#a first world cup placement would still be epic

[yeahx10]

good morning

[seriouslycromulent]

Random thoughts on ZSJL after 1st viewing

So dear DCEU fans, before I sit down to re-watch Zack Snyder’s Justice League again tonight, I thought I’d share some of my first impressions and thoughts on the film. I really wanted to take part in the watch party yesterday, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to give the film my full attention if I did so, especially since it would be my first viewing.

But now that I know what was inside my birthday gift (my birthday was March 18th), I can chat about it with others and discuss to my heart’s content. 

However, this is NOT that post. This is not a review. It’s just some of my initial thoughts and reactions, which may or may not change after multiple viewings. 

And yes, I will mark this post as “ZSJL spoilers” for anyone trying to remain unspoiled until they get a chance to watch it at their own pace.

Here we go ...

Question #1 - Why does Barry only burn out of his shoes, but nothing else he’s wearing when he moves to save Iris? Is it the friction against the floor? Or is it just convenient for the sake of visuals? We know the suit he made is designed to withstand wind and heat resistance when he moves, so when he’s not wearing it, are his clothes in danger of getting shredded if he moves fast enough? 

This isn’t snark. I’m genuinely curious. :-)

Reaction #1 - I know it’s blasphemous to speak positively about the theatrical release, but I kind of miss the opening credit sequence with the song playing over the images and interactions of people arguing, fighting and falling into despair after Supes died. I felt it was an apt response in the world in the wake of his death, and it suited Zack’s overall tone connecting BvS to this film from the start. I’m not saying the new opening is bad. Just that I kind of liked the theatrical one better.

Question #2 - Now this is kinda snarky. But does Arthur just leave sweaters and shirts littered all over the place whenever he goes below the surface? What if there’s no one there to pick it up like that lady in Iceland? 

Reaction #2 - I’m love, love, loving the much bigger role of the Amazons in this version. That battle scene with Steppenwolf is still brutal to watch, but the extra screen time is much appreciated.

Reaction #3 - I’m now calling the arrow shot into the Shrine of the Amazons the “Hanukkah Arrow” because it was a miracle the fire stayed lit during its entire journey to the Shrine and how it stayed lit until a film crew caught it on the news. 

R#4 - Even though I knew Victor’s car accident was coming, I was still shook when it happened. Like, I genuinely screamed when the other vehicle crashed into them. That’s how emotionally invested I was in that scene at the time.

R#5 - I liked the juxtaposition of going from Victor’s dysfunctional relationship with his dad to Barry’s sweet, but heartbreaking relationship with his dad. Way to mess with our emotions, Zack.

R#6 - “gorilla sign language” Tee-hee!

R#7 - Great placement with the suicide prevention billboard. It was both seamless and poignant. 

R#8 - As a fellow tea drinker, I like that Alfred is particular about how tea is made, even when the cup of tea isn’t for himself.

R#9 - It’s interesting to see how jerky Victor’s movements are in Chapter 3. I know he will move more smoothly as the film progresses, but I feel like that growth and development in his movements were missed in the theatrical release, which is a shame because it’s a great mirror to his psychological development as well. 

R#10 - It’s a shame how easily Steppenwolf captured the 2nd box thanks to King Orm’s incompetence. Ugh. I can’t stand that guy. 

Question #3 - Why is Arthur responsible for retrieving the box that was lost on his brother’s watch? He’s not king yet, so why does it fall to him? Whatever. Orm sucks.

Question #4 - OK. So I know this was in theatrical release, but how is it that the other team members disappeared when Commissioner Gordon turned his back and Barry didn’t notice it happening? That technically should be impossible unless Barry was distracted by a squirrel or something.

Favorite Hell Yeah Moment #1 - Barry saving the kidnapped people from being hit by the falling debris outside after the team rescues them from Steppenwolf. Go Barry! Do that shit!!! You don’t need lessons on how to be a f*cking hero!

R#11 - So Barry did trip in the original script. Interesting. I still don’t like that. It’s in character for where he is right now on his journey, but I still don’t like it.

Question #5 - Architectural question for the design nerds out there. Why does Lois have a glass pane in her front door in an apartment building in a major metro area in the US? That’s an odd design. Is it a renovated office building? Was her apartment at one point the office of a private detective in a noir film? I need answers.

Favorite Hell Yeah Moment #2 - The J’onn J’onzz reveal is officially one of my biggest thrills of the entire DCEU franchise. Years ago, when people were speculating about who was the 7th in the phrase “Unite the 7,” I said it’s J’onn J’onzz, and fanboys corrected me and insisted it had to be Hal or at least one of the Lanterns. And I was like, “Nope. I bet you it’s J’onn. He could easily already be a part of the story and we don’t even know it.” This is the part where I say to you ... Called It! Like 6 years ago! I f*cking Called It!

R#12 - Yep, by Chapter 5, Victor is moving much more smoothly.

R#13 - Dude!!!!!! The “Not Impressed” moment was better than anything Supes ever did in the theatrical release. Anything. It was just so epic and smooth and smoothly epic. I’m accepting that scene as a part of my personal birthday gift. Zack did that for me. That’s why that’s in there.

R#14 - I know Barry got a couple of hero moments earlier in the film, but none of them compare to the actual reconstruction of f*cking time in order to save everyone. The way the ground literally formed under his feet as he ran had me holding my breath without me even realizing it. Thank you, Zack! Thank you for making Barry more than the comedy relief. Thank you for giving him this moment. He deserves this.

Favorite Hell Yeah Moment #3 - I know everyone is talking about how they cheered when the team goes charging into the building altogether (sans Supes). And don’t get me wrong. That moment is pretty f’cking sweet. But dude, my all-time favorite, jump-out-of-my-seat, and jump-up-and-down moment was when Arthur speared Steppenwolf from behind and lifted him up in the air. I was like ...

The fangirl in me was unashamed and unbossed. Arthur deserved that moment. He spent half the film being tossed around like a ragdoll or brooding like a hot stevedore. He deserved that shit! Yes, yes, he did.

Epilogue thoughts ---

Again, this is the longest film epilogue I’ve seen since LOTR: Return of the King, but I’m not hating, just noting.

The extra scenes with J’onn J’onzz and Deathstroke made my day after everything else made my night. They are 2 of my absolute favorite DC characters who were all but cut from the theatrical release. I’m taking those scenes as ... again ... my personal birthday gifts.

I know we may never get JL2 and JL3, but I felt like the cliffhanger was pretty good. It leaves you wanting more, but not feeling as if you’ve been left high and dry. For those who doubted Zack’s decision to keep it a cliffhanger knowing he may never get to finish the story, I say to you, “Aren’t you tired of doubting this man?”

[morosemariposa]

2019 Cup of China

Cup of China is back this season after being absent last season. This year Chongqing, China is hosting the competition. This event has a reputation for being a disaster but hopefully this time that wont be the case. Quite a few skaters end their grand prix events this weekend and after the fourth event the qualifiers for the GPF look clearer.

LADIES’ SP This event was harshly judged. I like that. The skaters here made so many mistakes, almost everyone had a fall except for the top three. The overhead camera was annoying. Overall an interesting event and the free skate is going to be even more interesting. Some of the women here need to do a lot of work to make the podium.

Anna Shcherbakova - This was obviously better than what she did at Skate America. It took me while to see it but the program elements could be done to any piece of music and it would have the same effect. There’s nothing unique about this program but if she keeps performing it like she did here then she’ll be good all season. She and her choreographer in the K&K looked disappointed by her score. I guess they wanted more.

Marin Honda - Marin does the exact thing I hate that most skaters do. She gives away the performance when the jumps don’t go well. The thing that Marin has going for her is her performance quality and when she doesn’t commit then her mistakes are that much more glaring.

Satoko Miyahara - I love love love Satoko. She’s always performing throughout the entire program and is 100% committed. I still think this could be a modern dance program and it would work better. 1st in the PCS mark is a must when Satoko competes.

LADIES’ FP This ladies’ event was only a little bit of a let down. Some messy skates but overall a good event. For some of the women here this was their last GP event and now are going to go back home and train for nationals. For other women another GP event in the series and for one a ticket to the Grand Prix Final. Shcherbakova leads the Ladies’ GPF standings as the top qualifier with two 1st place finishes and Tuktamysheva is in the bubble with two 3rd place finishes. It’s nuts how two bronze medals doesn’t guarantee a spot at the GPF but that’s how tough the ladies’ field is and we’ll have to wait until the last event to know for sure.

Marin Honda - This was such an absent performance. It was like she wasn’t even there. There were weird gaps or pauses as if she remembered that she had to jump or spin. She’s good at putting on a smile and acting like everything is okay but it’s clear that she has a confidence issue. If the one jump doesn’t go well all the jumps that come after suffer. She needs to learn to not let one mistake affect the entire program.

Satoko Miyahara - This is a beautiful somber program and the music arrangements are done well. Satoko listens to the music and expresses the emotions of it perfectly. She hits every note of and it’s just a great performance. So happy for her getting 2nd place.

Anna Shcherbakova - It was just as great as her free skate from Skate America. She’s been consistent so far and it’s paying off well for her. 1st Place and next the Grand Prix Final!! That stuffed bear is huge and she’s so cute!

MEN’S SP It’s a bad sign when the announcer doesn’t say your name at the beginning introductions. This event was truly a disaster. There were falls everywhere. This segment was my most anticipated for this competition because it truly is unpredictable as to who will make the podium and that sentiment continues on to the free skate. All the men have to really work to make the podium and throw a wrench in other skaters GPF qualifications.

Han Yan - I’m so happy Han Yan is back in competition. This was a good outing for him. He’s sticking with the safe route in the short program by doing only triples but it worked for him. He’s also such a great performer and has quality in his skating. 1st after the short!

