Together with Spain’s Jorge Campillo, the Finn began his final round at the Genzon Golf Club three shots back of Hebert in a share of second place with the Spaniard.

The trio were tussling for the lead for much of the day and were all tied at 19-under-par when they approached the 17th tee.

Korhonen gained an advantage with his birdie after Campillo and Hebert both made par there.

Hebert, who started the day with a three-shot lead over his two playing partners, however forced the contest into extra-time when he converted his birdie chance on 18 for a final round three-under-par 69.

Campillo bowed out after signing for a 67, leaving Hebert and Korhonen to head back to the 18th tee after they both finished regulation play with their four-day total of 20-under-par 268.

The Finn would then make no mistake with his birdie putt from 10 feet to win the Volvo China Open.

Li Haotong had a birdie-birdie finish to thank for lifting him to outright fourth place and also emerging as the best Chinese player at their National Open.

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena were among the 10 players tied for 19th place after they both signed off with matching 70s.

Did you know?

• Prior to his Volvo China Open victory, Mikko Korhonen made his breakthrough on the European Tour with his win at the inaugural Shot Clock Masters in his 146th attempt last year.
• With his win, Korhonen is the first player from Finland to win the Volvo China Open.
• Korhonen began playing the game aged 10 after his father had started a year earlier.
• Benjamin Hebert has six wins on the European Challenge Tour and was leading for the first time in his career after he established a 54-hole lead on Saturday.
• Like his near miss at the Volvo China Open, Hebert also missed out on his breakthrough on the European Tour when he lost in the final of the Belgian Knockout last year.
• Jorge Campillo made his breakthrough on the European Tour with his win in Morocco last week and has four top three finishes from his last five starts prior to this week’s Volvo China Open.

Players’ Quotes

Mikko Korhonen

It’s an amazing feeling. I don’t know how I did it. But it’s probably the putter that was my winning formula this week. I made lots of putts from outside 15-20 feet this week. I made a birdie on 17 and gave myself a chance to win it on 18 but I didn’t manage to do that. But I was happy to get into the play-off. It was my first time in a play-off and I had nothing to lose. I just had to make birdie. Winning a golf tournament is never easy. It was a battle all day as everyone was making putts and I had to stay patient and do the same.  It’s great to have this second win in the bag and I’m delighted.

Lee, who shared the overnight four-shot lead with Finland’s Janne Kaske, was locked in a tight battle with the Finnish throughout the day as they closed with matching even-par 71s to tie on nine-under-par 275 after the end of regulation play at the Namseoul Country Club.

It was a birdie from six feet on the 75th hole that sealed the deal for Lee as Kaske was left to rue a bad break on the 18th fairway after his drive found a divot and his second shot would end up 20 yards short of the green. Kaske eventually three-putted for a double-bogey.

Lee took home a winner’s prize purse of US$266,798, thanks to his victory in the KR₩1,200,000,000 (approx. US$1,067,000) event, which is celebrating its 38th edition this week. It is his first Maekyung Open title and also his third professional victory on home soil.

The duo had made respective double-bogeys and bogeys on the first two holes of the play-off, held on the 433-yard par-four 18th hole, before officials made a rare decision to change to a relatively easier pin position on the green.

Lee got off to a quick start with two birdies in his opening four holes while Kaske reeled in four straight pars. Kaske sank his first birdie of the day on fifth to move within one before turning the table around on the seventh after holing an amazing second shot from 120 yards out for an eagle-two.

It was a three-shot swing for Kaske as he took over the two-shot lead from Lee, who dropped a shot on the same hole. Kaske would go on to drop a shot on the ninth but recovered well with a birdie on 12 after knocking his second shot from the right rough to about two-feet.

However, another bogey on the 14th saw him slip back into a share of lead again with Lee, who chipped in for birdie on the par-five hole. The duo went neck and neck coming down the stretch, both dropping shots on 16 and 17.

