Changes

[[Image:Sami,_Florent_and_Geoffrey.JPG|thumb|World Championship 2009]]

[[Image:Sami,_Florent_and_Geoffrey.JPG|thumb|World Championship 2009]]

In 2009, the [http://www.championnat-smk.org/ CDF] evolved into its final form, that of a World Championship (CDM, abbreviation for Championnat du Monde, which means World Championship in French). The event was open for and advertised towards the global SMK population and in the end karters from two additional continents participated. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_america North America] was represented by [http://speedrunwiki.com/Drew_Blumfield Drew Blumfield] from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA USA] once again and this time [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/south_america South America] was represented as well by the Champion of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil Brazil], [[Guilherme Arantes]]. Of course, much like in 2008, karters from throughout [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe Europe] were present,  including karters from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands Netherlands], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland Switzerland], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain Spain], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/england England], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/germany Germany]. Of course the vast majority of the participants came from the hosting nation [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France France] itself.

In 2009, the [http://www.championnat-smk.org/ CDF] evolved into its final form, that of a World Championship (CDM, abbreviation for Championnat du Monde, which means World Championship in French). The event in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allenjoie Allenjoie] was open for and advertised towards the global SMK population and in the end karters from two additional continents participated. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_america North America] was represented by [http://speedrunwiki.com/Drew_Blumfield Drew Blumfield] from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA USA] once again and this time [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/south_america South America] was represented as well by the Champion of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil Brazil], [[Guilherme Arantes]]. Of course, much like in 2008, karters from throughout [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe Europe] were present,  including karters from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands Netherlands], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland Switzerland], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain Spain], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/england England], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/germany Germany]. Of course the vast majority of the participants came from the hosting nation [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France France] itself.

As [http://speedrunwiki.com/Pierre_L%27Hoest Pierre] was still in retirement, Florent was expecting the most fierce competition to come from SMK’s Godfather [http://speedrunwiki.com/Sami Sami], who had been training on-line through [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Console_emulator emulators] for months. [http://speedrunwiki.com/Sami Sami] himself had high expectations of this rivalry as well, judging by a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbT16aFfFvI&fmt=18 trailer] he published in the week prior to the event. It turned out both of them were right, as this year’s tournament essentially was a historically thrilling race between the two, starting right from the beginning and lasting all the way until the very last match. In the [[Time Trial]] event Florent and his opponent [http://speedrunwiki.com/Sami Sami] both reached the final with some strong performances. This year the final was raced on three tracks and a wall crash on the final one, [[BC2]], meant that Florent could not take the gold medal home this time. He was especially focused on Match Race this time around though and much like in previous years he reached the final with relative ease. As expected, he had to face [http://speedrunwiki.com/Sami Sami] in the final again, in what would become one of the most memorable matches in [http://www.championnat-smk.org/ CDF] history. To most onlookers it appeared that Florent was in control of the proceedings, albeit very slightly at most. However, thanks to a somewhat lucky 5 lightning streak (Florent only had 1 to compensate) [http://speedrunwiki.com/Sami Sami] managed to bring the match all the way to the wire. With both players tied on 10-10, the final race on [[VL1]] had to bring the decision. With both players under immense pressure, it was Florent who missed his vital zoomstart and [http://speedrunwiki.com/Sami Sami] won the gold medal as a result. This was undoubtedly one of the most emotional moments in the careers of both karters; Florent broke down in tears afterwards. He later came back on what had happened stating that this had been his way to handle this sensitive moment of extreme disappointment; of course his reaction was also driven by the unlikely circumstances that had contributed to the final score.

As [http://speedrunwiki.com/Pierre_L%27Hoest Pierre] was still in retirement, Florent was expecting the most fierce competition to come from SMK’s Godfather [http://speedrunwiki.com/Sami Sami], who had been training on-line through [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Console_emulator emulators] for months. [http://speedrunwiki.com/Sami Sami] himself had high expectations of this rivalry as well, judging by a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbT16aFfFvI&fmt=18 trailer] he published in the week prior to the event. It turned out both of them were right, as this year’s tournament essentially was a historically thrilling race between the two, starting right from the beginning and lasting all the way until the very last match. In the [[Time Trial]] event Florent and his opponent [http://speedrunwiki.com/Sami Sami] both reached the final with some strong performances. This year the final was raced on three tracks and a wall crash on the final one, [[BC2]], meant that Florent could not take the gold medal home this time. He was especially focused on Match Race this time around though and much like in previous years he reached the final with relative ease. As expected, he had to face [http://speedrunwiki.com/Sami Sami] in the final again, in what would become one of the most memorable matches in [http://www.championnat-smk.org/ CDF] history. To most onlookers it appeared that Florent was in control of the proceedings, albeit very slightly at most. However, thanks to a somewhat lucky 5 lightning streak (Florent only had 1 to compensate) [http://speedrunwiki.com/Sami Sami] managed to bring the match all the way to the wire. With both players tied on 10-10, the final race on [[VL1]] had to bring the decision. With both players under immense pressure, it was Florent who missed his vital zoomstart and [http://speedrunwiki.com/Sami Sami] won the gold medal as a result. This was undoubtedly one of the most emotional moments in the careers of both karters; Florent broke down in tears afterwards. He later came back on what had happened stating that this had been his way to handle this sensitive moment of extreme disappointment; of course his reaction was also driven by the unlikely circumstances that had contributed to the final score.

Moreover, Florent was interviewed for a french TV documentary about the SMK World Championship 2009. It is available to watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzlfWwCcrYY

Moreover, Florent was interviewed for a french TV documentary about the SMK World Championship 2009. It is available to watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzlfWwCcrYY

== SMK World Championship 2010==

== SMK World Championship 2010==