Keiji Tanaka - He’s capable of more but his inconsistency always rears it’s ugly head. He needs to really do some work in the free to make the podium.

Matteo Rizzo - I know Matteo really wants a clean short and he’ll get there. This wasn’t a total disaster, he performed the program and that’s more than what most of the the other men did. The lack of a combination really did him in, that planned 3Lz+3T would’ve had in in 1st after the short on base value alone.

Boyang Jin - I really wish he would stop doing the 4Lz in the short. Maybe he should do a 4T and a 3Lz+3T then do the 4Lz in the free. I want him to be stable in the short but the 4Lz hasn’t worked for a while and I want him to have a good short because I like this program.

MEN’S FP This men’s event was truly the most unpredictable event in the Grand Prix Series so far. Nobody could predict the podium and that made it exciting. None of the men here are likely to qualify for the GPF but they were the most anticipated men’s event for me so far. Han Yan made a triumphant return to competition and it’s too bad he doesn’t have a second event scheduled. Overall an interesting competition full of intrigue.

Keiji Tanaka - Keiji is a smart skater and is able to make last minute decisions on jumps. His inconsistency is his greatest weakness but I love this program for him. That voice shouting what I’m going to assume are praises to Keiji, before and after his free skate was amazing. I hope Keiji comes back strong for Japan Nationals, it’s going to be an intense fight for the podium.

Boyang Jin - Yay! He landed the 4Lz! I got excited cause his 4Lz’s are so epic. He made some mistakes but this was better than what he did at Skate America and honestly that’s what you want to do at every competition, be better than last time. 1st Place!! Even though he won’t qualify for the GPF I’m glad he got a medal.

Han Yan - Aaahhh Han Yan! I loved it! This La La Land program is so great for him he’s such a performer. With only triples at his disposal he’s out performing and out skating everyone else. I want the world for him! I’m so glad he’s competing again. 2nd Place!! OMG!!

Matteo Rizzo - Matteo is really lucky. He almost didn’t make the podium because of little mistakes he made. He needs to polish those mistakes and he’ll be a contender for every podium. He’s a great performer but needs to be more consistent.

2019 Cup of China was a good competition. It wasn’t a total disaster as it has a reputation to be every year. This time the competition was interesting in terms of podium placements for the various skaters. This is event 4 of 6 and now is when people start crunching the numbers to see who can potentially qualify for the Grand Prix Final. The biggest highlight for me this weekend is Han Yan winning the silver medal in his first competition back from retirement and of course Wenjing Sui/Cong Han were beautiful and the highlight of the pairs event.

[topcbdresearch]

Fortnite Champion Series Chapter 2: Season 1, Day 1 Results

Fortnite Champion Series Chapter 2 – Season 1 is coming to a head, and teams are punching their tickets to the finals. On day one, we saw Europe, NA East, NA West, Brazil and the Middle East compete in the first round of heats. As previously determined, the top six teams from each heat in NA East, NA West, Europe and Brazil will compete for a piece of the $4M USD prize pool. Many of the favorites of each region participated in the first heat. Several of the top teams vaulted themselves into the Grand Finals on Sunday. Alongside the favorites were some less recognizable teams who also extended their tournaments into Sunday.

Please note this may shift final placements in each Heat, so please refer to the Leaderboard prior to the start of the Grand Finals.

— Fortnite Competitive (@FNCompetitive) December 7, 2019

As we’ve seen in the past, this first round of heats did not proceed without controversy. Many of the squads in NA East, NA West and Brazil experienced a bug where the correct points did not display on the in-game leaderboard. Epic Games did address this issue via Twitter and ensured that all teams who suitably qualified would safely move into the Grand Finals. The Fortnite developers have updated the leaderboards to reflect the correct scores. With all that said, let’s see how the action played out on day one of the Chapter 2 Season 1 Final.

Europe: Heat One

Europe’s first heat in the Fortnite Champion Series featured the winningest team during the qualifiers. Additionally, we saw the likes of mitr0 and his dominant teammates compete for a spot in the Chapter 2 Season 1 Finals. The game six closed, Airwaks, Skite, Vato and Nikof upset the two teams mentioned above with a win of their own. Overall, they put up 48 eliminations and 90 points, which landed them seven points clear of second.

Mitr0, k1nzell, Falconly and crr continued their impressive effort in squads with a second-place finish. Although they did not complete a Victory Royale, their consistent placement, along with 59 eliminations, contributed to 83 points in total. They will be moving onto the Chapter 2 Season 1 Final along with the other top 6 teams.

NA East: Heat One

Heat one in the NA East region featured some of the best squads in competitive Fortnite. The team of Zayt, Saf, Commandment and HighSky dominated the qualifiers and continued this dominance into heat one. Although the scoreboard does not correctly reflect it, Zayt and his teammates managed an astounding 97 points across six matches. This effort included a 13-elimination Victory Royale to secure a first-place finish in the first NA East heat.

As expected, Vinny1x, ZexRow, Calculator and MackWood also performed well. Their names constantly populated the elimination feed, and they managed 89 points overall. The squad comprised of Ninja, Reverse2k, Nate Hill and Funk produced one of the more shocking results in heat one. Ninja and his team won two of six matches and ultimately earned a spot in finals.

Although the scoreboard above is not entirely accurate, the top four teams are through to the finals. Epic Games will likely award missing points, which may shift the fifth and sixth place teams out of their positions.

NA West: Heat One

4DRStrom, Maken1x, Frapai and Thomuss put on quite a display in heat one for the NA West region. They surprisingly finished ahead of the favorites rehx, Cented, EpikWhale and Edgey by 24 points. Maken1x and his teammates earned back-to-back Victory Royales in matches two and three. This talented squad also managed 56 eliminations against some of the best that the NA West region has to offer. It was only a matter of time before usual Cash Cup contenders, Thomuss, Maken1x and Frapai found themselves atop an FNCS leaderboard.

The closing matches in heat one saw several of the borderline teams battling for the final qualifying spot into the Chapter 2 Season 1 Grand Finals. Ultimately, Fortnite World Cup Solos runner-up, psalm and his squad earned their second Victory Royale in game six. This display by the sixth-place team elevated them into the final position, and they will live to fight another day. Heat one showed just how capable the NA West region and its players are. We still have three heats remaining to shake out who will be in the finals.

Brazil: Heat One

Faah, Forone, spitflow hype and Bruиão finished in first place with 84 points in Brazil’s first heat. Although there were scoring issues in both Brazil and NA East, this margin between first and second is likely insurmountable. This squad collectively managed 39 eliminations and the often important, Victory Royale. They will be moving on to the finals to play against a band of talented Brazilian teams.

The heavy favorites out of Brazil’s first heat were leleo, kurtz, wisheydp and king. These four players convincingly controlled the qualifiers and followed that up with a third-place finish in this heat. As previously mentioned, the scoring system broke during the Brazil and NA East branch of the tournament. Epic Games will likely adjust these scores, which could very well move seem teams up and other groups out of the top six.

Middle East: Heat One

After showing their true skills during the FNCS Qualifiers, SNOW, Souriano, Unit and Brook came out swinging in Middle East’s first heat. In what will likely go down as one of the most dominant single heat performances, this squad smashed with 121 points. This effort included two Victory Royales and 55 eliminations. Game two was their best match, wherein that put up 15 eliminations and completed the win. This squad stood out amongst the pack and are moving on to finals along with the remaining 11 teams.

Middle East: Heat Two

Nearly mirroring the performance of the first-place team in heat one was the squad consisting of Spy, vagnaR, Kinqver and Tooke. This squad popped off with 122 points, which included an astounding three Victory Royales in total. We will see the top two Middle East teams from Heats one and two encounter each other in the Chapter 2 Season 1 Final. There is a clear separation at the top of the Middle East region. However, Fortnite has shown in the past that anything is possible.

Stay tuned to ESTNN for continued Fortnite Champion Series Chapter 2 – Season 1 results throughout the weekend.

The post Fortnite Champion Series Chapter 2: Season 1, Day 1 Results appeared first on Esports News Network | ESTNN.

The post Fortnite Champion Series Chapter 2: Season 1, Day 1 Results appeared first on AllYourGames.com.

[borisbubbles]

ESC2019 Preshow #04

04. PORTUGAL Conan Osíris - “Telemóveis” SemiFinal 1, #15

 🎼 NONG / NANG 🎵/ NONG 🎶

Thus clangeth the dulcet sitar tones which introduced us our Lord and Savour, Pharaoh Conan VIII of House Osiris. Harnessing the powers of Saudade, contemporary dance and tons and tons of goldleaf, He has come to deliver a message most grave. 

ENTRY ANALYSIS

Let us dive in immediately with the clarion of praise Cona deserves, for “Telemóveis” is nothing but a stunning piece of art. It’s really isn’t as much as a song, as it is an experience and although the fado/oriental punk fusion was an acquired taste for me at first, I was #AllAboard once I saw this: 

I think you can tell how *much* I loved “Telemóveis”  by the fact that I bothered DL’ing the vids (plural!) and making gifs, yes? I mean, why shouldn’t I? “Telemóveis” is a brilliant dirge mourning the loss of saudade to acute iPhoneitis; Saudade which longs for a return to the halcyon days where people went to café’s to have conversations over a cup of coffee and some brigadeiros, instead of resulting to incessant hunchbacked texting. In other words, IS THERE A MORE QUINTESSENTIALLY PORTUGUESE SONG IN EXISTENCE THAN THIS ONE? I don’t fucking think so. 

