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Sports collectibles boom, Topps prepares new surprises

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Topps prepares new surprises

It is no wonder that the sports trading card market has been experiencing exponential growth in recent years, reaching staggering numbers: in 2022 alone it was valued at as much as $9.69 billion, but by 2030 it will reach a record figure of at least $20.48 billion (Kigs Researc).

The most expensive card ever, a 1953 Mickey Mantle produced by Topps and graded SGC 9, è was sold a few years ago for the incredible sum of $12.5 million. A considerable turnover that involves more and more enthusiasts willing to spend exorbitant amounts of money in order to add to their collection the card that is as rare as it is desired.

Collecting è a cultural phenomenon that for generations has united people with common interests, creating a deep sense of community and going beyond mere passion. Topps, an industry leader with more than 80 years of history, continues to innovate and expand the range of products in its catalog, renewing its historic commitment to keeping collecting an extremely successful phenomenon. The collecting experience is now enhanced by events, fairs and shows that bring together enthusiasts of all ages, offering the opportunity to exchange cards, search for rare memorabilia and meet the very champions featured in the not-to-be-missed collections.

In the last few months alone, for example, Topps presented its first two collections of cards and figurines dedicated to the’coveted Uefa Euro 2024™ tournament both at Napoli Comicon – the 2°biggest pop culture festival in the Belpaese – and at Play Modena – the’only Italian event dedicated to board, card and role-playing games. And not only that, in addition to being main sponsor of Collect IT – the first card show dedicated to collectors in our country – at the recent Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix in Monza it launched in style the new edition of Turbo Attax, the TCG (trading card game, i.e., collectible card game) now in its fifth edition that features the 60 drivers that make up the Formula 1, 2 and 3 circuits. A few weeks ago, finally, è it was the turn of the first Topps Hobby RIP Night: an event of international relevance dedicated to lovers of sports collectibles and organized directly by the American giant, which finally presented the long-awaited format also in Italy (in Milan) after the huge success obtained in the United States. Veterans and newbies alike had the opportunity to participate in exciting unboxing sessions and card exchanges, then challenging each other in gripping Pack Battles: whoever finds the most valuable card wins the entire contents of the box!

Throughout 2024, there are also no shortage of prominent personalities actively involved in all these occasions by Topps: from former soccer players Lele Adani, Giorgio Chiellini and Massimo Ambrosini to creators with millions and millions of young followers such as MikeShowSha or the comedy duo Ufozero2.

Ahead of the highly anticipated events of international relevance Lucca Comics & Games and Milan Games Week & Cartoomics, Topps has in store a series of surprises for all its devoted Italian fans worthy of the leader in the world of collectibles.

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Mats Wilander bluntly exposes himself on Jannik Sinner

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The men&#8217s final of the Internazionali d’Italia smiled on Carlos Alcaraz, but Jannik Sinner in turn deservedly took plenty of applause from the crowd in attendance at the Foro Italico, proving that he has remained at his level despite his three-month stop. And for a former No. 1 like Mats Wilander, Sinner’s performance should be analyzed beyond the final result.

“He has the same mentality on clay, cement and grass: he commands the point – the former Swedish tennis player, now a pundit, told ‘Eurosport‘ ’and it is much, much more difficult to do it on clay. We saw in the final that there were a lot of errors because they were hitting the ball so hard with so much spin. And the chances of a wrong bounce are multiplied on clay compared to concrete”.

“What you notice is that Sinner’s way of playing is more and more aggressive, more and more creative, he uses the short ball here and there– added Wilander -. He’s always trying to go to the net. I think Sinner is really the one who is pushing our game toward that style: anticipating, going to the net, playing with variety. Alcaraz does the same thing, but he&#8217s a little bit different. Sinner is a little bit’ more programmed in his aggressiveness”.

Jannik Sinner will arrive at Roland Garros confirming the first position in the world ranking conquered right on the sidelines of the Paris Slam last year, which saw the South Tyrolean stop in the semifinals right in the face of Alcaraz, at the end of five very intense sets: the two could meet again this year, although the direct clash could manifest itself in the final, since Sinner and Alcaraz will arrive in the French capital as first and second in the world ranking.

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Giro 2025, Isaac Del Toro enjoys the pink jersey and reveals a backstory

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Although not particularly well suited to time trials, Isaac Del Toro managed to limit the damage in the Pisa time trial, finishing the stage with a 2’22” gap from the winner, Daan Hoole, but more importantly retaining the pink jersey, with 25″ over teammate (and, at least on paper, his captain) Juan Ayuso.

In the press conference, the young Mexican (also first in the classification that awards the white jersey) spoke both about his approach to Tuesday’s time trial and how he is experiencing these days of wearing the symbol of primacy. “It&#8217s been a good day, I avoided taking too many risks in the corners that could have compromised my Giro” he began.

“The race is going perfectly for the team, there are many of us in the top positions and it will be up to our DSs to decide the strategy for the next few days. I would like to be able to win the Giro, but I will have to have exceptional legs, a bit like in Siena. It is not a problem to wake up with the pink jersey, I have a much harder time falling asleep” he added, revealing a backstory about these intense days of racing.

Aclass of 2003, at UAE Team Emirates XRG since 2024, Isaac Del Toro has already made a name for himself among the pros, winning this season, right in Italy, the Milan-Turin, beating his breakaway companion, Ben Tulett, in a sprint at the conclusion of the 174-kilometer race that took the riders all the way to the Superga pass.

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MotoGp, VR46: Franco Morbidelli outspoken on the'rain unknown

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Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team

The always unpredictable late spring weather could hold some surprises for MotoGp riders, busy next weekend at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix. However, the weather unknown does not seem to frighten Franco Morbidelli, who aims to confirm the good individual results of this first part of the season.

“I really like the Silverstone track and we are looking forward to racing there – said the rider of the Pertamina Enduro VR46 team, founded by Valentino Rossi -. On this track, the team has done well in the past and I have been performing well lately. I am happy to go to Britain and start again with a race weekend”.

“We are confident of a good start to the weekend, I hope it will be good from the weather point of view; in any case, we have shown that our speed is there even in the wet, so we are confident” explained, without mincing words, Morbidelli, who is back from a couple of unlucky races but in the season he has already gone twice to the podium in long races and once in short races.

The Italian-Brazilian centaur joined VR46 this year, where he has been given a Ducati Desmosedici GP24 (the GP25 available to the team is instead the prerogative of teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio). In the first four race weekends he has always finished among the top four in the Sunday GPs, confirming a newfound confidence after four difficult years between Yamaha and Ducati Pramac.

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