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  • Impressive SA U18 ‘A’ put Georgia to the sword

    Impressive SA U18 ‘A’ put Georgia to the sword

    The young South Africans led 31-5 at halftime and kicked on to eventually score nine tries and six conversions, while Georgia managed three tries and two conversions.

    The second round of the annual international tournament kicked off in bright winter sunshine on the outskirts of Wellington in the Western Cape.

    Georgia, who delivered a shock win over England in the opening round on Tuesday, struggled with their fundamentals as they were put under pressure by the hosts. Their lineout let them down, they were not as dominant as expected in the scrum and they conceded penalties at regular intervals to allow the South Africans most of the momentum.

    The SA U18 ‘A’ side would be happy with especially how they dealt with the Georgian forward challenge, with their strong set piece setting a solid platform for their lively backline.

    The hosts opened the scoring early when Thomas Muller (hooker) crashed over after an impressive 30m lineout maul. The Georgians hit back almost immediately and in similar fashion, when Piskhelauri Gocha (hooker) dotted down from a lineout drive.

    Tries by Migael Turner (lock) and Ncutu Kepe (wing) – who did brilliantly to collect a cross-field kick from SA U18 ‘A; captain and flyhalf Jeandre Uithaler – quickly took the score to 17-5.

    With the forwards doing a sterling job and Georgia struggling with the heavy underfoot conditions, the SA U18 ‘A’ side moved into another gear to score further tries through Junade Pasensie (wing) and Quintin Potgieter (No 8). Uithaler added the extras as the South Africans stretched their lead to 31-5, which was just reward for a dominant first-half display.

    Georgia was first to score in the second stanza when Balanchivadze Nikoloz (prop) forced his way over for a try converted by replacement flyhalf Butshrikidze Levani to reduce the deficit to 31-12.

    However, the hosts hit back with two tries – Potgieter and Pasensie each scoring their second of the match – to increase the lead to 43-12. They were soon followed over the line by hard-running outside centre Erin Nelson, who went over under the posts after a deft pass from Uithaler.

    That well executed try took the score to the half century mark, with the home side now leading 50-12 with a quarter of an hour remaining.

    Georgia carded their third five-pointer but Uithaler had the last say with another deft kick over the defence for replacement outside back Nathan Aneke to collect and score, taking the score to 57-12.

    Scorers:

    SA U18 ‘A’ 57 (31) – Tries: Thomas Muller, Migael Turner, Ncutu Kepe, Junade Pasensie (2), Quintin Potgieter (2), Erin Nelson, Nathan Aneke. Conversions: Jeandre Uithaler (6).

    Georgia 19 (5) – Tries: Pitskhelauri Gocha, Balanchivadze Nikoloz, Gabriel Razmadze. Conversions: Butshrikidze Levani (2).

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  • Here’s the shortlist for the MCV/DEVELOP Women in Games Awards 2025!

    Here’s the shortlist for the MCV/DEVELOP Women in Games Awards 2025!

    After sorting through hundreds of well-thought out and much-deserved entries, we are proud to announce our shortlist for the MCV/DEVELOP Women In Games Awards 2025!  

    It has been an absolute privilege to get to read about the incredible achievements of women in the UK video games industry over the past 12 months. Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate someone and congratulations to everybody who has made it this far. The final judging process will now be carried out by a top secret panel, so that the very best candidates can receive their trophies next month.

    Everybody on the list below will get a ticket to the awards ceremony at the America Square Conference Centre in London this September, so be sure to keep an eye on your inboxes. Now without further ado, here’s our shortlist … 

    Outstanding Contribution

    Anna Hollinrake – Electric Saint
    Ali Fearnley – Tandem Events
    Liz Prince – Amiqus
    Jo Cooke – Frontier Developments
    Adele Cutting – Soundcuts
    Sana Kausar – Cosmic Sabbath

    Career Mentor

    Vida Cruz – Odin Law
    Tia Sparling – K9 Digital
    Cassie Hughes – Nox Lumina
    Devon Pearce – Trailer Farm and Big Farmer
    Kate Watson – Rocksteady
    Nina Kim – Rare

