1.   The mythology of the Tournament says the eventual champion will have to win at least one close game.

2.   Budding gymnastics champions will have somewhere new to practise their talents from in Aylesbury.

3.   However his determination paid off with a third overall.

4.   Although Lennox Lewis is fighting Ray Mercer Friday night at Madison Square Garden, the former World Boxing Council heavyweight champion has someone else on his mind.

5.   America likes its national champions to have some flash.

6.   And there, too, it would be hard for the defending champions to have their game in top form to start the following season.

7.   And the champion had two knockdowns, the second of which ended the fight.

8.   And the defending Western Conference champions have yet to play their best basketball.

9.   At least chess champion Deep Blue had to make decisions on its own.