semifinal

One celebrity will be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing this weekend

One Strictly Come Dancing star could end up missing out on the semi-final as they’re dealt a devastating blow.

This weekend, another celebrity will be booted from the competition, and it’s not looking promising for one celebrity couple.

Whilst Balvinder Sopal is the bookmakers’ favourite to depart the competition this weekend, it appears it’s also grim news for Alex Kingston and Amber Davies, as they could also miss out on claiming the Glitterball Trophy.

According to exclusive odds provided by Betway, Balvinder has odds of 250/1 of departing this weekend, whilst Alex Kingston has 33/1, and Amber has odds of 20/1 of leaving before the semi-final, which takes place in two weeks’ time.

Nevertheless, the top three frontrunners predicted to reach the final are George Clarke, Karen Carney and Lewis Cope, reports Wales Online.

Last weekend, presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced that no elimination would take place after La Voix was forced to withdraw from the competition.

It was a shocking moment for the remaining celebrities, but it meant none of them were at risk of being axed from the show.

La Voix and her dance partner, Aljaz Skorjanec, appeared on Saturday’s show to discuss their decision to withdraw.

La Voix broke down as she said, “I came into the show as a minority, as a redhead, and you’ve all embraced me wonderfully.

“I cannot thank you enough… this is not how I wanted my journey to end,’ before joking: “At least it gives someone else in this competition a chance to win.”

Aljaz added, “I’ve been lucky this year. I’ve made two friends for life. On Saturdays/ Sundays, we all laugh with La Voix, and from Monday to Friday, I had the best time with Chris.

“I haven’t done a single crunch in the past six months, but I’ve got my six pack back, it’s amazing.

“Like Motsi said, ‘We all need it. The world needs more of you. Strictly needed it, you made my life a joy.. You are so beautiful in what you do.”

Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday on BBC One.

Scotland’s chance of gold at the European Curling Championships lies in the women’s competition after the men fell at the semi-final stage.

Bruce Mouat’s rink sailed through the round-robin phase with a 100% record but lost 8-5 to Sweden in the last four showdown.

Swedish skip Niklas Edin will now go for an eighth title against Switzerland, who beat Italy 8-7.

The Swedes, who lost three of their opening nine games, took two in the seventh and ninth ends to lead 7-5 and Mouat could not extend a tense tie when he was a fraction out with his final stone.

Team Mouat, runners-up last year and four-time winners, will play the Italians for bronze on Friday evening, with the action streamed on the BBC Sport website and iPlayer at 17:00 GMT.

“We’ve played a million times before,” said Edin of his team’s victory. “In the Olympic final it was the same situation.

“We just have to reach our own top level. We came in with the right mindset and executed well.”

On Thursday, Scotland’s women continued their revival in Finland by beating Switzerland in their semi-final.

The Scots – bronze medallists last year and ranked second going into this tournament – lost four of their opening six matches, but won their final three round-robin games to scrape into the knockout matches.

And in a dominant performance, Rebecca Morrison’s rink prevailed 8-5 to earn a place in the final against Sweden.

“Reaching our first European final together and that is a great achievement for us,” said an excited Jen Dodds, who won European gold in 2021.

“We got our bronze medal last year, which back then we were so happy with, and one of our goals for this season was to upgrade that and get to the final.

“Now we are really looking forward to getting that opportunity to compete in it.”

The final will be live on the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app at 08:00 on Saturday.

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

CITY SECTION

Semifinals

OPEN DIVISION

#1 Carson 40, #5 Garfield 7

#6 Crenshaw 12, #2 Birmingham 7

DIVISION I

#5 Marquez 16, #1 Venice 7

DIVISION II

#1 Cleveland 14, #4 Fairfax 7 (Thursday)

#2 San Fernando 53, #6 L.A. Marshall 8

DIVISION III

#1 Santee 24, #5 Contreras 8

#2 Hawkins 18, #3 L.A. Wilson 13

SOUTHERN SECTION

Semifinals

DIVISION I

Santa Margarita 31, Orange Lutheran 6

Corona Centennial 28, Mater Dei 27

DIVISION 2

Los Alamitos 23, Murrieta Valley 10

San Clemente 35, Leuzinger 7

DIVISION 3

Oxnard Pacifica 42, Chino Hills 24

Palos Verdes 23, Edison 10

DIVISION 4

San Jacinto 18, Villa Park 15

La Habra 20, Oaks Christian 7

DIVISION 5

Redondo Union 21, Loyola 7

Rio Hondo Prep 35, La Serna 6

DIVISION 6

St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 39, Eastvale Roosevelt 6

Ventura 28, Agoura 14

DIVISION 7

Barstow 28, Palm Springs 7

Apple Valley 21, Saugus 7

DIVISION 8

Beckman 28, Palm Desert 14

Brea Olinda 28, Irvine 12

DIVISION 9

Ramona 40, Hesperia 13

Cerritos Valley Christian 28, San Dimas 12

DIVISION 10

Tahquitz 41, Santa Monica 35

Hillcrest 39, Garden Grove Pacifica 20

DIVISION 11

Baldwin Park 27, Western Christian 14

Valley View 28, South Pasadena 21

DIVISION 12

Grace 49, Coachella Valley 42

Santa Paula 17, Bellflower 14

DIVISION 13

Woodbridge 24, Saddleback 21

Montebello 43, La Puente 36

DIVISION 14

South El Monte 13, Miller 7

Pioneer 14, Anaheim 6

8-MAN

Semifinals

DIVISION 1

Flintridge Prep 28, Chadwick 8

Wildomar Cornerstone Christian 29, Faith Baptist 20

DIVISION 2

Cate 46, Calvary Baptist 14

Lancaster Baptist 45, Hesperia Christian 22

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

CITY SECTION

Semifinals

DIVISION I

#11 Dorsey at #2 South Gate

Finals

8-MAN

At Birmingham High

#2 Animo Robinson vs. #1 Sherman Oaks CES, 5 p.m.

