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The Turkish Süper Lig 2023/24 prediction game is over.

The Croatian Prva liga 2023/24 prediction game is over.

The Danish Superliga 2023/24 prediction game is over.

The Indian Premier League 2024 prediction game is over.

The Giro d'Italia 2024 prediction game is over.

The Manchester Open / Men's Singles 2024 prediction game is over.

The Czech First League 2023/24 prediction game is over.

The Malaysia Masters / Men's Singles 2024 prediction game is over.

The Coupe de France 2023/24 prediction game is over.

The Swiss Super League 2023/24 prediction game is over.

The DFB Pokal 2023/24 prediction game is over.

The CAF Champions League 2023/24 prediction game is over.

The Ekstraklasa 2023/24 prediction game is over.

The AFC Champions League 2023/24 prediction game is over.

The UEFA Women's Champions League 2023/24 prediction game is over.

The European Rugby Champions Cup 2023/24 prediction game is over.

The Scottish Cup 2023/24 prediction game is over.

The FA Cup 2023/24 prediction game is over.

The Ukr. Premier League 2023/24 prediction game is over.

The A-League 2023/24 prediction game is over.

The OFC Champions League 2024 prediction game is over.

The Hamburg European Open / Men's Singles 2024 prediction game is now open for registration. You can sign up here.

The Premier League Darts 2024 prediction game is over.

The Singapore Open / Men's Singles 2024 prediction game is now open for registration. You can sign up here.

The Europa League 2023/24 prediction game is over.

Fabio Jakobsen has been having all sorts of problems during this Giro. Normally a regular top-3 contender was literally non-existent during all previous 4 sprints, in most cases dropped from the peloton on a hill or an ascent. Making people guess every time if it is him or rather Lund Andresen to sprint on a given day.

Today was supposed to be the day where he might have regained some of his glory, a totally flat and broad straight to the finish line. not too many hills or bumps underway. Bookmakers had even had him at no.3 before the stage.

Unfortunately he crashed hard when sprinting for the victory. Not sure but I think he is out now, with a few more sprinters stages still to come.

Because of this very special season, the club is now offering something unusual. On three days in the coming week, as well as before the last home game against Augsburg or at the fan festival before the cup final in Berlin, supporters can get one of the selected club tattoos for free. The campaign is titled 'Love, that lasts a lifetime'.
Notice: This text was created by ChatGPT.

In F1 points for fastest lap and dnf don't count for any kind of standings?

In F1 points for fastest lap and dnf don't count for any kind of standings?

To fans who predict sport with flair,
Easter greetings to you, fair and square!
May your predictions be right,
In the day and the night,
And joy fill the springtime air!
Notice: This text was created by ChatGPT.

There once was a rider so fleet,
In Stage 5, he just couldn't be beat.
With strength and with grace,
He set a fast pace,
In Catalunya, he claimed the top seat.

His rivals, they tried to keep up,
But he was the one with the cup.
Through mountains and bends,
He set the new trends,
In the end, he was the top pup.

So remember his name with delight,
In Catalunya, he was the knight.
In Stage 5, he soared,
The crowd, they roared,
His victory was a beautiful sight.
Notice: This text was created by ChatGPT.

(Verse 1)
Yo, yo, step on the ice, heart beating like a drummer,
Want to be the wall, aka the summer bummer,
Why, you ask? Why choose this path?
Let me drop the beat and break down the math.

It's not just about stopping the puck,
It's about tranquility amidst the ruck.
Of a thousand cheers and a thousand jeers,
The goalie stands tall, be brushing off peers.

Chorus:
I'm an ice hockey goalie, got nothing to prove,
In the net, in the zone, always on the move.
Your shots come in hot, they leave in despair,
'Cause I'm an ice hockey goalie, not a single scare.

(Verse 2)
I'm the last line of defense, the final play,
Shield of the team, I hold sway.
Strapped with courage, armed with grace,
In my crease, you're in my space.

The thrill of the save, the resounding cheer,
The siren’s ululate whispers in my ear,
The taste of victory, or a loss's bite,
Living on the edge, that's the goalie's fight.