An errant drive from Kaske on the 72nd hole saw his second shot from the fairway bunker land just short of the green. He attempted a long putt for birdie from the fringe but the ball rolled about 30 feet past the hole. However, Kaske held his nerves and made that clutch putt to ensure his place in the sudden play-off.

Korea’s Daehyun Kim returned with the day’s best score of a 65 to take third place on 276 while last year’s winner Sanghyun Park settled three shots back in fourth following a second consecutive 69 at the storied event.

Thai star Prom Meesawat battled to a 68 to take seventh place on 280 while compatriot Phachara Khongwatmai improved his tied-12th finish last year by signing for a 73 to settle a further shot back in joint-eighth at the event, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Korea Golf Association.

Seeded number four in the Spanish capital, Federer is making his first appearance at the Caja Magica since 2015. The 37-year-old Swiss opted out of the clay swing the last two seasons but announced in January that he was ready to make a return to the surface this year.

He has a bye in the first round and will open his campaign on Tuesday night against either Richard Gasquet or Spanish teenage wildcard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

“It’s been good. It’s been fun. I was lucky, we had good weather when I started. So that helped because I remember three or four years ago, when I was practicing it was snowing, like this weekend in Switzerland, and that didn’t inspire me very much to go practice on clay, or go into an indoor bubble and stuff, so this year was easy. I enjoyed myself a lot,” said Federer, whose preparation period included a four-day training block at home with British world number 85 Dan Evans.

“I’m happy I’m here and I’m happy I’m on the surface.”

Seeking a fourth career title in Madrid, Federer was drawn in the same half of the draw as top-seeded Novak Djokovic and shares a quarter with in-form number five seed Dominic Thiem.

While some rustiness on the surface can be expected, Federer admits it wasn’t too much of an uphill battle when it came to readjusting to the clay these past few weeks.

“Not too much, funnily enough. Look, it takes some time getting used to how to construct the points maybe a little bit more. Because there is more baseline, there is a possibility to play with more angles and height, I guess, off a hard ball you can roll it and spin it and go loopy, whereas on a faster court you almost have to hit against it. It is hard to take pace off the ball,” explained Federer.

“So, from that standpoint, it’s been interesting and fun. But not so challenging, to be honest. But then again, matches might be a completely different story.

“I have not high expectations in some ways, but at the same time I also know that things are possible. I mean Madrid always plays fast with the altitude here, so intrigued to find out myself. But it’s been good so far.”

Representing Singha Plan-B by Absolute, Bhurit, driving Audi R8 LMS GT3 No 59, timed 33:17.843 minutes for his first win in the 2019 season. The Thai racer made a rebound from the second finish in the Friday’s third race.

2018 overall champion Andrew Haryanto of Absolute Racing from Indonesia came at second with 33:18.519 mins. This was his first podium finish in 2019.5.

Filipino driver Vincent Floirendo of Ensports Motors closed out the top three with 33:21.247 mins.

The third circuit (race 5-6) is due at the Zhanghai Audi International Circuit between June 1-2.

The Reds now lead second-placed reigning champions Manchester City by two points.

City still have two games to play, but Liverpool’s win at St James’ Park means the title race will go all the way to the final day of the league season on May 12.

The remaining Premier League fixtures for both teams:

Liverpool

May 12: Wolves (home)

Manchester City

May 06: Leicester (home)

May 12: Brighton (away)

At the other end of the table, Cardiff were relegated after their 3-2 defeat against Crystal Palace.

Liverpool’s thrilling title battle with Manchester City is now guaranteed to go down to the final day of the season as Jurgen Klopp’s men moved two points ahead once more at the top.

City have a game in hand, at home to Leicester on Monday, but Liverpool refuse to give up in their pursuit of a first title for 29 years.

“If we are champions then we are champions, you can’t feel pressure when you do your best,” said Klopp.

“94 points is incredible. Today was a battle of will but it was a victory of passion, heart and absolute desire — absolutely brilliant.”

