What a great tourney it was! I am very proud of how everyone did here.
Even Milo held out strong as the only elite and got 2 9th places, as
well as being close to 9th on hard courses like DK and CM lap! As
expected, the top seed won the tourniment, cause he is undefeated so far
in tourney play, but I'd like to caution you that there was 3 other
karters that had an equal chance of taking him down, so keep training
folks, we could have a new champion the next time we won the tourney.
Also, the 10 people was the biggest turnout in history. I hope the next
one will be that much bigger! Gotta get an invitational going for the
best players ever someday! Now for the round by round stuff...

Tourney Rules (no Retrys after the 5 minute mark is reached... 6 for
pal... continuation legal)
All Events WITHOUT the use of shortcuts as specified by Kevin Booth.
L= Late Entry.. but set during the tourney
A= Reported in for the tourney, but was allowed to complete with an
absentee later on after tourney

Round 1: Kris Milos Home Course: Moo Moo Farm Fastlap (5 minutes)

1st: Matt Batastini 24"13
2nd: Jonathan Bernier 24"18
3rd Brian Gallo 24"22 (L)
4th Sami Cetin 24"45
5th Michael Liem 24"52
5th Louis-Philippe Sabbagh 24"52
7th Kevin Booth 24"53
8th Jon Kretschmer 24"54
9th Chris Hames 24"77
10th Kris Milo 24"95

The first round was pretty much about most karters getting out the
rust. Batastini and Bernier were the hot hands going into the
tourney, so they were ready to take control of their own destiny. Brian
Gallo was 2 rounds behind for his clutch 3rd place time. Sami Cetin was
just warming up as well with his time, but is working on a strat to get
him down into the 23s for a PR. As far as the rest, they generally
didn't like the moles and ended up having to settle for less. Booth had
not played kart til that first round.. NONE/ZERO/ZIP since Perfect Dark
came out. So it took 3 minutes just to get MTs down again. Anyhow,
Milo didn't really defend his course, but sub 25 in 5 minutes is great
for an Elite.. In comparison, the best Elite time back in 1997 by
Launspach was 24"80s, so 95 in 5 minutes is bordering an insane placing!

Round 2: Chris Hames' Home Course: Choco Mountain Lap (5 minutes)

1. Chris Hames 32"42
2. Matt Batastini 32"43
3. Michael Liem 32"47
4. Brian Gallo 32"50 (L)
5. Sami Cetin 32"55
6. Jonathan Bernier 32"63
7. Jon Kretschmer 32"66
8. Kevin Booth 32"68
9. Louis-Philippe Sabbagh 32"73
10. Kris Milo 33"00

WTG HAMES! That is the way to defend your home course. As you can see,
Batastini is looking damn good in this tourney, and is showing kart that
he is tired of being in the shadow of Gallo =). Well it's a long,
tourney, so well see what happens. Liem hanging strong once again with
a 3rd place there. Gallo is still 2 rounds down with an ok hit on this
course. Cetin stays consistent. Bernier and Booth did not fare good on
this course, and Sabbagh was not too clutch either. Kris Milo did great
with 33 even. Most Elites don't break that time til they are about
king.

Round 3: Jon Kretschmer's home Course Kalimari Desert 3lap (5 minutes)

1. Brian Gallo 1'46"04 (L)
2. Jonathana Kretschmer 1'46"32
3. Matt Batastini 1'46"41
4. Kevin Booth 1'46"55
5. Sami Cetin 1'46"58
6. Jonathan Bernier 1'46"88
7. Michael Liem 1'47"08
8. Louis-Philippe Sabbagh 1'47"47
9. Chris Hames 1'48"22
10. Kris Milo 1'48"64

Well, the favorite in this course won it, but Jon did not do bad in his
attempt to hold the house up. Sorta disappointed here, cuase the winner
should have easily got 1'45! I was getting 35"30s easy, but of course
blew the race with missed Mts. Sami stays consistent as Liem and hames
struggle here. Milo did decent with 1'48s as most Elites have a hard
time with sub 1'48 period with unlimited time! Hames is starting to
faulter in the rarely played courses cause of some inactivity.

