• Viktor Hovland after winning the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on Sunday, January 30, 2022. Getty
    Viktor Hovland after winning the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on Sunday, January 30, 2022. Getty
  • Viktor Hovland after winning the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic. Getty
    Viktor Hovland after winning the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic. Getty
  • Viktor Hovland after winning the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic. Getty
    Viktor Hovland after winning the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic. Getty
  • Viktor Hovland celebrates after beating Richard Bland in a play-off to win the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic. Getty
    Viktor Hovland celebrates after beating Richard Bland in a play-off to win the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic. Getty
  • Richard Bland shakes hands with Viktor Hovland after the Norwegian won the play-off in Dubai. Getty
    Richard Bland shakes hands with Viktor Hovland after the Norwegian won the play-off in Dubai. Getty
  • Richard Bland of England tees-off on the seventh hole. Getty
    Richard Bland of England tees-off on the seventh hole. Getty
  • Viktor Hovland of Norway plays his tee-shot on the first hole of Day 4 at the Dubai Desert Classic. Getty
    Viktor Hovland of Norway plays his tee-shot on the first hole of Day 4 at the Dubai Desert Classic. Getty
  • Richard Bland celebrates holing a birdie putt on the 18th hole taking the tournament to a play-off. Getty
    Richard Bland celebrates holing a birdie putt on the 18th hole taking the tournament to a play-off. Getty
  • Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits his second shot from the deep rough on the 10th hole. Getty
    Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits his second shot from the deep rough on the 10th hole. Getty
  • Richard Bland hits his second shot on the 16th hole. Getty
    Richard Bland hits his second shot on the 16th hole. Getty
  • Rory McIlroy reacts to his missed putt on the 18th hole that cost him a place in the play-off. Getty
    Rory McIlroy reacts to his missed putt on the 18th hole that cost him a place in the play-off. Getty
  • Viktor Hovland of Norway lines-up his putt on the 18th hole. Getty
    Viktor Hovland of Norway lines-up his putt on the 18th hole. Getty
  • Justin Harding of South Africa lines-up a putt on the fifth hole. Getty
    Justin Harding of South Africa lines-up a putt on the fifth hole. Getty
  • Rory McIlroy on the first fairway. AP
    Rory McIlroy on the first fairway. AP
  • England's Tyrrell Hatton plays his tee -shot on the first hole. Getty
    England's Tyrrell Hatton plays his tee -shot on the first hole. Getty
  • Justin Harding tees-off on the 6th hole. Getty
    Justin Harding tees-off on the 6th hole. Getty
  • England's Richard Bland tees-off on the second hole. Getty
    England's Richard Bland tees-off on the second hole. Getty
  • Rory McIlroy tees-off on the eighth hole. Getty
    Rory McIlroy tees-off on the eighth hole. Getty
  • Fabrizio Zanotti of Paraguay plays a bunker shot on the first hole. AP
    Fabrizio Zanotti of Paraguay plays a bunker shot on the first hole. AP
  • Romain Langasque of France shakes hands with Dubai-born teenager Josh Hill on the 18th hole. Getty
    Romain Langasque of France shakes hands with Dubai-born teenager Josh Hill on the 18th hole. Getty
  • Viktor Hovland of Norway putts on the third hole. Getty
    Viktor Hovland of Norway putts on the third hole. Getty
  • Ireland's Shane Lowry with amateur Josh Hill of England on the 14th hole. Getty
    Ireland's Shane Lowry with amateur Josh Hill of England on the 14th hole. Getty

Viktor Hovland wins Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic in play-off against Richard Bland


Paul Radley
  • English
  • Arabic

Having emerged as the last man standing on a thrilling, oscillating final day in front of vast galleries at the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, Viktor Hovland was asked if he had ever experienced anything like it before.

The 24-year-old Norwegian had mounted an extraordinary late surge to give himself a shot, finishing birdie, eagle, birdie.

Even then, he had to stave off a four-time major winner, and then, via a playoff, a player who is precisely twice his age. Finally, with shadows lengthening across the 18th green, the Dallah Trophy was his.

Surely, in all his time as a golfer – Hovland is in his third year on tour, after all – he had never experienced anything quite like it? Well, there was this one time …

“I do distinctly remember a little match I had in college,” Hovland said, after beating Richard Bland, 48, at the extra playoff hole.