Virgil van Dijk headed the visitors into an early lead at St. James’ Park, but Liverpool were fortunate when Newcastle levelled through Christian Atsu.

Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold had handled Salomon Rondon’s effort on the goal line and could have conceded a penalty and been sent-off after just 20 minutes had Atsu not put home the rebound.

Alexander-Arnold was the creator as Klopp’s men quickly retook the lead through Salah.

However, Rondon levelled once more for Newcastle early in the second half.

Salah then had to be stretchered off with a head injury after clashing with Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, which will make him a doubt for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final, second leg against Barcelona.

Yet, despite also missing Roberto Firmino through injury, Liverpool found a response four minutes from time when Origi flicked home Xherdan Shaqiri’s free-kick.

“You feel the emotion. It’s a very special season for everyone,” said Origi. “But as a player you have to channel that feeling into the performance and in the end it worked out.”

– Spurs slip up again –

Tottenham also have a 1-0 Champions League semi-final deficit to overturn against Ajax on Wednesday, but still have work to do to qualify for the competition next season after a sixth straight away league defeat.

Son Heung-min and Juan Foyth were sent-off either side of half-time.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side looked like they would hold on for a point as the match entered stoppage-time, but Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake ended third-placed Tottenham’s stubborn resistance to delay their attempt to guarantee a place in the top four.

Fourth-placed Chelsea will now go above Spurs if they defeat Watford and Arsenal, currently fifth, will move to within one point of their north London rivals if they beat Brighton on Sunday.

“We need to move on. We have ahead two finals,” said Pochettino.

“It is in our hands. If it does not happen we will be proud because nobody expected Tottenham to be in the position they are today.”

Cardiff needed a win to have a realistic chance of beating the drop on the last day of the season, but they were out-classed by Palace in south Wales.

Wilfried Zaha put Palace ahead in the 28th minute before Martin Kelly’s own goal three minutes later gave Cardiff hope.

Michy Batshuayi restored Palace’s lead in the 40th minute and Andros Townsend made it three after 70 minutes, with Bobby Reid’s 90th minute goal little consolation for Cardiff.

“They’ve tried hard. We’ve shown limitations today and that’s why we are where we are,” said Cardiff boss Neil Warnock.

In their first season back in the top-flight, Wolves moved a step closer to sealing an impressive seventh place finish as Leander Dendoncker clinched a 1-0 win over relegated Fulham.

If Manchester City win the FA Cup final against Watford later on May 18, the team which finishes seventh will go into the Europa League qualifying rounds next season.

Marko Arnautovic ended his 11-game goal drought with a brace in West Ham’s 3-0 win against Southampton at the London Stadium.

Salah was stretchered off 20 minutes from time making him a doubt for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final, second leg against Barcelona, while Klopp confirmed Roberto Firmino will definitely miss the visit of the Spanish champions to Anfield.

“We’ll have to see. He (Salah) took a blow to the head. He watched the game in the locker room, he was OK, but we have to do more tests,” Klopp told Sky Sports.

Overturning a 3-0 first leg deficit against Barca now looks an even more monumental task, although Liverpool stay in the hunt for the Premier League title.

However, rivals Manchester City have two games remaining to Liverpool’s one.

In a recurring theme of a thrilling title race, Liverpool dug deep late on to continue asking questions of the champions by moving two points ahead of City once more.

“I accepted long ago we do everything (we can),” said Klopp, whose side have lost only once in the league this season.

“Whether we will be champions or not is destiny because we cannot do more.

“Even in the draws we tried everything to win the games. The boys showed in each second they really want to win it.”

Faced with a difficult balancing act to strike, Klopp made four changes to the side beaten by Barcelona in midweek.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was one of those recalled and the England right-back was to have an eventful evening at both ends.

Alexander-Arnold’s corner found Van Dijk completely unmarked to open the scoring as Rondon slipped and the PFA’s Player of the Year powered home his fifth goal of the season.

Newcastle had barely ventured over the halfway line in the first 20 minutes, but levelled with their first serious attack.