    Comms Impact

    Becky Armstrong – Bethesda
    Gemma Cooper – DDA
    Kayleigh Watson – 2K Games
    Rebecca Sweetmore – Futurlab
    Tabitha Beidleman – UberStrategist
    Tara Bunker – Supermassive Games
    Aimee Neale – Plaion

    Excellence in Ex-Dev

    Deborah Kirkham – SIDE
    Jacqueline Clarke – Keywords Studios
    Ashley Liu – Keywords Studios
    Helen Bower – Pitstop
    Lidia Kozlova – INDOMI
    Rikki- Lynn Vitello – Full Circle

    Rising Star

    Csilla Budai – Square Enix
    Mollie Fitzgibbon – Argos
    Meredith Ford – Jagex
    MJ Lewis – Kepler Interactive
    Sarah Curran – Feenix Group
    Deevya Patel – EA Playdemic

    Games Campaigner

    Emma Smith – Hestia Talent
    Amy Elliott – Sumo Digital
    Monique Medina – Akupara Games
    Sarah McCue – Twitch
    Katie Goode – Triangular Pixels

    Creative Impact

    Fawn Mead – Firesprite
    Rianna Dearden – Glowmade
    Siobhan Wainwright – Rekindled
    Laura Grey – Party for Introverts
    Megan Ralph – Kindred Spirit Games
    Lucy Bowling – Expression Games

    Journalism Impact

    Jasmine Mannan – Freelance
    Lucy James – Gamespot
    Vic Hood – Freelance
    Laura Cress – BBC
    Rhiannon Bevan – The Gamer

    Development Impact

    Jenny Kassner – Maverick
    Kevnah Shah – Playground Games
    Anna Guðbjörg Cowden – CCP
    Inês Lagarto – Makeshift Interactive
    Samantha Thompson – Dead Nice Studio
    Linda Stenback – Screen Burn Interactive

    In-House HR and Recruitment

    Katherine Mould – Keywords Studios
    Sarah Brewster – Fresh Seed
    Vikki Neale – nDreams
    Annie Clare – Lighthouse Games
    Fiona Saunders – Dovetail Games
    Emily Scahill – Skillsearch

    Educational Impact

    Lauren Sears – Wushu Studios
    Sally Sheppard – Wyrdren Games
    Jo Muckley – Code Wizards
    Zara Sharmer – University of Worcester
    Mona Bozdog – University of Abertay
    Rose Sharon Tan – Into Games

    Business Impact

    Siri Janssen – Activision
    Steph Pio – Google
    Adele Simpson – Green Man Gaming
    Alison Lacy – Radical Forge
    Clare Hunter-Gregson – Hasbro
    Lucy Boxhall – Creative Assembly

    –

    Event tickets for Women in Games Awards 2025 are on sale now, and you can book them here. For finalists, attendance is completely free. For guests, tickets are available for £26 each. £6 of the proceeds from each ticket will be donated to our chosen charity Future Dreams House to help those affected by breast cancer. 

    The MCV/DEVELOP Awards 2025 is proudly sponsored by XDS, Code Wizards, Green Man Gaming, Quantic Labs, Hestia Talent Partners, Amiqus and Dovetail Games.

    If you would like to speak to our team about which branding and/or sponsorship opportunities are still available for the MCV/DEVELOP Women in Games Awards 2025, you should reach out to Vanessa Joyce.

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  • Wharfedale’s fantastic, five-star Evo 4.4 floorstanding speakers have crashed to their lowest price yet

    Wharfedale’s fantastic, five-star Evo 4.4 floorstanding speakers have crashed to their lowest price yet

    Without question, one of the best floorstanding speakers to pass through our test rooms in the last couple of years comes courtesy of Wharfedale and its Evo 4.4 towers.

    We reviewed them back in 2022 and were impressed enough to award them not only five stars at their original £1199 asking price, but also a 2022 What Hi-Fi? Award as one of the class leaders in the category.

    And now, you can grab a pair in Wharfedale’s walnut finish for just £699 at Peter Tyson. This takes a huge £500-sized chunk out of their original price and beats their previous lowest price by a cool £100.