“We used to do a little Ryder Cup [between friends]. We were basically playing for dinner, and it was kind of getting dark like this, and it was pretty feisty.

“We all didn't want to lose and I remember we were doing stroke play best-ball. They were down I think three strokes with three to go, and I finished birdie, birdie, and then eagle on the last to beat them by a shot.

“They were so mad, and it just brought me so much joy. So I do remember that one.”

Beating college mates. Beating Rory McIlroy in the Rolex Series on the DP World Tour. Same, same.

Fair to say, though, this one was a little more lucrative. Hovland is $1.36 million better off for his success around the Majlis Course. The victory also takes him up to No 3 in the world rankings.

Quite how he reached that point is still hard to believe. The free admission offered for this tournament bloated the crowds to never-before-seen levels – or at least not since Tiger Woods came and played while at the zenith of his celebrity.

The galleries were by turns rapt and stunned by what unfolded over a final round in which it seemed the leading protagonists were more intent on losing than winning.

Hovland left his push late. He made his second eagle of the week at the 71st hole he played, having striped his tee-shot 327 yards, right into the heart of the 17th green. From 33ft, he proceeded to roll in a putt which he said he might make “one in 20 times, especially as it was going both ways, and it's so sandy”.

Another monstrous tee-shot down 18 left him in prime position, with just 186 yards left to the flag. The ensuing birdie gave him the clubhouse lead at 12-under. Soon after it was matched by Bland, who finished with a brace of birdies.

Safe in the knowledge they had done their bit, each headed to the driving range – albeit perhaps more in hope than expectation they would make a playoff.

McIlroy, after all, still had 17 and 18 to play. But where Bland and Hovland thrived over the finish, McIlroy imploded. He made par at the penultimate hole then fired his second shot into the middle of the lake defending the green.

With McIlroy removed from the equation, it was down to just two. They played the 18th again to decide it. Hovland made four, Bland five.

“I didn't really think this was possible going in today,” Hovland said.

“I knew I had to shoot a really low number but a lot of things had to go my way, and I’m thankful they did.”

START-UPS%20IN%20BATCH%204%20OF%20SANABIL%20500'S%20ACCELERATOR%20PROGRAMME
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EJoy%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Delivers%20car%20services%20with%20affordable%20prices%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EKaraz%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Helps%20diabetics%20with%20gamification%2C%20IoT%20and%20real-time%20data%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMedicarri%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Medical%20marketplace%20that%20connects%20clinics%20with%20suppliers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMod5r%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Makes%20automated%20and%20recurring%20investments%20to%20grow%20wealth%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStuck%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Live%2C%20on-demand%20language%20support%20to%20boost%20writing%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWalzay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Helps%20in%20recruitment%20while%20reducing%20hiring%20time%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEighty6%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarketplace%20for%20restaurant%20and%20supplier%20procurements%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFarmUnboxed%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHelps%20digitise%20international%20food%20supply%20chain%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ENutriCal%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Helps%20F%26amp%3BB%20businesses%20and%20governments%20with%20nutritional%20analysis%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWellxai%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Provides%20insurance%20that%20enables%20and%20rewards%20user%20habits%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEgypt%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAmwal%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20A%20Shariah-compliant%20crowd-lending%20platform%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeben%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Helps%20CFOs%20manage%20cash%20efficiently%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEgab%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Connects%20media%20outlets%20to%20journalists%20in%20hard-to-reach%20areas%20for%20exclusives%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ENeqabty%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Digitises%20financial%20and%20medical%20services%20of%20labour%20unions%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOman%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMonak%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Provides%20financial%20inclusion%20and%20life%20services%20to%20migrants%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face

The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.

The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran. 

Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf. 

"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said. 

Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer. 

The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy. 