Of course our Lord and Saviour blessed us not only with song but with an epic act to go with it. I think the best way to put it into words it by saying that “Telemóveis” is clever... in its cleverness. The act is drenched with symbolism that matches the lyrics but also triggers my inner history nerd (the egyptian beardmask is an amazing touch). The exploding rose backdrop is show-stopping and man, so is that death drop

(and Conan somehow improved on that by showing up in the finale with like... spoon fingers which clicked together into a wee gilded crossbow <3 <3 <3)

It may seem weird cutting Conan now, as opposed to later, (especially since I don’t have any fancy gifs of my top three), but of the four remaining entries, His the act I’m actually the least invested in lol. Don’t get me wrong. I never stopped loving Conan and memefying the shit out of Him, but He’s not as consistently good as the top three are. Largely because I still cannot figure out what “Telemóveis” is. Is it a masterpiece and a hallmark of free artistry, or is it just, you know, random insanity that spawned from a marihuana-addled brain. Probably both? Whichever the case, ConanGOD’s reprise after winning FdC is probably the best thing i ever seen in my life. I’m saving my bandwith for the NF Corner though, so these gifs will have to do instead: 

Yes he actually got *THE ENTIRE LINE-UP FOR FDC*, including the crew members *AND* presenters who were also on the stage (one of them being the phenomenal Filomena Cautela), to death-drop en masse. 😍 If the world of Our Lord be a fair one, this is what precisely will happen in Tel Aviv in four weeks’ time. 

NF CORNER

Here’s another sentence I never expected to write down in a post ever:

Festival da Cançao was fucking awesome this yea

r. It might’ve been the best NF of the entire year? It’s definitely top three with EMA and Vidbir, in some order.

Holy shit though. So MANY amazing indie songs owning shit left and right (Except for "Perfeito”, which is a walking cauchemar, but that one was murdered by the national juries before it could become a threat. 🤗)

Anyway; I *AM* going to spend 4 vids on this because any less would be a disgrace to this wonderful NF.

Conan’s biggest competition was NBC who was pretty awesome in his own right:

This feels like the sort of song that would do well in San Remo? (It fits the charming aged indie rocker ballad vid I get from some of its participants), except NBC is also a HILARIOUS OVERREACTIONS DEITY 😍 (exhibit A: see gifs above) and thank fuck he was because it meant he could finish a ~long~ distance behind Conan (in second because lol ofc He was a blowout winner)

Probably the weirdest performance of the entire season (and perhaps, in life) belonged to SURMA

Lol this just straight-up performance art and not a song, but I’m happy she was there anyway. “Pugna” makes “Telemóveis” appear normal and well-adjusted by comparison and that’s an impressive feat 😍

Fave #3 was this beautiful, moody, ambient powerballad by Ana Claudia: 

"Inercia” a poor man’s ZalaGasper song, but I really looooooooove ZalaGasper, so I obviously love this one as well. Sadly she had to perform directly after Conan and it neutered her beyond repair, but when even your last place delivers, you know you have a great NF!

I think I’ll close with another wonderful Fado fusion, in this case with bluegrass country pop: Meet Madrepaz

YESSSSSSS the facepaint is about 70.3% of their appeal 😍 😍 😍 but the song slaps as well.  What a beautiful, desolate ambient sound. Am I deluded to think this could qualify in a Eurovision semifinal? (well some of them, anyway)

All in all an amazing selection, and definitely in contention for The Best NF of 2019 (I’ll decide once I’ve posted Slovenia’s entry, I guess)

Qualification Odds: Borderline (-)

Ugh, this BREAKS my dark chocolate heart, but Conan isn’t at all safe. Conan’s main problems rise from the fact that he tries to be artistic and humorous at the same time, and the two cancel each other out somewhat. 

It’s same problem Gabbani had really, except this is Portugal, not Italy, so the stakes are much higher here. There’s a very high chance “Telemóveis” highbrow message will  fly over the heads of the audience and there’s an equally high chance it will backfire on Conan when it does. Portugal faces severe competition from the other acts. They compete with Slovenia for the “This Is High Quality” value-seeking vote, with Iceland and Australia for the novely vote and with Czech Republic and Greece for the “yeah this is actually really fucking clever” highbrow vote. He even competes with Serhat somehwat, both being OTT acts that are on later in the semi. It could very well mean death by a thousand cuts for Portugal.

The draw, which is usually brought up as the main justification for an NQ, doesn’t bother me though. Coming on before Queen Katerine, the Elegant and Supreme, isn’t a gift if she finds her voice, but she’s hardly consistent and coming after Estonia, which has the same flavour and texture asa wad of chewed gum will make any song after it a fucking revelation by comparison. Overall, I think BL- is the correct call. There are several high odds Conan needs to overcome, the biggest of which probably is Conan fans breaking their Telele’s before actually voting for him! WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE SEMIFINAL, people. Our Lord and Saviour NEEDS your support. 

Projected Placement: 6th-15th in the SemiFinal. If he qualifies, 12th-23rd in the Grand Final. 

Link to the masterpost

[samkimbusinessofmedia]

Players in Russia continue to place highly in Fortnite Tournaments despite Cash-Prize Bans

Awards from Fortnite's World Cup Finals in 2019

Last month, Epic banned Russian Fortnite players from receiving cash prizes in tournaments. Since, a professional Russian Esports player that goes by the name Malibuca has won the Solo Cash Cup. With a $1000 cash prize awarded to first place, whether Malibuca would get payed remained a point of tension within the Fortnite community. Inspecting the initial ban of Russian players by Epic, it is important to note that their decision was largely affected by the fact that many of their payment providers (such as Google Pay and Apple Pay) have withdrawn their services from the country. Without a sustainable infrastructure to complete transactions, it seems that Epic has been pressured to enact this ban.

While Esports are still largely regarded as an entertainment industry, it is a growing industry in which the creators of content (streamers and competitive players) will need to be properly compensated to sustain the economy. As Fortnite has relied on cash prizes to incentive engagement and sponsor large scale tournament events, such as the annual Fortnite World Cup, it will be interesting to see how Russian players continue to engage with the video game. One method of adjustment by players was revealed in a conversation with Bernard Shenck, a German Youtuber, who recently created an American Fortnite account for his Russian cousin, a professional Fornite player. By using an American Epic account created from an American IP Address, Bernard's cousin is able to compete and receive cash prizes, as well as complete in-game purchases, although on a much smaller scale of tournaments than the one Malibuca participated in.

In regards to Malibuca's tournament win, there has not been any public information from the player or third-party sources whether the cash prize was received or not. Malibuca's Twitter mentions his placement without any regards to the prize and leaves an ambiguous conclusion. On the one hand, social and national pressures of surveillance may be a factor that has subjected Malibuca to being less vocal about the subject. On the other hand, as exemplified by the innovative ways that Bernard created a work around for his cousin, there may have been a work-around provided by Epic to continue rewarding Russian players in alternative ways.

[musicmixtapes]

October 10, 2018 Mix

Welcome to this week's installation of music! I loved finding tracks that blended well in terms of sound and meaning, as well as playing around with the pace of the pieces so not to cause monotony inside the eardrums. Enjoy and any suggestions/opinions, send my way

