CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Patrick Redford

BERGARA, SPAIN - APRIL 11: Paul Seixas of France and Team Decathlon CMA CGM celebrates at podium as Yellow Leader Jersey and overall final race winner with the "Txapela" hat trophy during the 65th Itzulia Basque Country 2026, Stage 6 a 135.2km stage from Goizper-Antzuola to Bergara / #UCIWT / on April 11, 2026 in Bergara, Spain. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Cycling

Paul’s Here

Sindarov Javokhir of Uzbekistan competes against Matlakov Maxim of Russia during the Rapid Open sixth round of the FIDE World Rapid &amp; Blitz Championship at the Sports and Events Complex, Qatar University, in Doha, Qatar, on December 27, 2025. (Photo by Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Chess

An Uzbek Chess Prodigy Is Laying Waste To The World’s Best Players

Belgium Remco Evenepoel, Slovenia Tadej Pogacar and France Paul Seixas pictured on the podium after the Men Elite raod race, a 202,5 km from Privas to Guilherand-Granges, at the UEC road European cycling championships, Sunday 05 October 2025, France. The European cycling championships Drome-Ardeche takes place from 1 to 5 October, France. BELGA PHOTO DAVID PINTENS (Photo by DAVID PINTENS / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)

Cycling Prodigy Paul Seixas Accepts The Sport’s Defining Burden

<p>Owen Lewis is a former Defector intern and has written for The Guardian, The Second Serve, The Athletic, and other publications.</p>


Owen Lewis

Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada celebrates his win over Francisco Comesana of Argentina during day two of the Rolex Paris Masters 2025 on October 28, 2025 in Nanterre, France.

Tennis

Felix Auger-Aliassime Is Once Again Threatening To Turn The Corner

prodigies