    Best Wharfedale Evo 4.4 speaker deal

    The new Wharfedale Evo 5 range was announced back in May this year, which is possibly one reason behind a new price drop for this older pair. Needless to say, this is great news for anyone wanting awesome speakers for a knockdown price.

    In our Wharfedale Evo 4.4 review, we loved their “large-scale sound”, which we described as “impressively articulate”.

    These Wharfedales are large, hefty floorstanders (they stand 106cm tall and use twin 15cm bass drivers after all), so you’ll need plenty of space to let them breathe, but when you do, their exciting-yet-subtle sound will provide hours of entertainment.

    Unsurprisingly, the Evo 4.4’s delivery is large-scale and authoritative, with the speakers showcasing impressive high- and low-level dynamic clout.

    Leading and trailing edges to notes are well-defined, while the Wharfedalse also uncover an excellent amount of detail. In our review, we highlighted “the combination of the AMT tweeter and dome midrange delivers much in the way of resolution and transparency”.

    As you’d expect from Wharfedale speakers at this level, the standard of build and finish is extremely high, whether we’re referring to the speaker cabinets, terminals or drive units.

    We’d suggest partnering the Wharfedales with a quality stereo amplifier, of course – something like the Rega Elex-R would be a good starting point – and you’ll have these speakers singing in no time.

    They should be easy to drive, so it’s the quality of amplification that we think is going to make the biggest difference here, not the amount of power on tap.

    At this discounted price of £699 at Peter Tyson, we think they could be just the ticket if you have enough space and crave a large-scale sound with plenty of authority.

    MORE:

    Our pick of the best floorstanding speakers you can buy

    And the best stereo amplifiers for all budgets

    How to choose the right speakers and get the best sound

    Standmounts vs floorstanders: which speaker type should you buy?

    Wharfedale’s Evo 5 speaker series promises “heavenly high-end sound at refreshingly down-to-earth prices”

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  • India markets regulator looks to further ease regulations for foreign investors – Reuters

    1. India markets regulator looks to further ease regulations for foreign investors  Reuters
    2. Sebi comes bearing GIFT, moots steps to boost resident Indian participation in FPIs  The Economic Times
    3. SEBI Proposal: Domestic investors may get access to FPIs in IFSC  Zee Business
    4. India’s SEBI looking to simplify foreign investor regulations to boost capital By Investing.com  Investing.com
    5. SEBI seeks feedback on expanding FPI access for Indian investors  Prop News Time

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  • Chinese Scientists’ Deep-Sea Hydrogen Discovery Could Unlock Clues to Life’s Origins

    Chinese Scientists’ Deep-Sea Hydrogen Discovery Could Unlock Clues to Life’s Origins

    (Yicai) Aug. 12 — Chinese scientists have discovered a massive hydrogen-rich hydrothermal system deep beneath the Pacific Ocean, challenging existing geological models and offering new opportunities to study the origins of life, potential extraterrestrial ecosystems, and natural clean energy sources.

    A team from the Institute of Oceanology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences used the manned submersible Strive to identify the Kunlun hydrothermal field beneath the western Pacific seafloor, according to a recent study published in US journal Science Advances.

    Kunlun’s unexpected location and the scale of its hydrogen emissions could lead to new ideas in studies of biodiversity, planetary exploration, and natural energy resources.

    Located about 80 kilometers west of the Mussau Trench on the Caroline Plate, the tectonically active site spans 11.1 square kilometers and contains 20 large craters, each hundreds of meters wide.

    The researchers found that Kunlun emits an estimated 4.8×10^11 mol of hydrogen annually, accounting for at least 5 percent of global abiotic hydrogen output from all submarine sources. Abiotic hydrogen is molecular hydrogen generated through chemical or geological processes rather than by living organisms.

    “The Kunlun system stands out for its exceptionally high hydrogen flux, scale, and unique geological setting,” said study author Sun Weidong. “It shows that serpentinization-driven hydrogen generation can occur far from mid-ocean ridges, challenging long-held assumptions.”

    Serpentinization is a process in which iron-rich minerals react with water to produce hydrogen gas. Until now, it was most often associated with tectonic plate boundaries where constant mantle rock supply or high heat flow is present.