 

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COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Letstango.com

Started: June 2013

Founder: Alex Tchablakian

Based: Dubai

Industry: e-commerce

Initial investment: Dh10 million

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month

The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5

Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder /  3.0L, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic / Eight-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,000rpm / 354hp @ 5,400rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,600rpm / 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy: combined 7.2L / 100km / 8.3L / 100km

The specs

Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder

Power: 220 and 280 horsepower

Torque: 350 and 360Nm

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT 

On sale: now

The specs: 2018 Maserati Ghibli

Price, base / as tested: Dh269,000 / Dh369,000

Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 355hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 4,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 8.9L / 100km

UAE%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3E%0DJemma%20Eley%2C%20Maria%20Michailidou%2C%20Molly%20Fuller%2C%20Chloe%20Andrews%20(of%20Dubai%20College)%2C%20Eliza%20Petricola%2C%20Holly%20Guerin%2C%20Yasmin%20Craig%2C%20Caitlin%20Gowdy%20(Dubai%20English%20Speaking%20College)%2C%20Claire%20Janssen%2C%20Cristiana%20Morall%20(Jumeirah%20English%20Speaking%20School)%2C%20Tessa%20Mies%20(Jebel%20Ali%20School)%2C%20Mila%20Morgan%20(Cranleigh%20Abu%20Dhabi).%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

The specs

Engine: 5.0-litre V8

Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm

Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: L/100km

Price: Dh306,495

On sale: now

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania ​​​​​​​
Verdict: 4 Stars

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

Alita: Battle Angel

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Stars: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Keean Johnson

Four stars

BlacKkKlansman

Director: Spike Lee

Starring: John David Washington; Adam Driver 

Five stars

FIGHT CARD

Welterweight Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Tohir Zhuraev (TJK)

Catchweight 75kg Leandro Martins (BRA) v Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)

Flyweight Corinne Laframboise (CAN) v Manon Fiorot (FRA)

Featherweight Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB)

Lightweight Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) v Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG)

Featherweight Yousef Al Housani (UAE) v Mohamed Arsharq Ali (SLA)

Catchweight 69kg Jung Han-gook (KOR) v Elias Boudegzdame (ALG)

Catchweight 71kg Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) v Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)

Featherweight title Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)

Lightweight title Bruno Machado (BRA) v Mike Santiago (USA)

Who is Allegra Stratton?

 

  • Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
  • Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
  • In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
  • The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
  • Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
  • She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
  • Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth

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SPIDER-MAN%3A%20ACROSS%20THE%20SPIDER-VERSE
%3Cp%3EDirectors%3A%20Joaquim%20Dos%20Santos%2C%20Kemp%20Powers%2C%20Justin%20K.%20Thompson%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20Shameik%20Moore%2C%20Hailee%20Steinfeld%2C%20Oscar%20Isaac%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The past Palme d'Or winners

2018 Shoplifters, Hirokazu Kore-eda

2017 The Square, Ruben Ostlund

2016 I, Daniel Blake, Ken Loach

2015 DheepanJacques Audiard

2014 Winter Sleep (Kış Uykusu), Nuri Bilge Ceylan

2013 Blue is the Warmest Colour (La Vie d'Adèle: Chapitres 1 et 2), Abdellatif Kechiche, Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux

2012 Amour, Michael Haneke

2011 The Tree of LifeTerrence Malick

2010 Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Lung Bunmi Raluek Chat), Apichatpong Weerasethakul

2009 The White Ribbon (Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte), Michael Haneke

2008 The Class (Entre les murs), Laurent Cantet

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Directed by: Craig Gillespie

Starring: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry

4/5

DIVINE%20INTERVENTOIN
%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Elia%20Suleiman%2C%20Manal%20Khader%2C%20Amer%20Daher%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Elia%20Suleiman%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What%20is%20Dungeons%20%26%20Dragons%3F%20
%3Cp%3EDungeons%20%26amp%3B%20Dragons%20began%20as%20an%20interactive%20game%20which%20would%20be%20set%20up%20on%20a%20table%20in%201974.%20One%20player%20takes%20on%20the%20role%20of%20dungeon%20master%2C%20who%20directs%20the%20game%2C%20while%20the%20other%20players%20each%20portray%20a%20character%2C%20determining%20its%20species%2C%20occupation%20and%20moral%20and%20ethical%20outlook.%20They%20can%20choose%20the%20character%E2%80%99s%20abilities%2C%20such%20as%20strength%2C%20constitution%2C%20dexterity%2C%20intelligence%2C%20wisdom%20and%20charisma.%20In%20layman%E2%80%99s%20terms%2C%20the%20winner%20is%20the%20one%20who%20amasses%20the%20highest%20score.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: January 30, 2022, 3:40 PM