Chorus:
I'm an ice hockey goalie, quick as a fox,
In the net, in the zone, despite the shocks.
Your fury’s fierce but my steel’s rarer,
'Cause I'm an ice hockey goalie, the icy barrier.

(Outro)
I'm a guardian, a phantom, a steel silhouette,
In the center of the storm, where courage and fear intersect.
A passion and purpose, a calling embraced,
I'm an ice hockey goalie, and I won't be displaced.

So that's why we stand, we block, we weave,
With the roar of an ice rink as our reprieve.
Hearing the song of the puck before it flies,
We're the ice hockey goalies, the winter skies.
Notice: This text was created by ChatGPT.

As an AI, I cannot foretell,
Who in tonight's match will excel.
Poland or Estonia,
In this grand arena,
Only time will truly tell.

The ball will be kicked, passed, and spun,
Until the night's game is done.
Will Poland take flight,
In the cool of the night?
Or will Estonia have all the fun?

So, tune in to watch and see,
Who the victor will be.
In this game of might,
Under the stadium light,
It's a thrilling mystery.
Notice: This text was created by ChatGPT.

Legia's might is weak,
Champions League, a peak too steep,
Victory they can't keep.
Notice: This text was created by ChatGPT.

Nottingham Forest have been deducted four points for breaching the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules, dropping them into the relegation zone. The club breached the relevant PSR threshold of £61m by £34.5m. The breach was related to the sale of Brennan Johnson, for which Forest received a £30m offer but waited for a better deal, selling him for £47.5m to Tottenham in September. The club claimed their approach was designed to make them more sustainable. However, the Premier League commission described the breach as 'serious' and said the points deduction was needed to maintain the integrity of the league. Despite the sanction, the club was praised for demonstrating 'exceptional cooperation' with the league throughout the disciplinary process.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/18/nottingham-forest-docked-four-points-premier-league-financial-rules-breach-profitability-and-sustainability
Notice: This text was created by ChatGPT.

... are from now on only visible to players which participate in the according prediction game.

During an amateur cycling race in Spain, only 52 out of 182 registered riders reached the finish line. There are suspicions that many riders dropped out of the race to avoid potential doping controls at the finish line. This was reported by the Spanish cycling portal ciclo21.com and the radio station 'Onda Cero'. It is a known phenomenon that riders do not compete if there are rumours of doping controls at the finish line. Some riders claimed they quit the race due to tire punctures, crashes, and the difficult track with two mountains and a total of 1500 meters of ascent. Other riders anonymously accused their competitors of quitting the race due to the impending doping controls. The race organizers have not specifically commented on the allegations against the riders who dropped out of the race but have published a statement on their website expressing their opposition to doping.

https://www.spiegel.de/sport/alicante-140-fahrer-bei-radrennen-am-start-nur-50-kommen-ins-ziel-wegen-dopingkontrollen-a-6c8d2cbf-7163-446b-ba1a-ed9f3c7de954
Notice: This text was created by ChatGPT.

Nigeria won record 8 bronze medals! No other team ever came close to this number (Ghana has 4). Unfortunately, they are not equally successful at winning gold and silver (3 and 4 respectively). Still, Nigeria are a team with record 15 medals won, better than Egypt (13) and Ghana (10). And they are one win away from adding another one this year.

Nigeria's all-time greats include Nkwankwo KANU, Jay-Jay OKOCHA, Rashidi YEKINI, Finidi GEORGE, Viktor IKPEBA, Taribo WEST, Sunday OLISEH, Emmanuel AMUNIKE, John Obi MIKEL and Daniel AMOKACHI.

The name of today and the future though is Viktor OSIMHEN. He won the 2023 African PotY Award, beating Hakimi and Salah. He's 1st Nigerian in 25yrs (i.e. since Kanu's win in 1999) to have won the prestigeous award! Osimhen is joint-6th in the transfermarkt.de ranking (110MEUR worth; same value as Harry Kane or Declan Rice).

I have revised the page for the Cup contest. The new version is much more organized.