    The discovery also reveals how life can thrive without sunlight. “What’s particularly intriguing is its ecological potential,” Sun said. “We observed diverse deep-sea life thriving here — shrimp, squat lobsters, anemones, and tubeworms — species that may depend on hydrogen-fueled chemosynthesis.” Hydrogen-fueled chemosynthesis allows organisms to create organic matter using molecular hydrogen instead of sunlight.

    The researchers noted that alkaline, hydrogen-rich fluids at Kunlun may resemble early Earth’s chemical environment, providing a natural laboratory for studying how primitive life might have emerged. The findings could also guide the search for untapped submarine hydrogen resources.

    Editor: Emmi Laine

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  • Folk musician Molly Davies backs out of gig for JD Vance

    Folk musician Molly Davies backs out of gig for JD Vance

    A musician has described walking out of a venue before a gig after finding out it would be attended by US Vice-President JD Vance.

    Oxfordshire-based, alternative post-folk artist Dolly Mavies posted on social media that she and her band “packed up our stuff and left” when they discovered it was to entertain the holidaying vice-president.

    The US politician is spending part of his summer break near the Oxfordshire village of Charlbury in the Cotwolds.

    He has already spent time with Foreign Secretary David Lammy at his grace-and-favour country home Chevening House in Kent.

    Dolly Mavies – whose real name is Molly Davies – is described as “blending folk’s heartfelt storytelling with rock’s driving rhythms”.

    Posting on Instagram, she said she and her band members got a “weird feeling” when they arrived at the venue which she had played previously.

    She said they soon realised Vance would be attending.

    “So not being fans of his, we decided that wasn’t for us and we packed up our stuff and left.

    “Because morals are more important than money.”

    Vance is reported to be staying in a house very close to Diddly Squat – the farm and pub belonging to broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson.

    American residents of the Cotswolds include TV chat show host Ellen DeGeneres, who said she fled to the area specifically to escape President Donald Trump and his acolytes.

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  • Sleep Disruption Tied to Depression in Binge Eating Disorder

    Sleep Disruption Tied to Depression in Binge Eating Disorder

    TOPLINE:

    Sleep disturbances, such as initial insomnia and nocturnal awakenings, were significantly associated with an increased risk for depression in patients with binge eating disorder (BED), but night eating patterns were not, a new study showed.

    METHODOLOGY:

    • Researchers analyzed 153 participants aged 18-62 years (mean age, 36 years) diagnosed with BED and enrolled in the US Binge Eating Treatment and Recovery program between 2020 and 2023.
    • Participants were assessed for major depressive disorder using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, for eating psychopathology using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, and for night eating syndrome using the Night Eating Questionnaire.
    • Investigators assessed the potential association between depression and the eating disturbances of evening hyperphagia (consuming > 25% of daily caloric intake after dinner) and nocturnal ingestion, as well as the sleep disturbances of initial insomnia and nocturnal awakenings.

    TAKEAWAY:

    • Nearly 41% of participants reported experiencing evening hyperphagia. Of the 49% who reported waking up at night at least once weekly, 42% reported no food intake during these episodes.
    • Initial insomnia and nocturnal awakenings both significantly predicted depression (P < .01 and P < .05, respectively), whereas the association between depression and evening hyperphagia became nonsignificant when the analysis was adjusted for sleep disturbances.
    • Nocturnal ingestion was not significantly associated with depression, suggesting that the timing of awakening rather than binge eating behavior may have driven the risk for depression, the investigators noted.
    • Suicidal ideation was significantly negatively correlated with age and significantly positively correlated with initial insomnia.

    IN PRACTICE:

    “Our results suggest we should broaden our focus when working with patients with BED, assessing not only eating but also sleeping patterns, including potential reasons for disrupted sleep, and implementing subsequent sleep-related interventions,” the investigators wrote.

    SOURCE:

    This study was led by Mina Velimirović, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia. It was published online on July 30 in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

    LIMITATIONS:

    This study did not control for binge eating and relied exclusively on self-report measures and single-item measures for sleep disturbances. The sample consisted primarily of White women and individuals seeking treatment at higher levels of care, potentially limiting generalizability. Additionally, the cross-sectional design hindered the determination of the exact nature of the relationship between depression and disrupted eating and sleep patterns.