Spotify Playlist (Listen in order!) 1. Walls by The Lumineers - First off, can I just say how excited I am to see new music from a group who never seems to disappoint both my ears and my heart. While listening for the first time I thought, "Wow what a great song, but this sounds kind of familiar" so when I showed it to my mom she said "Of course it sounds familiar, it's a cover of one of Tom Petty's songs" and then it made my heart that much fuller knowing that. Petty is known to have the American writing way of describing through metaphor exactly how love and relationships feel at a moment suspended in time. Using that craftsmanship and words that cut to the bone, The Lumineers created a cover that is so folky and vulnerable sounding, I am sure that Petty would not be disappointed in it. 2.  I've Just Seen A Face by The Beatles - Continuing with classics that we may find hidden in corners of our mind, that pop out into existence from time to time, is this wonderful treasure from the Help! album, a beloved album to me and most of the world, I'm sure. I specifically chose this track because the title definitely created a supernatural element in my mind that translated to the feeling that love often gives, which is that it transcends regular human volition. It causes this reaction that cannot be expressed through regular conversation and absolutely needed to be sung about, which to me, is fantastic. Also, the really fast and frantic pace of the song adds to the urgency of the message of seeing someone in passing and instantly feeling a surge of love and the need to be with them at the moment. Falling in love is sometimes done in a slow motion type fall, but in this instance, it seems more immediate. 3. Moon Barks At The Dog by Saintseneca - The lyrical value that this song has is endless, and quite honestly, I could spend a long time doing an in depth analysis of this piece line by line, but for now I won't. The main thing I wanted to go in depth with a little bit is this image of the moon barking at the dog, which is just such a strange and abstract concept to grasp. Of course, the typical thing that someone would refer to is the dog barking at the moon, which is apparently a reference to the famous statement (I had no idea this existed): "It is common for the dog to bark at the moon, but if the moon barks back, the dog becomes famous." As a person who loves strange expressions, this has quickly become one of my favorites. There is also an entire verse that nods to Bruce Springsteen and his music not being the singer's cup of tea, which I disagree, but appreciate the reference anyway. 4. Los Ageless (cover) by The Wombats - I would say I'm sorry about including another version of the same song within two months, but I am not sorry at all because it is my firm belief that different versions of the same song can change it entirely and bring fresh perspective and possibly a new interpretation of meaning. Originally a St. Vincent song from her amazing album Masseducation, it was a more techno rock sound for sure, but this alternative group brought it down with a more acoustic sound fleshed out through it. I don't think the sound was altered so much that it changed the composition entirely, but the male voice for sure gave it a perspective which I was not expecting. To have a male singer express the notion "How could anybody have you and lose you and not lose their minds too?" makes me feel a glimmer of hope to diminish toxic masculinity. 5. More Than Romantic Love by St. Lenox - I don't know exactly what to classify this as and to be fair, I'm not sure that putting this artist in a box would be serving him justice in any way. I felt that I was having a conversation with a fellow new yorker while really really cool, eclectic music was playing in the background. And I loved it. Just all of the references to living in a place in time where you are losing someone because you cannot accept the fact that they only want a platonic love, not romantic. This goes deeper though, and examines how to deal with someone who is going through personal struggle and how to reach them emotionally while being sensitive to their needs. St. Lenox has such a soulful conversational tone that speaks freely about mental health, breakup and the nervousness of the city, also shout out to Washington Square. He's an artist on the rise for sure. 6. This Is The Day by The The - This is a classic example of a song with an upbeat, generally happy sounding tune that literally step by step tells about the woes that a person with depression has to go through. It actually really reminded me of a Smiths song, where the mood totally does not match the words, and this is a trope I absolutely love to see in older music. The image of eyes being red and burning when seeing daylight is so profound because insomnia is one of the main traits of depression, so this feeling of always feeling tired in the daytime is so relatable to hear about in song, which I never have before. The synthesized sound and the acordion that are strung throughout the song really emphasize the dichotomy of the sound and feeling, which also add the layer of how you look on the outside doesn't always match how you are on the inside. 7. Greyhound by Calpurnia - Have you ever made future plans with someone you are in a relationship with, thinking that basically you'll be with them forever, and then suddenly, the time for that plan comes around, except you're not together anymore? Yeah? Me too, and apparently the writer of this song was in this exact position because that's essentially what it's about to put it in base question format. But what really satisfied me concerning this song was not the super relatable storyline aspect, but the sarcastic way of telling something pretty sad, which seemed like an epic breakup and heart break. The whole "hats of to you, for you to go" is so sassy and like a middle finger in the center of a song about still having feelings for an ex-love, which was so fun to see. I hope the subject of this song listened to this song. 8. 15 Minutes by The Strokes - Whenever asked my top favorite bands, they are always at the top of the list. I don't know exactly what resonates with me, but I have been trying to pin point the moodiness and exacerbated feelings for awhile that me and this band seems to always share. I think it's the way that Casablancas always mutters some really sad yet humorous things while hard core guitar comes in and really great drum beats and a bass line are right in line with it. This song is no exception because it totally defies the meaning of telling someone how you feel and being comfortable with oneself about it; if I may be so bold, I think it generally classifies how one with lots of anxiety would go about telling feelings from a real perspective, rather insecurely and with the approach of joking about emotions in a very honest way. 9. Think I'm Still In Love With You by Joyce Manor - A new album by an awesome punk, angsty, emo rock band, news I will never be upset to hear about. Specifically, this artist has so many different qualities going past the initial relatable angst you feel when listening to the many, many, many songs they have about not being able to get over something or feeling like a burden in someone else's life constantly. This song has a clear shift in feeling though because the uncertainty is definitely present in terms of wanting to still be in love with someone because of a past emotion, but now things seem a bit hazier and they aren't so sure if the feelings are still quite there. This song comes about midway through the album, a really great placement on their part because it signifies perhaps a shift in weather during a one sided relationship and perhaps things will change thereafter. 10. So Tied Up by Cold War Kids and Bishop Briggs - Oftentimes I speculate from an outsider's look at a song, and piece together the meaning in relation to both the music and my own life. In this instance, I didn't really have to do so because the artist actually shared exactly what his intentions were with the meaning behind this song. He said, "With every new relationship, you either talk about previous relationship stuff (warts and all), or you just pretend like they never existed. Both are kinda terrible. When you go the full disclosure route it’s probably sincere, maybe you’re even praised for your vulnerability. However, you know it’s probably gonna be used against you later, in a fight, in the worst way." So that's that, and in terms of the gospel vibes I received from this alt rock song, I am very happy and get really pumped walking down the street to it. 11. Days On A Wire by Case - This instantly gives me the image of watching a movie scene where one person is lovingly thinking about another and kind of like sitting on a train looking out the window and considering their feelings, all wrapped up in desire. So now that I have shared my mental scene, let me explain that the really awesome acoustic with horns sounds that are produced in this piece add to the love song vibes that is perceived while listening. Also, the singer's voice is super dreamy and light, at some points seeming like barely more than a whisper of phrases, adding to the whimsical elements involved in the song. Actually, the horns in this song kind of act as a guitar usually would in terms of a melodic riff that occurs between verses and choruses, and I love this difference of instruments, a unique sound. 12. In The Morning I'll Be Better by Tennis - Taking some else's pain away is the hardest thing to do, especially when it's something not curable by care and devotion on it's own, but that's precisely what the artist is intending to say in this piece, which is tragically beautiful. So originally, I perceived this to be about someone's mental anguish and a relationship of sorts attempting to remedy this suffering by acceptance and love. In fact, this is not what the artist meant, but it's still a cool interpretation if I do say so myself. It was revealed that the writer's friend was deemed terminally ill and this was their way of processing the emotions that go into realizing that someone is most likely not going to get better. It is a love song that goes beyond love, but more about the wanting to take someone's pain and endure it so they don't have to. 13. Clueless by The Marías - Yes, yes, yes. My exact thoughts when seeing that this group came out with new music, when listening to the first few bars of the song, and then again when hearing the song two full times through (once for sound and another for words and meaning). The palpable tension heard in the song is so real for so many people when having an argument and to match the tension is the dialoguing throughout that basically says they can't handle the ups and downs going through the relationship anymore. I read that this was inspired by a spat between the vocalist and her significant other, drummer-producer Josh Conway. This revelation was incredible because imagine being in a band and a relationship with someone and having to create music while a major fight is going on. Me neither. 14. Running by Nicotine's Famous Honey - If I could title this anything other than what it is, I would title it "The Art of Just Barely Getting By In Our Fucked Up World" but that would not be as aesthetic as this aptly titled name. In the past, I have publicly argued against certain styles of music, simply because I knew less about music and didn't listen to enough genres on a regular basis. I am still trying to broaden my horizons, especially in terms of R&B and the Hip Hop genre in general, but this under emphasized artist is such a beautiful example of taking one genre that is criticized for being cliched and overdone and taking it to a whole different level. I love this combination of dream-pop, low-fi indie and hip hop and R&B all in one piece, and if you haven't looked into them, definitely check out some of their other music, it is so enticing. 15. Weird Honey by Elvis Depressedly - I'm taking the meaning of this song entirely from the artist because I think it can be interpreted a hundred different ways, depending on who you are thinking about while listening to it and what kind of mental state you are in too. Also we love to see an iconic guitar riff thrown in sporadically to a pretty sad low fi rock song, so that's a pretty cool spot in hell. The meaning though: "I lied before. It’s just an homage to Jesus and Mary Chain, and has no direct meaning. This is a love song so it could be seen as a pet name, or even a symbol of a love that is strange and new but full of sweetness. I find it incredibly strange that so many people have interpreted this song to be so negative, or even a break up song, when it’s the opposite. It’s a song about new love." There you have it. 16. Wings In All Black by Gregory Alan Isakov - If you are looking for an acoustic folk artist who puts emphasis on literally every single word and note of a song, look no further, he is right here, and also in my soul forever. Hailing from his brand new album, is this gem which sinks your heart to your stomach almost immediately upon listening. I believe this to be about having to rise up out of a really dark time in your life, despite not wanting to, the fact that instead of feeding the beast of loss, you have to grow wings of your own and fight against the demons you are experiencing. The image of having "wings in black" is a nod to the struggle between staying down in a bad place and having to come out of it no matter how impossible it seems at the time. I am now noticing a lot of these songs have to do with dealing with loss and mental health day by day, which is very important. 17. Should I by Arum Rae - I have to give entire props and credits for this song to my wonderful mother, who is always good for sending me songs to listen to on a weekly basis. Particularly, I first heard this song on my ferry ride home to New Jersey for the first time since leaving for college this year, so it has earned a really special place in my heart for the year. The piano is so present in this song, which as I have mentioned in previous posts, you don't get to see a lot in newer slow songs, which have become taken over by guitar a lot of the times. Also, Rae's voice questioning her every move and overthinking all her choices for the future is so heart felt and honest that you can't help but empathize with these feelings. The message of the song is maybe taking things one step at a time is the healthiest thing you can do when things get overwhelming in life. Yes. 18. How by Daughter - Ok, so finding out that most of the songs I have chosen for this week's mix surround the topics of loss and grieving past versions of self has become super illuminating in terms of my own maturation process. Staying topic though, this group always sheds light on the painful emotions rather than the pleasurable ones, which sometimes creates a dreary mood, but I like to view it as not being afraid to voice some negativity in order to clear it out of one's mind, which many people are apprehensive to do. This song describes pain as being in slow motion and I can't explain why that is true, but it is. The lines "hold me back, hold me back" in reference to wanting to go get someone that they have lost is so crucial to the theme of the song which is moving on from something while still having regrets in regards to the situation, feeling cheated or let down by someone. 19. Killer by Phoebe Bridgers - This playlist began with this song all by it's lonesome, but all along I knew that the rest of the pieces would be built around this, so I guess this has to be the reason why all the songs are so deeply related with one another. You may be thinking, wow I can't believe this song is about one's own death, this is really morose and ominous. Yes, I totally agree and think that it's really sad and death related, but knowing that it goes deeper than that is really vital to appreciating it's beauty. This is about a relationship being buried away and while doing so, dredging up all the past memories of loving a person. There is no remedy for knowing that two people are too much for one another, but this soulful lament is definitely a start. Also, Bridgers has noted that this song is in reference to Ryan Adams, famed songwriter who had a short fling with her when she was pretty young. 20. WALLS by Kings Of Leon - I did this on purpose, I made the first and last song both titled "walls" for a particular reason. I think they both serve very different purposes and perspectives to the metaphorical walls that are being broken down and simultaneously built up within a relationship. In the covered song that the Lumineers did, we see a shift to a more positive message of hearts having walls and climbing them is a struggle, but that it is worth it for the love we get to experience on the other side of it. In contrast, this very low tempo song (especially for Kings of Leon) is about kind of the exact opposite. This is about a man's ego being utterly shattered, exemplifying walls being torn down, in order to love a woman who just took his heart with her when she left. I don't think it's all sad though; I think this experience of walls coming down around someone to experience true loss of a person is so important for personal growth and strength. Thanks for listening and reading into things really deeply with me, catch you next week! Love & Listening,

Julia 

[gamerszone2019-blog]

Road to the Fortnite World Cup Finals – Part 2: Dark Horses

New Post has been published on https://gamerszone.tn/road-to-the-fortnite-world-cup-finals-part-2-dark-horses/

Road to the Fortnite World Cup Finals – Part 2: Dark Horses

Epic Games has released a new blog post on the Fortnite Competitive Twitter account detailing the World Cup Finals.