Round 4: Louis-Philippe Sabbagh's home course Mario Raceway Fastlap (5
minutes)

1. Brian Gallo 23"35
2. Sami Cetin 23"44
3. Jonathan Bernier 23"47
4. Chris Hames 23"61
5. Kevin Booth 23"66
6. Michael Liem 23"68
7. Matt Batastini 23"69
8. Louis-Philippe Sabbagh 23"77
9. Jon Kretschmer 23"82
10. Kris Milo 24"27

Brian Gallo knew he'd win this one... just minutes into tourney he got
his time and dropped his controller. That is a BAD idea with Cetin and
Bernier, which are red hot on this fastlap. Luckily, they didn't hit
what they wanted, and settled for 2nd and 3rd. Still Cetin keeps
consistent in this tourney! Hames hits a good time as expected here.
Booth did not do bad with his 60s time. Matt is starting to go down by
the wayside after a strong first 3 rounds at 7th place here. Jon had a
bad round with an 80s time and got beat by Louis for his best finish
since tying the 3rd round and 5th the first round. Milo didn't do bad
with his low 24s time, for former 2nd best player in world Jason Engel
has about that for his PR currently =).

Round 5: Matt Batastini's Home Course Koopa Troopa Beach Fastlap (5
minutes)

1. Michael Liem 26"26
2. Matt Batastini 26"29
3. Jonathan Bernier 26"34
4. Kevin Booth 26"35
5. Sami Cetin 26"42
6. Brian Gallo 26"48
7. Jon Kretschmer 26"52
8. Chris Hames 26"58
9. Kris Milo 27"10
10. Louis-Philippe Sabbagh 30"16

Man, Holland Rejoice, cause that is a damn good performance from the
Liem! Managed to beat KTB specialist Matt Batastini
and Nintendo Powers Validated Champion, Jonathan Bernier. Kevin Booth
got his lap within 3 minutes and promptly dropped controller. Sami
Cetin, what can I say, is just having the tourniment of his career.
This is why he's #1 in SMK folks! Gallo absolutely hates this course,
so he finished bad here, still not near as bad as Sabbagh!!!! Could
someone please email him and tell him where the ramp is. =) Milo did
good with an almost sub 27 as an elite, and Hames is slumping still.

Round 6: Michal Liems' Home Course Royal Raceway 3lap (5 minutes)

1st Jon Kretschmer 2'26"40
1st Brian Gallo 2'26"40
3rd Matt Batastini 2'26"51
4th Sami Cetin 2'26"58
5th Chris Hames 2'26"72
6th Jonathan Bernier 2'26"99
7th Michael Liem 2'27"04
8th Kevin Booth 2'27"29
9th Louis-Philippe Sabbagh 2'27"51
10th Kris Milo 2'29"15

Jon was clearly hot here, with a semi-competitive field. I was very
suprised Gallo did not crush everyone here, that is for sure, but he did
manage to co-champ Jon. Matt did ok, but is also a hot hand here too.
Cetin, what can I say... He should get an award for the great
performance in this tourney! Hames a solid round and a decent one from
Bernier... Liem/Booth and Sabbagh were hoping for a bit more here. Milo
did just fine, cause Elites have a hell of a time with the nessessary
SSMTs that make this course lightening fast!

Round 7: Sami Cetin's Home Course Donkey Kongs Jungle Parkway Course

1. Brian Gallo 1'55"19
2. Sami Cetin 1'55"74
3. Michael Liem 1'56"34
4. Jonathan Bernier 1'57"04
5. Chris Hames 1'57"56
6. Kevin Booth 1'58"49 (A)
7. Louis-Philippe Sabbagh 1'59"03 (A)
8. Jon Kretschmer 2'00"57
9. Kris Milo 2'02"60
10. Matt Batastini DNF

Man, I can see Gallo Salivating from here! However, Cetin did great
with a 2nd place here. Gallo was ticked off cause he didn't BREAK 38 on
5 minutes =). Liem and Bernier did a solid run here, cause DK is a pain
when you only have 5 minutes. Hames also finished strong as well. The
rest of the pak was preying they would not screw up in save or go Mario
Fin Surfiing! Matt went far too risky, and was unlucky enough never to
make it to the line 3 times. Milo did, and gets is 2nd 9th place finish

in the tourniment.