Once upon a time, in the bustling city of London, there existed a grand palace known as the Ally Pally. This palace wasn’t home to kings or queens, but it did house the knights of a different kind of round table – the Professional Darts Corporation. Every year, the bravest and best players in the world would gather here to compete in the PDC World Darts Championship.

In the year 2014, a young lad named Luke Littler, at the tender age of 16, managed to charm his way into the final round of this prestigious championship. With his quick-witted accuracy and a calm demeanor, he managed to outplay many seasoned veterans, earning himself a place in the grand finale.

The final match was to be against the mighty Luke Humphries, a player known far and wide for his piercing throws and unyielding spirit. As the match began, young Littler showed no fear. He took control of the game, leading 4:2 against the experienced Humphries. The crowd was on their feet, cheering for the young underdog who was on his way to a fairytale victory.

However, the winds of fate had a different story to tell. Humphries, sensing the mounting pressure, gathered his strength and experience. He fought back with the tenacity of a lion, refusing to let the young Littler snatch away his dream victory. As the game moved forward, Humphries slowly clawed his way back, turning the tide in his favor.

Eventually, it was Humphries who emerged victorious, winning the match 7:4 against the young Littler. The crowd watched in awe as the experienced Humphries overcame the initial setback to claim his throne in the kingdom of darts. The Ally Pally roared with applause for the new world champion, but also for the young Littler, who, despite the loss, had won the hearts of many.

The fairy tale didn't have the ending that Littler might have dreamed of, but it was a tale of courage, grit, and determination. Young Littler, although defeated, was not broken. He had shown the world his potential and proved that he was a force to be reckoned with in future championships.

And so, the 16-year-old knight of the round dartboard walked away from the tournament, head held high, carrying with him lessons of the game and the experience of a lifetime. As the tale of the PDC World Darts Championship 2014 ended, a new chapter began in the story of Luke Littler, the boy who dared to dream.
Notice: This text was created by ChatGPT.

I'll detete the XFL 2024 and USFL 2024 prediction games and create a new UFL 2024 prediction game.
The UFL will have 8 teams (5 from XFL and 3 from USFL).

As the new year makes its grand debut,
To all our players, old and new,
We send you cheer and a hearty hurray,
May luck be yours in the game you play.

From puzzles, riddles, or a guessing spree,
In our world of prediction, you're the key.
So here's to a year of strategic delight,
May your new year predictions be exactly right.

May each guess you make be a winning shot,
And your game strategy hit the right spot.
As the new year bell begins to chime,
Here's to a year of winning, sublime.

As the ball drops, don't forget to cheer,
For all the fun we've had this year.
To all our players, near and far,
Happy New Year, you're our shining star.

So keep on playing, don't lose your spark,
In the realm of guessing, you've made your mark.
To all our champions, big and small,
Happy New Year, best wishes to all!
Notice: This text was created by ChatGPT.

Here's the top-6 of most overestimated riders in this Vuelta (some of them dropped out already), as per number of total stars/votes received from predictors at procyclingstats.com vs their actual points score in all stages (all of them actually scored ZERO):

Coquard FRA 4480
De Gendt BEL 879
Higuita COL 868
Mollema 733
Caruso 664
Fraile 488

Some of other clearly underperforming riders (at least vs people's expectations) include:
JP.Lopez, Menten, Hofstetter, Tiberi, G.Thomas, Lazkano, Almeida, Gregoire,

An interesting little stat, which shows with certainty what the prime age for a GC rider is.

The average age of top-10 finishers in the last 10 years is practically the same for each of the three grand tours.

It is: 29

Not totally sure if all the rosters I used were up to date but a good exercise even if only for illustratory purposes anyway. Here are the teams with 10-plus World Cup roster players:

19 Leinster
19 Benetton
19 Fijian Drua
18 Moana Pasifika
17 Toulouse
16 Edinburgh
15 Glasgow
13 Saracens
13 Toulon
12 Lyon
11 La Rochelle
10 Munster
10 Crusaders

As regards stars and big hopes on the team, I think the numbers are not that representative. I took a quick look at some previews (like top-25 players to watch; best player by national team etc) and fantasy values of players on particular positions. Not a rugby expert by any means but here is how many stars and players to watch I found on the best teams:

Teams with 5-plus star-players:

13(!) Leinster, 8 Toulouse, 5 La Rochelle

So a question to experts: Do Leinster really stand out as regards the team quality (by these measures)?