Sinner, a key member of the Italian team which triumphed at the past two editions, elected to maximise his recovery during the sport’s brief six-week off-season after triumphing at last week’s ATP Finals.

The presence of just one of the top 10 men’s players at this year’s event has prompted discussion over the tournament’s future format.

But, after Berrettini and Cobolli starred for Italy in their quarter-final against Austria, both players spoke about the privilege they feel in competing for their nation at the Finals.

Berrettini maintained momentum from his opening straight-set win as he clinched an early break of serve and would not be caught after racing into a 3-0 lead.

The former Wimbledon runner-up, ranked 56th in the world, then broke immediately in set two after Collignon double-faulted twice.

However, his charge to the finish was slowed when Collignon took his first opportunity to level at 2-2 – and the Belgian was denied a fourth-straight game when Berrettini landed a sensational cross-court forehand to shut down another break point two games later.

But Berrettini would not lose his grip on the contest after reasserting himself with another break, serving out for his 10th consecutive singles win when playing for his country.

Speaking post-match, Berrettini said: “Pressure is a privilege. Obviously I feel the pressure, but you’re playing in front of your home country, my whole family is here, we are all great friends in our team.

“It is such a special feeling for me. I take the bad feelings away and just enjoy the moment.”

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ WATER POLO

SOCAL REGIONALS

(Games at 5 p.m. unless noted)

TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE

First Round

DIVISION I

#8 Mater Dei at #1 Newport Harbor

#5 Oaks Christian at #4 Corona del Mar

#6 Mira Costa at #3 San Diego Cathedral

#7 Loyola at #2 La Jolla

DIVISION 2

#8 Bonita at #1 Bishop’s

#5 Torrey Pines vs. #4 Carlsbad at Rancho Bernardo

#6 Oceanside at #3 Capistrano Valley

#7 Damien at #2 Santana

DIVISION 3

#8 Granada Hills at #1 Temecula Valley

#5 Cleveland vs. #4 Fontana at San Gorgonio

#6 Eagle Rock at #3 Mar Vista

#7 Palisades at #2 Charter Oak

Note: Semifinals (all divisions) Nov. 20 at higher seeds; Finals (all divisions) Nov. 22 at higher seeds.

Luke Littler will become world number one for the first time after booking his place in the Grand Slam of Darts final in Wolverhampton.

The world champion’s 16-9 victory over the Netherlands’ Danny Noppert means he will overtake rival Luke Humphries to top the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) world rankings regardless of the result of Sunday evening’s final.

At just 18, Littler will become the youngest PDC world number one, surpassing Michael van Gerwen who achieved the feat aged 24 in 2014.

Littler’s earnings over the two-year period that determine the Order of Merit total £1,770,500 after making the final, a figure that will rise to £1,850,000 if he wins.

With Humphries defending the money he won from triumphing in this tournament in 2023, even if he lifts the trophy again, he will have earned £1,769,000 – just short of fellow Englishman Littler.

“It is has not even been two years that I’ve been on the tour and I’m already world number one,” Littler told Sky Sports.

“That is job done – I am world number one – but there is a bigger match tonight.

“I am the best in the world. No matter what, I’ve said it throughout the year that Luke Humphries is the best in the world.

“No matter if you go out in the first, second or third round you are the best in the world.”

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE

(Games at 7 p.m. unless noted)

CITY SECTION

Semifinals

OPEN DIVISION

#5 Garfield at #1 Carson

#6 Crenshaw at #2 Birmingham

DIVISION I

#5 Marquez at #1 Venice

#11 Dorsey or #3 Eagle Rock at #2 South Gate

DIVISION II

#4 Fairfax at #1 Cleveland

#6 L.A. Marshall at #2 San Fernando

DIVISION III

#5 Contreras at #1 Santee

#3 L.A. Wilson at #2 Hawkins

SOUTHERN SECTION

Semifinals

DIVISION I

Santa Margarita vs. Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College

Mater Dei at Corona Centennial

DIVISION 2

Los Alamitos at Murrieta Valley

San Clemente at Leuzinger

DIVISION 3

Oxnard Pacifica at Chino Hills

Edison at Palos Verdes

DIVISION 4

San Jacinto vs. Villa Park at El Modena

La Habra at Oaks Christian

DIVISION 5

Redondo Union at Loyola

La Serna at Rio Hondo Prep

DIVISION 6

St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy at Eastvale Roosevelt

Ventura at Agoura

DIVISION 7

Palm Springs at Barstow

Saugus at Apple Valley

DIVISION 8

Palm Desert at Beckman

Irvine at Brea Olinda

DIVISION 9

Hesperia at Ramona

Cerritos Valley Christian at San Dimas

DIVISION 10

Santa Monica at Tahquitz

Garden Grove Pacifica at Hillcrest

DIVISION 11

Baldwin Park at Western Christian

South Pasadena at Valley View

DIVISION 12

Grace at Coachella Valley

Bellflower at Santa Paula

DIVISION 13

Woodbridge at Saddleback

Montebello at La Puente

DIVISION 14

Miller at South El Monte

Pioneer at Anaheim

8-MAN

Semifinals

DIVISION 1

Chadwick at Flintridge Prep

Faith Baptist at Wildomar Cornerstone Christian

DIVISION 2

Calvary Baptist at Cate

Hesperia Christian at Lancaster Baptist

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

8-MAN

CITY SECTION

At Birmingham High

Finals

#2 Animo Robinson vs. #4 East Valley or #1 Sherman Oaks CES, 5 p.m.