Round 8 Kevin Booth's Home Course... Toad's Turnpike Lap (5 minutes)

1. Sami Cetin 49"83 (A)
2. Jon Kretschmer 49"97
3. Kevin Booth 49"98 (A)
4. Jonathan Bernier 49"99
4. Chris Hames 49"99
6. Matt Batastini 50"01
7. Brian Gallo 50"15
8. Louis Philippe-Sabbagh 50"24 (A)
9. Michael Liem 50"36
10. Kris Milo 50"82

Sami took advantage of a bad Booth Run for his first of 2 wins this
tourney! Not only is sami consistent, but he is clutch too in
chase of Gallo! Jon did awesome. What a strong time from him. Gee
whiz, could the top 6 get any closer? Booth blew all his runs and
scored the worst ever in a 5 minute period with barley under 49. Gallo
hates TT and got a 50s lap, and Liem had an unusually hard time here as
well. Milo just couldn't do the backstretch as fast as the competition,
so he settled for a high 50s time.

Round 9 Jonathan Bernier's Home Course Moo Moo Farm 3lap (5 minutes)

1. Sami Cetin 1'14"78 (A)
2. Jonathan Bernier 1'14"94
3. Brian Gallo 1'15"28
4. Chris Hames 1'15"61
5. Michael Liem 1'15"72
6. Jon Kretshmer 1'16"40
7. Matt Batastini 1'16"43
8. Kevin Booth 1'16"81 (A)
9. Louis-Philippe Sabbagh 1'18"00 (A)
10. Kris Milo DNF

Sami is on fire! Can he catch Gallo? Time will tell, but til then
great job from him and Bernie which broke 1'14. 1'15 isn't bad, and
Gallo, Hames and Liem got those as well. Jon and Matt held on for 1'16s
and Booth had easily his worst round of all here. MMF is just not his
cup of tea today. Louis hung on, and Milo waved the white flag
frantically at the moles in discust!

Round 10 Brian Gallo's Home Course Donkey Kong Jungle Park Fastlap (5
minutes)

1. Brian Gallo 36"08
2. Sami Cetin 36"48 (A)
3. Kevin Booth 36"63 (A)
4. Michael Liem 36"95
5. Jonathan Bernier 37"00
6. Chris Hames 37"15
7. Louis-Philippe Sabbagh 37"26
8. Jon Kretschmer 37"48
9. Matt Batastini 37"74 (A)
10. Kris Milo 37"95

Man, Gallo should have to be blindfolded on DK... so unfair! Well Sami
was pretty clutch here with a 2nd place, but best round honors have to
go to Kevin Booth which landed only .30 from his PR with his great run!
Now that is a way to finish off a struggling tourney effort! Liem did
ok and got under 37 as Bernie matched 37. Hames and Sabbagh had strong
runs in the low 37s as well as Kretschmer. Matt Batasti and DK is the
sad reason why he did not have a chance at the championship. He almost
got beat by Milo that also had a great round to almost pass Matt.

FINAL RESULTS
(1st gets 1 2nd gets 2.... 10th gets 10th)

#1 Brian Gallo 28
#2 Sami Cetin 31
#3 Jonathan Bernier 41
#4 Matt Batastini 50*
#5 Michael Liem 50
#6 Chris Hames 55
#7 Kevin Booth 56
#8 Jon Kretschmer 58
#9 Louis-Philippe Sabbagh 81
#10 Kris Milo 98

Well Gallo is now a 3-time online tourney champion, which ties booth for
this honor! I'm gonna stand up right now and give an ovation for the
job Cetin did this tourney. You just might win the next one we have!!!
Bernier proves that he still is that great champion of the past with a
strong 3rd place finish. Batastini scored more 2nd places than Liem and
tied him in wins, so he got the *tie breaker* for 4th place. Without
DK, he had a great chance at the title! Liem did just fine at 50 with
some struggling courses here and there. Chris Hames held on for a nice
6th place finish in a very competitive field. Kevin Booth was
definitely the sleeper in the tourney with a sad 7th place finish. Jon
Kretschmer almost beat booth too with a good 8th place finish. Louis
had a hell of a time this tourney in 9th, and Milo gave it his all, and
managed to get some 9th place finishes and 3 close lasts. Milo did
great as the only Elite in the tourney!