Murray Beats Down Federer 6-3 6-2 To Win Shanghai Masters

World #4 Andy Murray beat down new World #2 Roger Federer 6-3 6-2 in the finals of the Shanghai Masters on Sunday, bringing his career edge over the 16-time major champion to 8 wins, 5 losses, including 2 wins, 1 loss in finals in 2010. It is Murray's 6th career Masters series title; Federer has 17 and World #1 Rafael Nadal has the most ever with 18.

The win was the Scot's second title of the year and in his second consecutive win over Federer this year after losing to him in the 2010 Australian Open final earlier this year. Federer regained his World # 2 ranking behind Nadal by dispatching Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, who had won last week's tour event in Beijing. Murray's win may signal a return to firm for the indoor hardcourt season which culminates in the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London November 21-28.

Nadal Loses Shanghai Masters Final To Davydenko

World #2 Rafael Nadal of Spain lost the final of the Shanghai Masters 7-6(3) 6-3 to Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, someone World #1 Roger Federer has never lost to.

18-year-old Becomes 5th Chess Player Over 2800 Rating

Teen chess sensation Magnus Carlsen of Norway blew away the field in Nanjing, China by winning 6 games and drawing the rest for an amazing 8 points out of 10, a full 2 1/2 points ahead of the top-ranked player in the world, Veselin Topalov. Most tournaments at this level are won by a 1/2 point or 1 point.

Carlsen's victory gives him an insane performance rating of 3002 and an actual rating of 2801, which is only the fifth time in history anyone will have had a published rating above 2800. At 18, Carlsen is far younger than Garry Kasparov, Viswanathan Anand, Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik who have achieved this feat (and all of these players have been World Champion, with Anand currently scheduled to defend his title against Topalov in a match scheduled for next year).

Already most chess columnists are speculating on when, not if, Carlsen will become the first Western chess champion since Bobby Fischer. Interestingly, Kasparov, who retired in March 2005 from chess to focus on politics in Russia has recently been coaching Carlsen and the Norwegian's results have been spectacular ever since.

Serena Williams Regains World #1 Ranking

Serena Williams will regain the World #1 ranking on Monday, after winning more matches at the China Open in Beijing did erstwhile #1 Dinara Safina. The Russian suffered the worst loss of a top-ranked player in the history of the WTA rankings when she lost to the #227-ranked player in the world on Monday.

Serena Poised To Regain World #1 Ranking

Current World #1 Dinara Safina lost to the 227-ranked player Zhang Shuai at the China Open in Beijing today, and may lose her hold on the top ranking as a result. World #2 and 11-time major champion Serena Williams just needs to win her next match, against Ekaterina Makarova, to reclaim the World #1 ranking.

Venus Williams was also upset in Beijing, losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and reducing her chances of qualifying for the WTA Tour Championships in Doha that she won last year. So far, Safina, Serena, Elena Dementieva, Caroline Wozniacki and Svetlana Kuznetsova have qualified for the prestigious and lucrative year-end championships.

Nepal's Highest Court Issues Landmark Ruling Declaring LGBT Equality

The nation of Nepal will probably be enacting full equality for LGBT citizens before the United States. That nation's highest court just issued a ruling similar to California's In Re Marriage Cases which declares that laws that discriminate based on sexual orientation (and gender identity) violate the constitution.

It reiterates that all LGBTIs are defined as a "natural person" and their physical growth as well as sexual orientation, gender identity, expression are all part of natural growing process. Thus equal rights, identity and expression must be ensured regardless of their sex at birth.

The writ petition was filed by Blue Diamond Society and other 3 LGBTI organisations in Nepal demanding the protection and defence of the equal rights of sexual and gender minorities.

"Reading this decision my eyes were filled with tears and I felt we are the most proud LGBTI citizens of Nepal in the world," said Sunit Pant, Nepal's only gay MP.

"A legal note of point has been raised for the new constitution of Nepal while ensuring the equal rights to individuals, like the bill of tights from South Africa, and non-discrimination provisions on the grounds of sexual orientations and gender identities must be introduced."

The Court has also issued a directive order to form a seven-member committee, with a doctor appointed by Health Ministry, one representative from National Human rights commission, the Law Ministry, one socialist appointed by government of Nepal, a representative from the Nepal police, a representative from Ministry of Population and Environment and one advocate as a representative from the LGBTI community, to conduct a study into the other countries' practice on same-sex marriage.

Based on its recommendation the government will introduce a same-sex marriage bill.

Hat/tip to PinkNews. Nepal borders China and India.
This is an amazing step forward for International LGBT human rights.