Matt Ritchie’s driven cross was turned goalwards by Rondon, whose shot was saved on the line by the arm of Alexander-Arnold.

A penalty and a red card would likely have followed for the Liverpool defender had Atsu not put home the rebound.

All of a sudden Newcastle looked the more dangerous side as Ayoze Perez turned Van Dijk before smashing off the crossbar.

However, an enthralling first 28 minutes took another twist when Alexander-Arnold made the most of his reprieve to still be on the field with his second assist of the night.

His cross found Salah inside the area, but the Egyptian still had plenty to do as he cushioned a finish into the far corner on his weaker right foot to move two in front of teammate Sadio Mane and Sergio Aguero in the race for the Golden Boot.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez could have been taking charge of the Magpies for the last time at home as the Spaniard’s contract runs out at the end of the season.

But his side did not go down without a fight as Rondon’s sweet strike levelled once more early in the second half.

“We will have conversations in the next couple of weeks. It is so simple, you can see the potential,” said Benitez, whose four seasons at the club have been marred by a frosty relationship with owner Mike Ashley.

“I am really proud and pleased because we stayed up but I would like to do something more.”

Salah was caught on the head by Martin Dubravka as Newcastle’s Slovakian goalkeeper raced from his goal to punch the ball to safety.

He was stretchered off, his hands over his face to applause from both sets of supporters.

“He got the hip of the goalie on his head,” added Klopp. “When we came in he was sitting in the dressing room and watched the game. He was then fine but we have to wait.”

Without two thirds of their prolific frontline, Liverpool would have been forgiven for thinking their chase of City was up.

But, not for the first time this season, Origi, who scored a 96th minute winner against Everton in the Merseyside derby in December, came off the bench to score a vital late goal as he got his head to Xherdan Shaqiri’s free-kick.

The four-time champion will now face Judd Trump in a repeat of the 2011 final — a match Higgins won 18-15.

But the Scot insisted English cueman Trump, who beat qualifier Gary Wilson 17-11 in the other semi-final, was a much improved player since his only previous appearance in a World Championship final at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.

“Judd is an unbelievable all-round player now, while when I played him in 2011 he was just crash, bang, wallop and normally they were going in,” said Higgins of the then 21-year-old Trump.

“I’ll be playing a different Judd Trump. The way he dismantled (Ronnie) O’Sullivan in the Masters has given him the confidence to come here as one of the favourites.”

Higgins, 10-6 behind at one stage in this semi-final, made it 16-16 with a total clearance break of 139. And the 43-year-old then seized his chance when Gilbert missed a black in the deciding frame to complete victory with a break of 55.

– ‘Lowest ebb’ –

This win was in marked contrast to Higgins’ second-round defeat at the UK Championships late last year that left him contemplating retirement.

“I was at a low ebb around Christmas — probably the lowest ebb I’ve ever been in playing the game,” Higgins said after his tense win.

Gilbert extended his lead with a break of 105 in Saturday’s opening frame.

But Higgins then won four in a row to lead for the first time since the fifth frame at 15-14.

Gilbert, admirably, levelled at 15-15 with a break of 78 before moving to within a frame of victory following a safety exchange.

The knowledge he’d twice blown a five-frame lead seemed to overwhelm the unheralded Englishman at his post-match press conference, with Gilbert breaking down in tears.

“I’m absolutely gutted to lose,” he said. “I could have got to a world final but I’ve got nothing to feel sad about.

“I came here with no expectations and to end up on the one table against a legend like John, it was an honour.”

Trump, 9-7 ahead overnight, moved into a 14-10 lead during Saturday’s morning session.

He wasted little time in the evening, with breaks of 97 and 88 ending the surprise run of former taxi driver Wilson.

But, if fans want to truly support their heroes, there are ample reasons why they should stick with genuine products and official streams.

Speaking at World Intellectual Property (IP) Day 2019 in Bangkok, the La Liga Delegate for Thailand, Jose Maria Gotor, spelled out why buying genuine products benefits not only the teams ­­but the fans themselves.