Part 2, properly named Dark Horses, focuses on the lesser-known individuals which have qualified for the World Cup; the original Part 1 of this series focused on the big-names.

You can read the full blog post from by Cameron “SUND0WN” McGrory below…

While the Competitive Veterans blog focused on some of the more common names you hear in the competitive Fortnite world, this one will focus on some of the lesser well known players. The goal is to give you an idea of what makes these individuals successful, what the defining factor of their play style is and a little bit about how they got here. Let’s take a look at some of the Dark Horses who have a shot to take home the Championship.

While most of the Fortnite world is familiar with the Tfue’s, Mongraal’s and X2Twins of the world, there are so many additional incredibly talented players who will be taking the stage at the Finals in New York City. Here are some of the players who might not have as much of the fame, but are capable of taking down anyone else in the field and could end up a Fortnite World Cup Champion.

Referred to as one of the strongest players in Europe yet still flying low under the radar of most fans and viewers, Theo “Crue” Ferrer, a double qualified player for the Valhalla Vikings, has the skill set, attitude, and experience to match any other player in the field. Qualifying for the EU Winter Royale Semi-Finals was just the first step in Crue’s consistent run in Competitive Fortnite. Since then, he has qualified and placed within the top 40 consistently in almost every Open event within Fortnite, showing that his strength is consistency and adaptation to a meta that changes constantly. His partner for the duos portion of the cup, Moussa “Chapix” Faour will also be able to take a swing in the Duos segment of the Fortnite World Cup Finals. When both of these competitors get an early and successful rotation, they can set up and bait top players into positional traps near the end game, racking up more and more points as the circles start to move. Setting up funnel strategies like this on Finals day is going to be the win condition for Crue in Solos, and both Crue and Chapix in Duos. Their high game sense combined with months of synergy make them players with an accelerated understanding of game mechanics and movement patterns. Crue has an amazing opportunity to make an impact in both Solos and Duos, so keep an eye on where these guys are on the ladder.

Late game and those final clutch moments in a really close Competitive Fortnite game are very important. To get to those big moving circle rotations that help to survive the rest of the match, you are going to need to have a strong early game. This is where NAE’s Solo qualifier Jonothan “Nittle” Weinmen swoops in harder than anyone else, always getting an early elimination or two, removing any type of comfort a top player in his vicinity has during the early moments of the game. Qualifying in Week 3, Nittle’s aggressive use of pushes early with precise aim and unorthodox angles always makes him start and end a fight with some of the biggest advantages you can possibly see. He’s used his success in the Qualifier weeks to network with other players such as Crimz and Spades, who formed a trio with Nittle, grabbing the second place spot in the first Trios Cash Cup. Playing as an endgame position-focused Duo gives Nittle an extra boost in Solos, rounding out his repertoire and truly making him an ultimate beast of a player early game (and now late game as well). A fully rounded out player going into the Fortnite World Cup Finals with momentum from a high placing tournament finish is a formula built for victory. Anyone and anything in Nittle’s path is up for grabs, whether that’s eliminations, or the title of Solo Fortnite World Cup Champion.

International expectations have been ramping up these past few weeks, and one interaction has been going underway in pro level scrimmages for a few weeks now. OCE’s aggressive duo Parpy and Volx have been causing ripples across NAE games, moving over to NA to get vital practice and fully prepare for the Fortnite World Cup Duo Finals. This Duo’s signature style of fighting has top pros on their heels, always getting tags down first and seamlessly switching between roles amongst themselves mid fight, as well as during late game on rotation. Like two puzzle pieces making up a picture, no other Duo utilizes and exploits their positioning quite as quick or as efficiently in a box fight like Parpy and Volx. Using heavy snipers and unorthodox loadouts as a tool to get in closer and to start fights, one big advantage these competitors have is being the leaders in every engagement and controlling the pace of whatever fight they have with their full-on pressure style from the get-go. Recently, the Duo placed 21st during the Trios Cash Cup in NAE, a region where the strategies, meta, and gamestyle is drastically different. They have already adjusted to how aggressively things work in two different regions, and are about to start putting the pressure on global domination as they finish up practice for the main event.

Over in the South American region, Argentinian Fortnite prodigy Tiago “k1ng” Lapp has been making waves and double qualified through controlled aggressive play. A player on 9z Team, he pushed the limits in a region where only the pinnacle of placements and gameplay would allow you to qualify for the Fortnite World Cup. K1ng’s use of patience and timing, especially in box fights and endgame, messes up the traditional rhythm most players are used to following allowing him to take shots and drop down on players when they are at their most vulnerable. Pioneering the strategy in South American servers of waterfalling down and “all-inning” players with a vertical advantage from odd angles, k1ng shreds the player count. His specialty is in earning high back-to-back elimination games where sometimes the first elimination starts 20 minutes into the match during the sixth moving circle, yet lets him end with over 15 eliminations before he queues up for another. Like a snake charmer he can expect and read opponents with dangerous fangs, moving them exactly where he wants to before he strikes, every move methodical yet tactically aggressive. Qualifying with only eight  games played and a total of 144 points, k1ng will use the advantage he has with double qualifying and being able to absorb as much information as possible during Solos to apply to Duos, potentially bringing out another efficient and repeat performance with record breaking averages.

Will any of these players be able to show the world that they are among the best of the best? Will a new player rise to the fore of the Fortnite scene? Or will the old guard of veterans be able to hold off the horde of hungry newcomers? The ultimate Victory Royale is there for the taking, and any of these players have the ability to take home the title of Fortnite World Cup Champion.

Tune in to the Fortnite World Cup Finals July 26-28, starting each day at 12:30pm Eastern. Watch in-client or fortnite.com/watch

comments below

Source : FortniteIntel

Credits to :

Mitche Reames

[pinevalleygc]

Molinari Wins The Open, Spieth Collapses and Tiger Comes Up Short

Francesco Molinari makes 16 pars and two birdies while paired with Tiger Woods

July 22, 2018 By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland – Chaos on the leaderboard. Final group is struggling. Tiger’s in contention. No, wait, Tiger’s leading!No, wait, now he’s not. Then a six-way tie for first … and how the heck did Rory get in the mix? Thought we wrote him off two hours ago.

Sunday was a delicious mess, a day in which a dozen or so guys seemed to sneak peeks at the Claret Jug. It was fun, entertaining, a roller-coaster ride of epic Open Championship proportions, as the real Carnoustie – the nasty one, thanks to stiffer winds and tougher pin placements — finally showed up.

In the end, though, it belonged to the calmest guy in the room.

En route to becoming the first Italian to win The Open, Francesco Molinari went about his business this weekend like a meticulous craftsman patiently working on a Stradivarius. He put his head down, never drew attention to himself, and never made a mistake. He played beautiful bogey-free golf for 36 holes on a course that, frankly, he’s avoided in recent years. Carnoustie is one of three venues for the European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship; Molinari has only played the event once since 2012 and has never finished inside the top 35.

“I got beaten up around here a few times already in the past,” he said. “I didn’t particularly enjoy that feeling.”

That’s why he didn’t fancy his chances this week, even though the 35-year-old from Turin was on the hottest streak of his career and the hottest golfer on the planet. Two wins on two continents in his last five starts, including the Quicken Loans National earlier this month on the PGA TOUR. He also threw in a couple of runner-up finishes, including a T-2 in his last start at the John Deere Classic.

So how did we overlook this guy? The big reason on Sunday was obvious – his playing partner.

Tiger Woods was the host at the Quicken Loans and the one who handed the tournament trophy to Molinari. Now they were in the same twosome battling for golf’s most historic trophy. With Tiger close to turning back the clock – OK, not exactly to year-of-2000 standards, but closer to 2008, the year of his 14th and last major victory when he won on essentially one leg – Molinari was relegated to sideshow status.

“Clearly in my group, the attention wasn’t really on me, let me put it that way,” Molinari said. “If someone was expecting a charge, probably they weren’t expecting it from me, but it’s been the same the whole of my career.”

Indeed, Molinari had no problem working in the shadows. He grew up as the younger brother to Edoardo Molinari, who in 2005 became the first continental European to win the U.S. Amateur. Francesco had already turned pro, making his debut on the European Tour with muted performances. Edoardo eventually turned pro himself, and along with Francesco, began making their presence known — particularly as teammates at the 2009 World Cup and 2010 Ryder Cup.