If it helps with a decision re: GC predictions, here is 50days form ranking from pcc.com:

pcc points scored over last 50D - Name

480 Van Aert
423 C.Rodriguez
295 D.van Poppel
218 Pidcock
203 S.Williams
200 Johannessen
193 Tillier
168 Kooij
136 Politt
116 Swift

It doesn't mean GC points, as points are scored in various categories (eg. sprint) but looking at the list, most of the riders are actually GC favourites for this year's ToB so could be a good guideline, esp. outside the seemingly top-2 clear favourites WVA/Pidcock.

Last year's winner and top-6 favourite Serrano only with 20 points but wasn't perhaps riding much (not sure).

Looking at the ELO ratings, there seem to be 3 big absentees this year:

Tottenham H, Juventus, Chelsea

Otherwise, I think the three cups are fully packed with what Europe has to offer.

Pts (each CL team scores 3pts, each EL team 2pts, each ECL team 1pt) - Country - no of CL participants, no of EL participants, no of ECL paticipants


19 Spain 5 2 0
19 England 4 3 1
17 Germany 4 2 1
17 Italy 4 2 1
13 France 2 3 1
11 Portugal 3 1 0
9 Netherlands 2 1 1
8 Belgium 1 1 3
7 Austria 1 2 0
7 Greece 0 3 1
6 Switzerland 1 1 1
6 Serbia 1 1 1
6 Scotland 1 1 1
5 Turkey 1 0 2
5 Czech Rep 0 2 1
4 Denmark 1 0 1
4 Ukraine 1 0 1
3 Israel 0 1 1
3 Norway 0 1 1
3 Poland 0 1 1
2 Azerbaijan 0 1 0
2 Cyprus 0 1 0
2 Moldova 0 1 0
2 Sweden 0 1 0
2 Slovakia 0 0 2
1 Bulgaria 0 0 1
1 Bosnia and Herceg 0 0 1
1 Faroe Islands 0 0 1
1 Finland 0 0 1
1 Croatia 0 0 1
1 Hungary 0 0 1
1 Iceland 0 0 1
1 Kosovo 0 0 1
1 Kazakhstan 0 0 1
1 Slovenia 0 0 1

35 countries in total with at least one rep in the group phase of a European cup.

It is very rare that a rider is physically able to race in all three grand tours in one season.

This year's there are two such riders: Sepp Kuss and LL.Sanchez and it's been 4 years since it happened previous time (T.de Gendt 2019).

In this view, there is one rider in the modern history of cycling that is definitely worth mentioning, not a very big name, he won a stage at Vuelta and one more at Giro. Adam Hansen is his name (age 41 today) and he is an Australian.

His big achievement: he was able to repeat the triple GT appearance on as many as 6 ocassions and this came in consecutive years 2012-2017! Not only appeared but finished them all. The best GC place he ever managed was 53rd though.

I ran quickly through the names on the list 2000-now. Just one rider made 3 appearances (Farrar 2009-2011) while I think all others were able to to this just once in their career (or 2 max if I missed anyone).

So 6 in a row must be a massive physical burden (18 races in 6 years)!

On SEPP KUSS, he is a powerhouse and a superdomestique for the Jumbo big guys (Ving, Roglic), could likely shine on its own in some smaller team. So with the massive effort he contributes in every tour (plus stress as expectations in this team are always high), 3x in a row is a big thing too.

A rather scary piece of news from today. Luckily one of the offenders was caught redhanded.

https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/video-spanish-police-arrest-four-men-who-planned-on-sabotaging-vuelta-a-espana-with-400-liters-of-oil

I wonder if it might have something to do with a 'Catalunya not Espana' demonstration? Or maybe just a stupid joke. In any case, it might have had very tragic consequences for the ride