday night and immediately went into quarantine.

That means he will likely be released from quarantine sometime Tuesday, two days before the Pelicans play the first "seeding game "against the Utah Jazz.

A person familiar with the situation said that if all goes well with Williamson's quarantine, he can return to team activities during a practice scheduled for Tuesday night. The person spoke to Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Williamson must first pass more tests before his availability for the game can be confirmed.

Xinhua - Agencies