Since then, Edoardo’s career has stalled due to two hand surgeries. On Sunday, he texted his brother to wish him good luck. “I would love for him to get back to where he was a few years ago,” Francesco said. “Golf is a tough beast.”

Now Francesco is the beast. Jordan Spieth has seen it up close.

“He’s been working his butt off,” Spieth said. “I see him in the gym all the time, going through his routine, grinding on the range, doing his own stuff. It truly is hard work that paid off for Francesco. I’m certainly happy for him. I’ve watched this through the PGA TOUR this year, day in and day out, seeing him work as hard as anyone else.”

Spieth, of course, was hoping for his own payoff Sunday after entering the final round as a co-leader with Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele. But the defending champ, who displayed a magic touch down the stretch last year at Royal Birkdale and who on Saturday morning got a haircut at a local shop called Magic Barbers, could conjure up very little on Sunday.

A bogey-double bogey stretch midway through his front nine gave the opening his chasers needed. Schauffele and Kisner also had struggles, particularly out of Carnoustie’s bunkers; in fact, Schauffele, last season’s PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, was forced to hit three one-legged bunker shots Sunday due to some awkward lies.

Such contornion-like poses usually aren’t required on the PGA TOUR, but Schauffele didn’t mind “At times I probably wasn’t smiling,” he said, “but I was having a lot of fun, to be completely honest.”

Molinari – who started the day three shots off the lead – moved up the leaderboard simply by working his way out of trouble and stringing together par after par after par. Woods had moved ahead of him, and for a 23-minute span, even had the solo lead. Asked if leading a major felt familiar after so many years out of the mix, Tiger simply said, “Oh, yeah.”

Meanwhile, the cool Molinari just maintained his par train, letting others self-destruct. Woods lost the lead with a double bogey at the 11th, moving Molinari into a share of the lead with Spieth, Kisner and Kevin Chappell. McIlroy soon joined them after a 59-foot eagle putt at the par-5 14th, as did Schauffele with a birdie at the 10th.

“Every time I looked up at the leaderboard, there’s four, five, six guys in the lead,” Schauffele said, “and five, six guys one back.”

Finally, Molinari took the lead with his first birdie – or non-par – of the day at the 14th. Schauffele joined him 30 minutes later, and that’s when the crowded leaderboard finally started to thin out. The possibility of a playoff still loomed, but then Molinari delivered the decisive blow – a 60-degree wedge from 112 yards at the 18th hole. The ball finished 5 feet from the pin, just inside Woods’ well-struck approach.

McIlroy knew then he was out of the mix. It had been a valiant effort but Molinari was too steady. “With how he’s played this year,” McIlroy said, “there’s just maybe a little more belief. … There’s going to be a lot of European guys vying for his partnership in the foursomes at the Ryder Cup, that’s for sure.”

Molinari and Woods then walked up the fairway toward the large grandstands and the Carnoustie hotel in the distance. Woods crossed the Barry Burn on the left side, while Molinari crossed it on the right. Woods missed his putt, Molinari made his and was now the leader at 8 under.

“He chipped it beautifully,” Woods said about his playing partner. “I know he made a couple of putts here and there for par but to get it to where it was basically kick-in from some of the spots he put himself, that was impressive. Great touch.”

The waiting game then began for Molinari. After signing his card, he retreated to a couch to watch the coverage and see if Schauffele could catch him. It was a helpless feeling, and sitting there only made it worse, even though Schauffele dropped two strokes behind with a bogey at 17. It didn’t matter for Molinari. He buried his head, still nervous; for the first time today, he did not appear calm.

“That’s why I went to the putting green because I probably would’ve felt sick watching on TV,” he said. “Big credit to my wife, who watches me all the time. I don’t know how she does it. I couldn’t do it.”

Having hit a few putts, he suddenly stopped. Finally, it was official. Schauffele had not holed out at 18. It was 6:52 p.m. local time; more important, it was 7:52 p.m. back in Turin. The chaos at Carnoustie had finally ended. A new chapter has begun in golf. Italy has its first major champion.

“Look at the names on that Claret Jug,” Molinari said, staring at the shiny object within arm’s length. “What can you say? It’s the best golfers in history, and to be on there, it’s incredible. From someone like me coming from Italy – not really a major golfing country – it’s been an incredible journey.”

Given his form, don’t expect it to end anytime soon.

The post Molinari Wins The Open, Spieth Collapses and Tiger Comes Up Short appeared first on Pine Valley Golf Club.

[robertkstone]

We Drive All the New Porsche 911 Race Cars, From Tradition to Blasphemy

It’s a mad, mad automotive world. How so? Street-legal cars have more power than race cars (or just as much). The march of technology has made commonplace reliable engines with 500 to 700 horsepower (as much as or a lot more than popular sports car series such as FIA GT3 and Pirelli World Challenge), clean emissions, and 22 mpg highway.

That’s the reason I find myself in the former East Germany as an invited guest of Porsche at the Lausitzring, a NASCAR-inspired tri-oval an hour outside Berlin.

Another great perk of life as track tester for Motor Trend is that I’m occasionally invited to sample factory-built trophy-chasing track weapons. A terrific facility, the Lausitzring failed to catch on with road-circuit-loving Europeans. But its twisty infield circuit is an excellent place to sample four of the latest-gen 911s—from street-legal versions to one that borders on blasphemy.

Despite driving under quite different conditions, all these 911s generate very similar horsepower from their nonturbo flat-sixes, now sized at 4.0 liters with direct-injection, solid lifters, and many improvements aimed at better efficiency and reduced maintenance. Porsche claims the metallurgy is now so good that valve adjustments are no longer necessary, making hydraulic lifters obsolete. A trick feature: An integrated oil centrifuge is employed to reduce oil foaming.

We start in Porsche’s GT3 Cup car, the most-produced GT racing car in the world (with more than 3,000 units sold in 996, 997, and 991 generations). It runs in Porsche’s 20 one-make series races all over the world. It’s so close to the road-going GT3 that it’s even built on the same production line. It’s funny—go to any track day, and you’ll find this very quick and bulletproof 485-hp machine dominating the place. While here today, it’s like a little brother.

The transmission is an air-actuated paddle- shift sequential six-speed, and yeah, we miss the involvement of the now-antique H-pattern stick, but the computer saves you from costly overrevs, spins, and crashes because it perfectly matches revs and will not allow the driver error of a bad downshift. Instead, drivers find their challenge is in the GT3 Cup’s lack of traction control and antilock brakes. It’s all on you, hero. Price: 189,900 Euros, or about $225,000 at today’s exchange rates.

Driving the GT3 Cup is vicious refinement. Controls, precise. Forces, violent. It rips to 8,500 rpm with whip-crack fingertip shifts. At the limit, it’s demanding, pulling strong g’s in all horizontal directions on broad Michelin slicks. It proudly wears the 911 character with a bit of tail-happiness when turning into a tight corner but changing quickly to strong understeer if the driver impetuously gets on the throttle too soon. The Cup car keeps its pilots on their toes.

This version is the most difficult to drive at the limit of the three racers I’ll drive today. Although it offers adjustable anti-roll bars on both ends, the race-valved shocks are fixed to keep the competition close. It is my estimation that the car was set with a lot of front bar to keep it stable for ham-handed journalists; I found it easy to lock an inside front tire entering the switchbacks. That familiar understeer would appear once the weight had transferred to the outside.

With the power building in second gear while leaving those tight corners, the additional torque of the 4.0-liter could hang the tail in a nice drift. The Cup car demands a lot from its driver, spending a lot of time on a knife edge of control. Perhaps this is done deliberately to enhance the level of driving involvement. But I personally would prefer the beautiful balance of the 911 street cars such as the GT3 and even the relatively simple and satisfying base Carrera.

Next we move to the 911 GT3 R, which is prepped to a more aggressive level for open sports car racing in classes such as IMSA GTD, Pirelli World Challenge, and VLN Endurance at the epic Nürburgring. This GT3’s mission is quite different. No longer a spec-series car, it goes to battle in pro races against other automakers and is built under strict rules and the dreaded Balance of Performance (BoP) criteria. These classes are red-hot right now, with many manufacturers wading into the fray. In fact, its more noticeable if a manufacturer isn’t in this series. The competition is fierce, perhaps more so than at any other time in history. A manufacturer can’t just show up and expect to win; it must be totally on its game or suffer the humiliation of backmarker  status.

Surprisingly, the GT3 R engine is very similar to the street unit, generating about a rated 500 hp depending on the rules of the series it’s running. This power runs through the Porsche sequential six-speed with those ubiquitous paddles that can do no wrong.

The R can easily smoke a Cup car, but that speed comes entirely from the chassis, aero, and tires. The race modifications touch everything. The body treatment enhances downforce and reduces weight, with most of it done in  carbon-fiber composite, of course. It’s still built on the “intelligent aluminum-steel composite construction” of the street GT3 RS, but if you check the specs, this homologated car is actually 20 kilograms (about 44 pounds) heavier than the more street-based Cup car. Say what now? It turns out the light components of the body and other parts allow Porsche to locate the mass more ideally, such as lower and closer to the middle of the car, and thus counteract the added mass of extra width and additional aero pieces.

All windows are polycarbonate, even the windshield (a first for Porsche). There is the unique double-bubble roof from the street RS (reducing frontal area) and a radiator repositioned to a much more protected location between the front wheels and vented through the hood—also reducing polar moment for quicker turn-in and making fragile coolers much more likely to survive on-track battles. I’ve been there in more than a few 911 race cars; a light touch to a front corner, and a sure win slips away. The heartbreakingly sweet aroma of leaking coolant is the bitter stench of defeat.

