HOT OR NOT: Dejan Lovren’s support for a conspiracy nutter is bizarre… but there is hope for Dan Evans after the Brit hires no-nonsense coach
- Magnus Carlsen, ranked No 1 for the past 10 years, won a chess competition
- Dan Evans has made a move this week to hook up with a South African coach
- Dejan Lovren has backed conspiracy theories about the coronavirus pandemic
- Pole vaulters Renaud Lavillenie and Mondo Duplantis did a webcam event
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
It’s Hot or Not time again as Sportsmail’s Riath Al-Samarrai reveals what’s been making him feel warm and what’s been leaving him cold this week.
HOT
Magnus Carlsen
In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. And so chess is having its day, picking up the slack of a bored world. Within that boom, Carlsen, ranked No 1 for the past 10 years, has just won an internet championship of the sport’s leading players in front of a record online audience of 10million.
It was more interesting than it sounds.
Magnus Carlsen, ranked No 1 for the past 10 years, has just won an internet championship
Dan Evans
His rise after the fall has been heartening. More so because it feels that the messages of his previous errors have now sunk in, evidenced by his move this week to hook up with Kieron Vorster, the no-nonsense South African coach. With the extra fitness that switch will bring, he can make those last steps to a top-20 ranking.
Dan Evans has made a move this week to hook up with Kieron Vorster, the no-nonsense South African coach
Pole vaulters
At a time when all sports kick their heels, three greats of the pole vault competed in their back gardens for a live webcast. Ultimately Renaud Lavillenie and Mondo Duplantis tied for first ahead of Sam Kendricks, the world champion. Full marks for finding a way to fly when almost everything else is grounded.
NOT
Dejan Lovren
Sport is enriched when you have a feel for those involved — that layer of context you find behind the curtain makes it all a bit more three-dimensional. But then you see Lovren’s support for conspiracy nutter David Icke and an overwhelming urge follows to just mind your own business.
Dejan Lovren has seemingly backed conspiracy theories about the coronavirus pandemic
Lovren leant his support to David Icke, who has made a number of claims about the virus
Chris Froome
In an interview with Kevin Pietersen he bemoaned how the transgressions of past cyclists had created a suspicion that lingers over riders today. Which is true. But his claim that cycling is now in a ‘great place’ by comparison? Optimism is just one word for it.
Saracens
Five of the rugby club’s squad — Billy Vunipola, Alex Goode, Nick Isiekwe, Sean Maitland and Josh Ibuanokpe — broke the lockdown to go for a coffee in St Albans. Saracens and rules — the relationship that keeps on giving.
Advertisement