Gotor noted that the revenue from TV companies and official merchandise suppliers is critical to pay for clubs’ recruitment programmes, training facilities, support staff and other services that keep them competitive.

Philipp Dupuis, Head of Economics and Trade Section, EU Delegation to Thailand said IP (intellectual property) rights were crucial for the sports sector, which has to rely on the protection of its IP assets – these are linked to the name, and sports associations, TV rights, merchandise and the internet.

Why do the clubs need IP protection? It’s an economic asset. It’s a name they build. They need the revenue from sales of merchandise to finance recruitment, training facilities, sports staff and new initiatives.

Without these assets and the revenue that comes with them, without fans buying the legal merchandise and without fans watching games via legal streaming channels, the fans are harming, not serving, their club. If they support their club, buying licensed merchandise and watching licensed TV, they contribute, and basically the show, the game goes on. This is at the heart of what we’re looking at.

Moreover, the TV rights for top-level sports are typically licensed to broadcasters who then offer the highest-quality streams to fans worldwide.

Everyone loses when fans opt to dodge legal streams, Gotor added.

“When La Liga fans watch pirated matches online, they are essentially endangering the Spanish football teams that they love,” he said.

“There are plenty of legitimate ways to catch a live La Liga match in Southeast Asia, especially on the BeIN Sports app or through your local cable TV provider.”

La Liga is the premier division for men’s football in Spain and its highest-profile teams such as Real Madrid and Barcelona FC have massive fan bases in Asia

The 32-year-old Kaske surged into the outright lead after firing four birdies to turn in 32. He dropped a shot on the 11th hole but made it up with a birdie on 16th where he hit an incredible bunker shot to about 20 feet before nailing the putt.

However, Kaske would relinquish his sole possession of the lead after dropping another shot on the par-three 17th. He now shares it with Lee with their three-day total of nine-under-par 204s at the fabled Namseoul Country Club.

Young Thai talent Phachara Khongwatmai battled to a 70 to move into third place with Hyungjoon Lee of Korea, who returned with a second straight 69, at the KR₩1,200,000,000 (approx. US$1,067,000) event, which is celebrating its 38th edition this week.

Korea’s Sanghyun Park, highest-ranked player in the field, kept his hopes of a successful title defence alive as he battled to a 69 to lurk five shots back in fifth place alongside countrymen Junwon Park and Innchoon Hwang. Park is also chasing for an unprecedented treble in the storied event.

Kaske, who won twice on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in 2015, is standing on the verge of his maiden title on the region’s premier Tour. He secured his Asian Tour card thanks to a stellar  season on the ADT in 2018.

Lee, a two-time winner on the local circuit, marked his card with four birdies and a bogey to stay in control at the event, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Korea Golf Association. The 34-year-old had held a share of the lead since the opening round.

After stumbling with a double-bogey on the fifth, Phachara recovered with a birdie on the ninth to turn in 37. He would return home with two birdies in his closing four holes to give himself a chance at improving on his tied-12 finish last year.

Finland’s Mikko Korhonen and Spain’s Jorge Campillio took advantage of China’s Wu Ashun’s slip-up by posting rounds of 65 and 68 respectively to share second place with their three-day total of 14-under-par 202 at the Genzon Golf Club.

Wu was left to rue four costly bogeys which saw him lose his grip on his overnight lead as he slipped to fourth place, four shots back of Hebert with a 72.

Wu had produced a flawless front-nine to open up a three shot lead then but dropped four consecutive shots starting from the 12th hole to relinquish his place atop the leaderboard.

Hebert started the day four shots behind Wu and was five back just after the turn but he stormed ahead by firing six birdies and an eagle on his back-nine to take over the lead.

Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena and Thailand’s Tirawat Kaewsiribandit meanwhile returned with matching 65s to give themselves an outside chance of winning in Shenzhen as they are eight shots back of Hebert, in a share of 14th place together with seven other players.