Aero tweaks are many, from an enormous splitter out front to huge, racy vents atop the front fenders and more wing (always a personal favorite). The track is widened considerably with fat front fenders and rear flares covering the ever-larger race slicks on BBS wheels. More width equals more cornering g—it’s that simple.

The 991 GT3 R still uses the sturdy strut-type front suspension like the street car, with racing versions of its ABS and traction control, as well. This creates great confidence and lets me attack the Lausitzring with times that impress my young Werksfahrer guide, Mathieu. Perhaps because of this, the 911 R was my favorite. It had quicker, sharper responses than the Cup, yet it was more hooked up, as well, more stable in the critical entry to the corner. The balance was better, the limits were higher, and with the ABS safety net, I dove deeply into the brake zones. Exiting the turns, the GT3 R seemed to have better traction, but honestly it was masked a bit by the traction control. I came out of this car pumped and ready to race. If anyone has a spare 429,000 Euros ($506,000), I’ll gladly take one! But alas, time to move on. The RSR awaits.

Have you been frustrated by how the 911 clings to the tradition of the rear-mounted engine? Do you think “Finally!” when hearing that this world-class racer has repositioned the flat-six into the back seat? Have you no respect for the 50-year cult surrounding the Porsche holy scripture? Besides, rear weight is ideal for braking into and powering out of corners. So there.

Until now. The blasphemous RSR of 2017 is aft-engine no longer. Could it be a sign of the future for the vaunted sports car? Porsche engineers were mute on the subject. Just remember, this is motorsports. Victory is expected, but the FIA writes the rules. And the rules forced Porsche’s hand. Have you seen the outrageous protrusions jutting from the rear of today’s GT3-class racers? When I saw the Audi R8 and Lamborghini diffusers two years ago, I was sure they’d be dislodged in the first corner. Regardless, it means low-drag downforce, and it’s really fast. Unfortunately, having the flat-six out back puts it in the way.

This is not the first time race-bred Porsches have “positioned the engine in front of the rear axle,” as they like to say (the term “mid-engine” was never seen in the press release or heard in talking points). Every Porsche prototype has placed it there, from the 962 to this year’s overall LeMans-winning 919 Hybrid. And the limits of the 911 concept have been pushed forward before, as with the 911 GT1 that triumphed at LeMans in 1998. Don’t hate the player; hate the regulations.

This concept makes this RSR a very special 911, indeed. It’s a ground-up fresh design—even wider than the GT3 R (for more g), with a couple more inches of wheelbase—that maximizes every aspect of the rules. Another striking evolution is the use of  control arms at the front axle, which, combined with the engine placement, makes this chassis racing-spiral its way ever closer to the realm of full-on prototypes. In the words of the head of Porsche Motorsport, Frank-Steffen Walliser: “While retaining the typical 911 design, this is the biggest evolution by now in the history of our top GT model.”

As with the GT3 R compared to the Cup car, the RSR will in turn wax the GT3 R. And again, it is not due to the engine, which is quite similar to the others. Rather, it’s

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[jesusvasser]

We Drive All the New Porsche 911 Race Cars, From Tradition to Blasphemy

It’s a mad, mad automotive world. How so? Street-legal cars have more power than race cars (or just as much). The march of technology has made commonplace reliable engines with 500 to 700 horsepower (as much as or a lot more than popular sports car series such as FIA GT3 and Pirelli World Challenge), clean emissions, and 22 mpg highway.

That’s the reason I find myself in the former East Germany as an invited guest of Porsche at the Lausitzring, a NASCAR-inspired tri-oval an hour outside Berlin.

Another great perk of life as track tester for Motor Trend is that I’m occasionally invited to sample factory-built trophy-chasing track weapons. A terrific facility, the Lausitzring failed to catch on with road-circuit-loving Europeans. But its twisty infield circuit is an excellent place to sample four of the latest-gen 911s—from street-legal versions to one that borders on blasphemy.

Despite driving under quite different conditions, all these 911s generate very similar horsepower from their nonturbo flat-sixes, now sized at 4.0 liters with direct-injection, solid lifters, and many improvements aimed at better efficiency and reduced maintenance. Porsche claims the metallurgy is now so good that valve adjustments are no longer necessary, making hydraulic lifters obsolete. A trick feature: An integrated oil centrifuge is employed to reduce oil foaming.

We start in Porsche’s GT3 Cup car, the most-produced GT racing car in the world (with more than 3,000 units sold in 996, 997, and 991 generations). It runs in Porsche’s 20 one-make series races all over the world. It’s so close to the road-going GT3 that it’s even built on the same production line. It’s funny—go to any track day, and you’ll find this very quick and bulletproof 485-hp machine dominating the place. While here today, it’s like a little brother.

The transmission is an air-actuated paddle- shift sequential six-speed, and yeah, we miss the involvement of the now-antique H-pattern stick, but the computer saves you from costly overrevs, spins, and crashes because it perfectly matches revs and will not allow the driver error of a bad downshift. Instead, drivers find their challenge is in the GT3 Cup’s lack of traction control and antilock brakes. It’s all on you, hero. Price: 189,900 Euros, or about $225,000 at today’s exchange rates.

Driving the GT3 Cup is vicious refinement. Controls, precise. Forces, violent. It rips to 8,500 rpm with whip-crack fingertip shifts. At the limit, it’s demanding, pulling strong g’s in all horizontal directions on broad Michelin slicks. It proudly wears the 911 character with a bit of tail-happiness when turning into a tight corner but changing quickly to strong understeer if the driver impetuously gets on the throttle too soon. The Cup car keeps its pilots on their toes.

This version is the most difficult to drive at the limit of the three racers I’ll drive today. Although it offers adjustable anti-roll bars on both ends, the race-valved shocks are fixed to keep the competition close. It is my estimation that the car was set with a lot of front bar to keep it stable for ham-handed journalists; I found it easy to lock an inside front tire entering the switchbacks. That familiar understeer would appear once the weight had transferred to the outside.

With the power building in second gear while leaving those tight corners, the additional torque of the 4.0-liter could hang the tail in a nice drift. The Cup car demands a lot from its driver, spending a lot of time on a knife edge of control. Perhaps this is done deliberately to enhance the level of driving involvement. But I personally would prefer the beautiful balance of the 911 street cars such as the GT3 and even the relatively simple and satisfying base Carrera.

Next we move to the 911 GT3 R, which is prepped to a more aggressive level for open sports car racing in classes such as IMSA GTD, Pirelli World Challenge, and VLN Endurance at the epic Nürburgring. This GT3’s mission is quite different. No longer a spec-series car, it goes to battle in pro races against other automakers and is built under strict rules and the dreaded Balance of Performance (BoP) criteria. These classes are red-hot right now, with many manufacturers wading into the fray. In fact, its more noticeable if a manufacturer isn’t in this series. The competition is fierce, perhaps more so than at any other time in history. A manufacturer can’t just show up and expect to win; it must be totally on its game or suffer the humiliation of backmarker  status.

Surprisingly, the GT3 R engine is very similar to the street unit, generating about a rated 500 hp depending on the rules of the series it’s running. This power runs through the Porsche sequential six-speed with those ubiquitous paddles that can do no wrong.

The R can easily smoke a Cup car, but that speed comes entirely from the chassis, aero, and tires. The race modifications touch everything. The body treatment enhances downforce and reduces weight, with most of it done in  carbon-fiber composite, of course. It’s still built on the “intelligent aluminum-steel composite construction” of the street GT3 RS, but if you check the specs, this homologated car is actually 20 kilograms (about 44 pounds) heavier than the more street-based Cup car. Say what now? It turns out the light components of the body and other parts allow Porsche to locate the mass more ideally, such as lower and closer to the middle of the car, and thus counteract the added mass of extra width and additional aero pieces.

All windows are polycarbonate, even the windshield (a first for Porsche). There is the unique double-bubble roof from the street RS (reducing frontal area) and a radiator repositioned to a much more protected location between the front wheels and vented through the hood—also reducing polar moment for quicker turn-in and making fragile coolers much more likely to survive on-track battles. I’ve been there in more than a few 911 race cars; a light touch to a front corner, and a sure win slips away. The heartbreakingly sweet aroma of leaking coolant is the bitter stench of defeat.

Aero tweaks are many, from an enormous splitter out front to huge, racy vents atop the front fenders and more wing (always a personal favorite). The track is widened considerably with fat front fenders and rear flares covering the ever-larger race slicks on BBS wheels. More width equals more cornering g—it’s that simple.

The 991 GT3 R still uses the sturdy strut-type front suspension like the street car, with racing versions of its ABS and traction control, as well. This creates great confidence and lets me attack the Lausitzring with times that impress my young Werksfahrer guide, Mathieu. Perhaps because of this, the 911 R was my favorite. It had quicker, sharper responses than the Cup, yet it was more hooked up, as well, more stable in the critical entry to the corner. The balance was better, the limits were higher, and with the ABS safety net, I dove deeply into the brake zones. Exiting the turns, the GT3 R seemed to have better traction, but honestly it was masked a bit by the traction control. I came out of this car pumped and ready to race. If anyone has a spare 429,000 Euros ($506,000), I’ll gladly take one! But alas, time to move on. The RSR awaits.

Have you been frustrated by how the 911 clings to the tradition of the rear-mounted engine? Do you think “Finally!” when hearing that this world-class racer has repositioned the flat-six into the back seat? Have you no respect for the 50-year cult surrounding the Porsche holy scripture? Besides, rear weight is ideal for braking into and powering out of corners. So there.

