Well, sports fans, it’s that time of year again! The NFL season is upon us and the world’s greatest sporting events are being played. It’s time for some serious betting again!
Along with the other great American pastime, baseball, football and basketball are now being played in the winter months. This means that gamblers from across the country will be traveling to Vegas to follow the action and place some bets on their favorite teams and players.
While most sportsbooks have opened their betting windows for the season, many have already taken some damage from the intense pre-season action. This is why it’s important to be aware of the latest betting news before putting any serious money on the line. Here are some of the big stories from the past week or so that you should know about before placing any wagers:
Tiger Woods Finally Scores His First Major Title
One of the greatest golfers of all time, Tiger Woods, finally managed to close out the last bit of business he had pending this season at the 2018 Masters in Augusta, Georgia. Woods, who won his third Masters title, four weeks ago in Atlanta, closed out the final round with a birdie on the 72nd hole to tie the prestigious event at 284-284. It was a great effort by the Golden Bear, as he had to fight his way back from an early four-shot deficit to get into a playoff with American teammate Brooks Koepka. Tiger Woods has now won four professional Major titles, the most recent coming in Augusta. It has been a long time coming for the sports hero, as he had to drop out of the PGA Tour briefly after the 2009 season after he had a knee surgery. It was later revealed that Woods had been battling spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column that causes pressure on the nerve roots. Tiger Woods is now 42 years old and has announced that he will be playing in the 2019 Masters, scheduled for April 13th to 16th. The expectations for the Golden Bear are high, as he has notched four straight Masters appearances and has never lost a major championship match. At this point in his career, Woods can be considered among the favorites to win the next two Masters titles. After missing the cut at the 2018 PGA Championship, it will be interesting to see if Woods can rebound and redeem himself by winning his fifth green jacket.
Fernando Alonso Won His First Grand Prix
Fernando Alonso has enjoyed a spectacular season so far, winning two Major titles (no surprise, as he is typically one of the best drivers in the world) and the last two Grands Prix in Mexico and Canada. It’s been a while since Alonso made a significant impact in the sport, as he last won a title in 2010. Although he was sidelined for several months due to a bad back, Alonso is now healthy and is looking to make up for lost time. The Spaniard has had a fantastic season and is definitely a favorite to win the 2019 championship.
Roger Federer Falls Short In The Finals
Another great season is over for tennis great Roger Federer, who finally succumbed to his longtime rival, Rafael Nadal, in the finals of the 2018 French Open. The eight-time champion had a golden opportunity to end his quest for a record-breaking 10th title, as he led the Swiss team, Roger Federer Jr. and Stan Wawrinka, in the final against the world’s number one tennis player, Nadal. Despite having a 4-2 lead in sets, Federer failed to convert a fifth set point in the final to secure the win. It was quite the opposite for the defending champion, as he let slip a 5-2 lead in the final to lose the tennis title to Nadal. It was a sad day for the Swiss fans, who had been hoping for quite the opposite, as they had watched their countryman win a record-breaking third French Open title. Federer’s season was full of ups and downs, as he had a hand in injuries to several of his peers, which prevented them from competing at their best. He also had to fight back from two sets down to eventually win the 2018 Australian Open.
David Ferrer Falls Short In The Final
Another upset, as David Ferrer’s 19th-century story continues, as the Spaniard failed in his bid to become the number one tennis player in the world for the first time in his career. Despite winning the 2018 Australian Open, his fourth Australian title, Ferrer could not prevent Marin Cilic from dethroning him as the top dog on the tennis planet. It was a tough pill to swallow for Ferrer, who has been at the top of his game, competing at his best, for years and now finds himself in the drop-off zone. Cilic, meanwhile, solidified his position as the number one player in the world with a 6-3, 6-3 victory in the final. Ferrer’s season was nothing short of spectacular, as he won his fourth Australian Open in an undefeated run and he also reached the last four of the 2018 U.S. Open and 2018 Wimbledon, making the latter two finals. After such a stellar season, it’s fair to say that Ferrer will have plenty to say about the new number one player in the world, as he considers himself to be the rightful heir to that throne. The 39-year-old has been competing at the top level since he was 17 years old and now finds himself on the outside looking in, at least for now.
Mikhail Tal Still Gets One Last Hurrah
Mikhail Tal, one of the greatest checkers players of all time, still puts in the hours to practice his craft. As he nears his 92nd birthday, Tal continues to play in local tournaments, mostly in St. Petersburg, where he lives. He’s not going to stop playing just because he’s getting old, as he had a good enough run in the latter part of his career to know that he can still compete at a high level. Despite his advancing years, Tal had a good enough run to secure third place at the Russian Champions’ Championships, behind only two-time defending champion, Sergey Karjakin and current world champion, Vladimir Kramnik. It was his final hurrah before he officially calls it a day, as he had already announced his retirement from chess in 2016. It was an emotional farewell for the devoted chess fan, as he had devoted a large part of his life to the game. He had worked hard to achieve his dream of becoming World Champion, something he had been striving for since he was a teenager.
Fenris And The Future Of Dutch Gaming
Last but not least, let’s not forget about the 2019 Dutch Gaming Championships, which might be the last chance fans have at witnessing Fenris in action. The canine prodigy managed to navigate his way to the final of the prestigious event, where he will square off against Kasper Drukier in a best-of-five match that will determine who will become the king (or queen) of Dutch gaming. We’re sure many of you will be rooting for the energetic pup, as he has been one of the biggest storylines of this year’s event. Despite being just a pup, Fenris is a force to be reckoned with, as he is widely considered to be the best in the world at what he does. The 10th-generation chewer has been on a tear this year, shredding through his competition and making fans world-wide eagerly await his next tournament appearance. The Dutch gaming scene might be over for now, as it was severely damaged by the coronavirus pandemic. Many Dutch gamers have found themselves out of work and unable to travel abroad for tournaments. It was a massive blow to the country’s gaming community, as it halted what had been a busy spring and summer of competitive gaming. With the world shifting to a digital sphere, where gaming is taking place online, it might be the last time we’ll see Fenris in a live setting, competing against humans for the title of best in the world.