Davis has double double as Lakers take Game 1

SAN FRANCISCO — Anthony Davis had 30 points, 23 rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots, LeBron James added 22 points and 11 rebounds dueling with Stephen Curry in their latest postseason showdown, and the Los Angeles Lakers held off a late flurry by the Golden State Warriors to win an entertaining Game 1 in the Western Conference semifinals 117-112 on Tuesday night (Wednesday, Manila time).

answered right back before Davis blocked a shot by Curry moments later. James missed the first of two free throws with 1:05 to go.

Poole’s 3 with 2:48 remaining cut the Lakers’ lead to 112109, and James was called for traveling with 1:53 left For all-time scoring leader James and Curry — who has the most 3-pointers ever — this is a new chapter in the long rivalry between the superstars after they faced off in four straight

FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN

(Finally, an Asian emerges as world chess king!)

Unlike in other championship events where the more raucuous and louder cheers create the most tense moments, the eerie, deafening silence in chess contests gives everyone the goosebumps that elevate the quietly electrified atmosphere to its highest decibel.

Thus, when Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi raised the white flag in the fourth and final game of the rapid tie breaks, you could hear a pin drop as winner Ding Liren gasped in relief and total disbelief even as he shook hands with his foe instantly as the resignation came.

The 30-year old Chinese su-

NBA Finals from 2015-2018 while James played for Cleveland.

Curry scored 27 points, Splash Brother Klay Thompson had 25, and Kevon Looney grabbed a career-high 23 rebounds for his fourth game of this postseason with 20 or more. He also had 10 points and five assists. Thompson made a 3 with 5:19 to go that cut the Lakers’ lead to 112-104.

The defending champion Warriors will try to even the series in Game 2 on Thursday night back on their home floor at Chase Center, where LA fans could be heard chanting “Let’s go Lakers!” after the final buzzer. Curry’s 3 with 9:38 left got Golden State within 99-95, but the Lakers responded with two straight scoring possessions, including James’ layup with 8:38 remaining.

Davis dominated from the opening tip, making 9 of his first 10 shots, while Russell scored 19 points and dished out six assists against his former team.

DING LIREN - 17TH FIDE WORLD CHAMP!

per GM, exhibiting enduring patience, outlasted his equally elite foe 2.5 to 1.5 pts to clinch the championship trophy and the 1.2M (Euros) first prize money.

Liren was actually at the receiving end, trailing Nepo by one full point going into the last four games of the classical phase.

He equalized in Game 11 and held his own by drawing the next three, leading to the 25-minute four game rapid tiebreaks.

“I’m relieved,” Liren, who played black, could only say in not so fluent English during the post game interview.

China now rules both the FIDE men’s and women’s crowns.

Ju Wengjun is due to defend her title in July against another Chi- nese challenger, Lei Tingjie.

The Russian evaded drawing lines - perpetual check in the end game - and pursued what analysts described as an attempt to turn it into a victory.

Regretfully, commentators GMs Fabi Caruana, Robert Hess and IM Tanya Sachdev said Nepo missed several engine best moves because he moved his pieces faster than usual to exert pressure on Liren as far as time was concerned.

All throughout the championship setto - including the 14 long classical games -, Liren lagged behind in time but the Chinese was able to maintain his composure, staving off the aggressive attacks and traps set up by the Russian, already a two-time winner of the Candidates Matches.

Liren must have Lady Luck on his side.

He was invited by FIDE because Russian super GM Sergey Karjakin was disqualified for the latter’s political advocacy of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Because he was third in the world rankings, FIDE picked him to contest versus Nepo the 2023 crown as five-time world champ Magnus Carlsen of Norway abdicated his crown July last year. Carlsen twitted “Congratulations!” to Liren for his feat.

The newly-minted FIDE world titleholder will be tested immediately as he takes part in the opening leg of the prominent

Garry Kasparov-inspired annual Grand Chess Tour that starts in Bucharest, Romania on May 5.

Among those who will confront Liren in Bucharest are super GMs Wesley So, Levon Aronian, Caruana, Anish Giri, Alireza Firouzja, Rapport and hopefully Carlsen.

Before Liren, the previous FIDE world titlists were (14th) Vladimir Kramnik of Russia, (15th) Vishy Anand of India and (16th) Carlsen.

Liren was assisted in his team by the long-haired Hungarian super GM Richard Rapport who served as his second. (Email feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!