Until now. The blasphemous RSR of 2017 is aft-engine no longer. Could it be a sign of the future for the vaunted sports car? Porsche engineers were mute on the subject. Just remember, this is motorsports. Victory is expected, but the FIA writes the rules. And the rules forced Porsche’s hand. Have you seen the outrageous protrusions jutting from the rear of today’s GT3-class racers? When I saw the Audi R8 and Lamborghini diffusers two years ago, I was sure they’d be dislodged in the first corner. Regardless, it means low-drag downforce, and it’s really fast. Unfortunately, having the flat-six out back puts it in the way.

This is not the first time race-bred Porsches have “positioned the engine in front of the rear axle,” as they like to say (the term “mid-engine” was never seen in the press release or heard in talking points). Every Porsche prototype has placed it there, from the 962 to this year’s overall LeMans-winning 919 Hybrid. And the limits of the 911 concept have been pushed forward before, as with the 911 GT1 that triumphed at LeMans in 1998. Don’t hate the player; hate the regulations.

This concept makes this RSR a very special 911, indeed. It’s a ground-up fresh design—even wider than the GT3 R (for more g), with a couple more inches of wheelbase—that maximizes every aspect of the rules. Another striking evolution is the use of  control arms at the front axle, which, combined with the engine placement, makes this chassis racing-spiral its way ever closer to the realm of full-on prototypes. In the words of the head of Porsche Motorsport, Frank-Steffen Walliser: “While retaining the typical 911 design, this is the biggest evolution by now in the history of our top GT model.”

As with the GT3 R compared to the Cup car, the RSR will in turn wax the GT3 R. And again, it is not due to the engine, which is quite similar to the others. Rather, it’s

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[robertkstone]

We Drive All the New Porsche 911 Race Cars, From Tradition to Blasphemy

It’s a mad, mad automotive world. How so? Street-legal cars have more power than race cars (or just as much). The march of technology has made commonplace reliable engines with 500 to 700 horsepower (as much as or a lot more than popular sports car series such as FIA GT3 and Pirelli World Challenge), clean emissions, and 22 mpg highway.

That’s the reason I find myself in the former East Germany as an invited guest of Porsche at the Lausitzring, a NASCAR-inspired tri-oval an hour outside Berlin.

Another great perk of life as track tester for Motor Trend is that I’m occasionally invited to sample factory-built trophy-chasing track weapons. A terrific facility, the Lausitzring failed to catch on with road-circuit-loving Europeans. But its twisty infield circuit is an excellent place to sample four of the latest-gen 911s—from street-legal versions to one that borders on blasphemy.

Despite driving under quite different conditions, all these 911s generate very similar horsepower from their nonturbo flat-sixes, now sized at 4.0 liters with direct-injection, solid lifters, and many improvements aimed at better efficiency and reduced maintenance. Porsche claims the metallurgy is now so good that valve adjustments are no longer necessary, making hydraulic lifters obsolete. A trick feature: An integrated oil centrifuge is employed to reduce oil foaming.

We start in Porsche’s GT3 Cup car, the most-produced GT racing car in the world (with more than 3,000 units sold in 996, 997, and 991 generations). It runs in Porsche’s 20 one-make series races all over the world. It’s so close to the road-going GT3 that it’s even built on the same production line. It’s funny—go to any track day, and you’ll find this very quick and bulletproof 485-hp machine dominating the place. While here today, it’s like a little brother.

The transmission is an air-actuated paddle- shift sequential six-speed, and yeah, we miss the involvement of the now-antique H-pattern stick, but the computer saves you from costly overrevs, spins, and crashes because it perfectly matches revs and will not allow the driver error of a bad downshift. Instead, drivers find their challenge is in the GT3 Cup’s lack of traction control and antilock brakes. It’s all on you, hero. Price: 189,900 Euros, or about $225,000 at today’s exchange rates.

Driving the GT3 Cup is vicious refinement. Controls, precise. Forces, violent. It rips to 8,500 rpm with whip-crack fingertip shifts. At the limit, it’s demanding, pulling strong g’s in all horizontal directions on broad Michelin slicks. It proudly wears the 911 character with a bit of tail-happiness when turning into a tight corner but changing quickly to strong understeer if the driver impetuously gets on the throttle too soon. The Cup car keeps its pilots on their toes.

This version is the most difficult to drive at the limit of the three racers I’ll drive today. Although it offers adjustable anti-roll bars on both ends, the race-valved shocks are fixed to keep the competition close. It is my estimation that the car was set with a lot of front bar to keep it stable for ham-handed journalists; I found it easy to lock an inside front tire entering the switchbacks. That familiar understeer would appear once the weight had transferred to the outside.

With the power building in second gear while leaving those tight corners, the additional torque of the 4.0-liter could hang the tail in a nice drift. The Cup car demands a lot from its driver, spending a lot of time on a knife edge of control. Perhaps this is done deliberately to enhance the level of driving involvement. But I personally would prefer the beautiful balance of the 911 street cars such as the GT3 and even the relatively simple and satisfying base Carrera.

Next we move to the 911 GT3 R, which is prepped to a more aggressive level for open sports car racing in classes such as IMSA GTD, Pirelli World Challenge, and VLN Endurance at the epic Nürburgring. This GT3’s mission is quite different. No longer a spec-series car, it goes to battle in pro races against other automakers and is built under strict rules and the dreaded Balance of Performance (BoP) criteria. These classes are red-hot right now, with many manufacturers wading into the fray. In fact, its more noticeable if a manufacturer isn’t in this series. The competition is fierce, perhaps more so than at any other time in history. A manufacturer can’t just show up and expect to win; it must be totally on its game or suffer the humiliation of backmarker  status.

Surprisingly, the GT3 R engine is very similar to the street unit, generating about a rated 500 hp depending on the rules of the series it’s running. This power runs through the Porsche sequential six-speed with those ubiquitous paddles that can do no wrong.

The R can easily smoke a Cup car, but that speed comes entirely from the chassis, aero, and tires. The race modifications touch everything. The body treatment enhances downforce and reduces weight, with most of it done in  carbon-fiber composite, of course. It’s still built on the “intelligent aluminum-steel composite construction” of the street GT3 RS, but if you check the specs, this homologated car is actually 20 kilograms (about 44 pounds) heavier than the more street-based Cup car. Say what now? It turns out the light components of the body and other parts allow Porsche to locate the mass more ideally, such as lower and closer to the middle of the car, and thus counteract the added mass of extra width and additional aero pieces.

All windows are polycarbonate, even the windshield (a first for Porsche). There is the unique double-bubble roof from the street RS (reducing frontal area) and a radiator repositioned to a much more protected location between the front wheels and vented through the hood—also reducing polar moment for quicker turn-in and making fragile coolers much more likely to survive on-track battles. I’ve been there in more than a few 911 race cars; a light touch to a front corner, and a sure win slips away. The heartbreakingly sweet aroma of leaking coolant is the bitter stench of defeat.

Aero tweaks are many, from an enormous splitter out front to huge, racy vents atop the front fenders and more wing (always a personal favorite). The track is widened considerably with fat front fenders and rear flares covering the ever-larger race slicks on BBS wheels. More width equals more cornering g—it’s that simple.

The 991 GT3 R still uses the sturdy strut-type front suspension like the street car, with racing versions of its ABS and traction control, as well. This creates great confidence and lets me attack the Lausitzring with times that impress my young Werksfahrer guide, Mathieu. Perhaps because of this, the 911 R was my favorite. It had quicker, sharper responses than the Cup, yet it was more hooked up, as well, more stable in the critical entry to the corner. The balance was better, the limits were higher, and with the ABS safety net, I dove deeply into the brake zones. Exiting the turns, the GT3 R seemed to have better traction, but honestly it was masked a bit by the traction control. I came out of this car pumped and ready to race. If anyone has a spare 429,000 Euros ($506,000), I’ll gladly take one! But alas, time to move on. The RSR awaits.

Have you been frustrated by how the 911 clings to the tradition of the rear-mounted engine? Do you think “Finally!” when hearing that this world-class racer has repositioned the flat-six into the back seat? Have you no respect for the 50-year cult surrounding the Porsche holy scripture? Besides, rear weight is ideal for braking into and powering out of corners. So there.

Until now. The blasphemous RSR of 2017 is aft-engine no longer. Could it be a sign of the future for the vaunted sports car? Porsche engineers were mute on the subject. Just remember, this is motorsports. Victory is expected, but the FIA writes the rules. And the rules forced Porsche’s hand. Have you seen the outrageous protrusions jutting from the rear of today’s GT3-class racers? When I saw the Audi R8 and Lamborghini diffusers two years ago, I was sure they’d be dislodged in the first corner. Regardless, it means low-drag downforce, and it’s really fast. Unfortunately, having the flat-six out back puts it in the way.

This is not the first time race-bred Porsches have “positioned the engine in front of the rear axle,” as they like to say (the term “mid-engine” was never seen in the press release or heard in talking points). Every Porsche prototype has placed it there, from the 962 to this year’s overall LeMans-winning 919 Hybrid. And the limits of the 911 concept have been pushed forward before, as with the 911 GT1 that triumphed at LeMans in 1998. Don’t hate the player; hate the regulations.

This concept makes this RSR a very special 911, indeed. It’s a ground-up fresh design—even wider than the GT3 R (for more g), with a couple more inches of wheelbase—that maximizes every aspect of the rules. Another striking evolution is the use of  control arms at the front axle, which, combined with the engine placement, makes this chassis racing-spiral its way ever closer to the realm of full-on prototypes. In the words of the head of Porsche Motorsport, Frank-Steffen Walliser: “While retaining the typical 911 design, this is the biggest evolution by now in the history of our top GT model.”

As with the GT3 R compared to the Cup car, the RSR will in turn wax the GT3 R. And again, it is not due to the engine, which is quite similar to the others. Rather, it’s from PerformanceJunk WP Feed 3 http://ift.tt/2xrdbjg via IFTTT