    DISCLOSURES:

    This study was funded in part by the Institute of International Education. One investigator reported receiving consulting fees from the Training Institute for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders, LLC and royalties from Routledge. The other researchers reported having no relevant financial relationships.

    This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

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  • Long-Acting Contraception Rates Rose 49% With No-Cost Policy

    Long-Acting Contraception Rates Rose 49% With No-Cost Policy

    After British Columbia (BC) made long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) free in April 2023, LARC dispensations, which had been declining steadily, went up by 49%, data indicated. The findings underscored the importance of removing the cost barrier for birth control, according to the authors.

    The data are particularly important because LARC, which includes intrauterine devices (IUD) and subdermal implants, is the most effective type of contraception, study author Laura Schummers, ScD, assistant professor of health outcomes at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, told Medscape Medical News.

    The research was published on July 28 in The BMJ.

    Immediate LARC Increase

    “These methods are at least 10 times as effective as other kinds of contraception,” Schummers said. With LARC, “less than 1% of users become pregnant each year of use.” For comparison, the pill, patch, or ring have failure rates near 6%-9%, she noted. In addition, LARC can last for 3-10 years, and its effectiveness does not depend on the user.

    More than 40% of pregnancies worldwide are unintended, including 48% of pregnancies in North America, according to the researchers. They examined the numbers of monthly dispensations for all contraception prescriptions, including LARC, in the years before and after a universal contraception coverage policy was instituted in BC in April 2023. Under this policy, the public insurer pays 100% of prescription costs.

    The researchers tracked contraception prescriptions that were given to 859,845 reproductive-aged female residents of BC (age, 15-49 years) between April 1, 2021, and June 30, 2024. They compared these prescriptions with those given to a control group derived from the nine other Canadian provinces that did not dispense contraception for free. Without this no-cost intervention, most Canadian insurance plans require copayments, coinsurance, or annual deductibles, and many don’t cover contraception at all.

    In April 2023, when the new policy took effect, “we saw an immediate increase by over 1050 additional dispensations per month,” Schummers said. “By June 2024, there were almost 1300 additional dispensations per month for LARC that amounted to a 49% increase in what we observed vs what was expected, based on the pre-policy trends. That really tells us there was an unmet need for the most effective forms of contraception and that costs were driving contraceptive choices, as well as contraceptive use overall.”

    Upfront costs are likely a barrier to the adoption of LARC, said Schummers. Though prescriptions increased for all forms of contraception, “we found almost all of the increase in use was concentrated in the LARCs,” she said. That difference likely has to do with cost structure. Even though the contraceptive pill is a monthly payment for years, it is a low payment, typically $20-$25. A low payment per month over years may be perceived as easier to pay than the one-time $350-$450 upfront for LARC, said Schummers.

    The findings “confirm that this was a smart policy decision,” according to Schummers. They also may help encourage the policy’s adoption in other provinces.

    Canada is “in a period of evolving discussions about contraception coverage and prescription coverage more generally,” Schummers observed. BC was the first province to make the policy change, and Manitoba, Yukon, and Prince Edward Island have followed suit.

    “But the remaining provinces do not yet have an agreement in place,” Schummers said. “Our study provides timely evidence to support those discussions and to guide decisions to follow what BC has done across all the provinces.”

    Promoting LARC Uptake

    Commenting on the findings for Medscape Medical News, Dustin Costescu, MD, obstetrician/gynecologist and family planning specialist in Hamilton, Ontario, said that despite LARC methods’ many advantages, many barriers limit its uptake. This study demonstrates the magnitude of the financial barrier and the rapid increase in uptake when it is removed, he said.

    “Moving the needle on LARC uptake is not an easy task. With millions of BC residents, increasing LARC uptake by 1.9% means tens of thousands of individuals have accessed an IUD or implant where previously they could not. While not captured in this study, that translates to a reduction of unintended pregnancies, unplanned births, and abortion by a magnitude of thousands.”

    One of the reasons the federal government has prioritized universal access to contraception is that access to birth control has demonstrated cost savings globally, Costescu said.

    “The work of the authors, many of whom are primarily responsible for the work to build universal coverage in BC, cannot be overstated and demonstrates the need and demand for LARC access in Canada,” he said.

    The study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Schummers reported having no relevant financial relationships. Costescu reported relationships with Searchlight, Organon, Bayer, and Duchesnay. 

    Marcia Frellick is an independent healthcare journalist and a regular contributor to Medscape Medical News.

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  • Ten ways to believe in your own taste

    Ten ways to believe in your own taste

    “For over a decade, we at Polyester have grappled with the question of taste in the digital age. In the time since we all discovered online chat rooms, roulette webcam sites and the broad spectrum of what social media can offer us, the parameters of taste have changed dramatically. 

    Taste was previously largely dictated to us by the upper echelons of the media elite, but niche communities, blogging culture and comment sections have proved to be great levellers: now we all get to decide what is classed as good taste and what is counted as bad. 

    The Polyester strapline, ‘Have faith in your own bad taste,’ encapsulates the notion of trusting your own preferences as you navigate pop culture, subculture and the wider world. So for Polyester’s Bad Taste Manifesto, we detail everything needed in forming your own aesthetic view.

    This manifesto serves as a reminder that taste is not explicitly personal, but influenced by all we consume, have consumed and are pushed to consume by capitalism, pop culture and social media. It isn’t meant to dictate—but to encourage curiosity about, and cultivation of, your own interests, not those of the algorithm.”

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  • The World Games Chengdu 2025: Argentina women’s and Germany’s men triumph at Xinglong Lake

    The World Games Chengdu 2025: Argentina women’s and Germany’s men triumph at Xinglong Lake

    After 48 games on the shores of Xinglong Lake in Chengdu, Argentina women and Germany/Portugal men have been crowned The World Games Chengdu 2025 champions.

    The sixth and final day of beach handball action concluded with all 16 teams in competition, starting with the 5/6 and 7/8 placement games in the morning session and medal matches in the afternoon/early evening session.

    Seven years after winning gold at the Youth Olympic Games on home sand in Buenos Aires, Argentina women have their second global beach handball gold.

    They defeated defending champions Germany 2-1 (14:20, 22:12, SO 7:2) after a strong second set saw them 6:0 ahead in under two minutes and it could have been 8:0 had Florencia Gallo not shot over.

    The resulting shoot-out was dominated by the South Americans as they went 4:0 ahead after Isabel Kattner had missed for Germany, this was followed up later by a Lena Klingler shot which was smothered by Alma Molina in the goal which mean that Fiorella Corimberto needed the single point for glory – and she delivered again, the Buenos Aires 2018 gold medallist ensuring a second top spot in her – and Argentina’s – career.

    The bronze medal match saw a clash between the recently-crowned European champions Spain and ANOC World Beach Games champions Denmark with Spain easing to a 2-0 (20:16, 18:10) win, Mariam Gonzalez Llambrich scoring 15 points. 

    Spain, playing with a squad of just nine after defensive specialist Violeta Gonzalez Poudereux picked up an injury on the eve of the event, have now won four events this year, with two IHF Beach Handball Global Tour stage victories to their name in addition to the European title own in July.

    In the placement matches, Sofia Goncalves’ 13 points helped debutants Portugal to a top-five spot after they defeated China 2-0 (15:12, 22:16) in the 5/6 match, while fellow first-timers Vietnam lost to Croatia 2-1 (14:20, 24:19, SO 9:6) in the 7/8 placement match, Lara Miholic and Lu Ngoc Trinh, Croatia’s and Vietnam’s top-scoring on 14 points each. In the shoot-out, Thi Thanh Huyen Dam missed the Asian champions’ second shot, leaving Lucia Lesac to sink home the single point to win.

    A few weeks after Germany won the European title, they won The World Games title with a 2-1 (18:21, 19:18, SO 8:6) win over debutant Portugal. The Portuguese, who only started their beach handball programme in 2019, add to their bronze gained at the world championship last year and are quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with.

    After Portugal had won the first set, they were locked at 18:18 in the second, but a final second single-pointer from Germany captain Robin John put it to shots.

    In what would be an encounter between two of the world’s best – and Chengdu 2025’s finest – goalkeepers, Germany’s Moritz Ebert was celebrating at the end, despite Germany missing their first shot. Ebert pulled out an easy save later on to even up the scores, but as the shoot-out entered its fifth round, Lars Zelser evened it up for Germany at 6:6. 

    And so the stage was set for Ebert – later named All-star Team goalkeeper – to prove his worth, which he did with aplomb, going down to his right to block the shot from Francisco Santos, the Portuguese player slumping to his knees while the entire German delegation jumped into the net in celebration, Ebert somewhere near the bottom of the heap.

    Spain took the first set in the bronze medal match a golden goal score through Manuel Ramirez Dominguez, but the second set was clearer in Brazil’s favour, the South Americans taking the game to a shoot-out with a 17:12 win. In the shoot-out Gustavo Morais was first to miss, with Brazil’s third attempt, but Spain repeated the feat, Gonzalo Cervera seeing his shot saved by defender Hugo Fernandes.

    Rai Goncalves, a debutant with the Brazilian squad after being promoted to the seniors by coach Antonio Guerra Peixe then stepped up to put his side back on track, with an emphatic fourth shot to make it 6:4 to his side after the fourth round of shots, but it was quickly equalised by Manuel Ramirez. It was pure drama for Brazil’s fifth – as usual, taken by Bruno Oliviera. 

    The attacker was fouled by Victor Calleja in the Spanish goal and after a delay, Renan Carvalho sunk home the six-metre (8:6). It was then down to Pablo Martin Ruiz to sink home, but again, defensive specialist Fernandes stood strong, blocking the host as Ruiz fell to the floor in realisation that the medal had slipped through his fingers.

    The 2024 IHF Men’s Beach Handball World Championship final rematch between Croatia and Denmark for fifth place at Chengdu 2025 saw a monster game for Denmark’s Martin Andersen, who scored 32 points. Unfortunately for the legendary Danish player he missed his shot in the shoot-out as Croatia ran out 2-1 (12:28, 24:22, SO 10:8) winners.

    Host nation China finally won their first set of Chengdu 2025 in a dramatic 7-8 placement clash with Tunisia, which went to a shoot-out. The home side won the first set 21:20, but were then easily dispatched in the second (18:8). With Tunisia ahead after their fourth shot (8:6), Ma Huifeng missed China’s fourth. It was down to Yahi Mahlouf to score the winner with a single pointer, but his shot was saved by Ren Jianhao. Mao Raoxiang then had a chance to take it to a second round of shots but his shot was saved by Wassim Zariat.

    The World Games Chengdu 2025 – Beach Handball: Day 6 results

    Monday 11 August

    Women’s Competition

    Gold Medal Match/Final
    Argentina vs Germany 2-1 (14:20, 22:12, SO 7:2)

    Bronze Medal Match
    Spain vs Denmark 2-0 (20:16, 18:10)

    5-6 Placement Match
    Portugal vs China 2-0 (15:12, 22:16)

    7-8 Placement Match 
    Vietnam vs Croatia 1-2 (20:14, 19:24, SO 6:9)

    Men’s Competition

    Gold Medal Match/Final
    Portugal vs Germany 1-2 (21:18, 18:19, SO 6:8)

    Bronze Medal Match
    Spain vs Brazil 1-2 (23:22, 12:17, SO 6:8)

    5-6 Placement Match
    Croatia vs Denmark 2-1 (12:28, 24:22, SO 10:8)

    7-8 Placement Match
    Tunisia vs China 2-1 (20:21, 18:8, SO 8:6)

    Final Ranking

    Women’s competition
    1 Argentina
    2 Germany
    3 Spain
    4 Denmark
    5 Portugal
    6 People’s Republic of China
    7 Croatia
    8 Vietnam

    Men’s competition
    1 Germany
    2 Portugal
    3 Brazil
    4 Spain
    5 Croatia
    6 Denmark
    7 Tunisia
    8 People’s Republic of China

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