The Festival di Sanremo has kicked off its 2025 edition, bringing not just the glitz and glamour of music but also the equally exciting world of Fantasanremo, the popular fantasy game connecting millions of fans. This year marks another record-setting participation, with over 3.3 million users forming more than 5 million teams, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats as they track their chosen artists' performance.
For those new to the concept, Fantasanremo allows participants to create virtual teams composed of artists competing onstage, scoring points based on their actions and performances. With this year’s changes, players can now select seven artists each, including two reserves. They can modify their lineup every night, creating dynamic strategies as the event progresses.
On opening night, February 11, both fans and artists participated with passion. Key bonuses for the night contributed significantly to how scores were tallied. For example, wearing sunglasses was worth +5 points, scoring 10 for interesting fashion statements like donning red outfits or simply embracing the co-hosts, Gerry Scotti and Antonella Clerici. On the flip side, any whiff of scaccolamento - yes, you read right - would lead to losing 10 points!
Starting strong, Gaia secured +20 points simply for being the first to perform, with the added bonus of having dancers accompanying her on stage. Other artists, like Francesco Gabbani, felt the sting of penalties; his choice of total black attire netted him -5 points but was counterbalanced when he received +10 for flair via a flower adornment on his jacket.
Rkomi emerged as one of the standout performers, racking up +45 points overall after incorporating stylish elements and interacting joyfully with the audience, including some cheeky movements known as the "scapezzolata." It seems he had prepared well, aided by the presence of entertaining performers alongside him.
The artist also known as Achille Lauro, who surprisingly opted not to engage extensively with the Fantasanremo format this year, ended with just 5 points. Perhaps his warning to fans beforehand turned out to be true: those who chose him as their team captain might have regretted it, especially as he had countless followers numbering over 987,000. "For anyone who chose me as captain, you've made a mistake!" he had proclaimed, and this foreshadowed his lackluster scoring.
Among other notable performances, the group Coma_Cose benefitted from their vibrant stage presence, gaining +30 points and effectively employing their collective talents. They were followed closely by popular acts like Lucio Corsi, who also showcased impressive scoring through creative presentation and audience engagement, effectively translating their stage presence to actual scoreboards.
Elodie and Rose Villain also had memorable appearances, garnering points for their interactions and creative dress choices, successfully channeling the competitive energy seen throughout the opening night of the festival.
Despite the exciting scores and outstanding performances by many artists, some participants faced unfortunate setbacks. Francesca Michielin dealt with technical difficulties during her performance, potentially costing her significant points, which highlight the inherent unpredictability and thrill associated with live events.
Reflecting on the community behind Fantasanremo, it is remarkable to see how this game, initially created by friends at the bar Papalina, has evolved from its humble beginnings to now boast millions of players who relish not just the music, but also the strategic play behind selecting the winning artists. The organizers expressed disbelief at the how fan engagement has skyrocketed: "It's astonishing to see this level of enthusiasm; we never anticipated reaching these numbers!"
With exciting twists and turns expected as the festival progresses, players remain anxious to see how changes in their teams affect standings and their chance at the coveted ‘eternal glory’ status awarded to those with the highest scores. Novelties such as scoring modifications based on real-time actions of artists and peer-to-peer competition are sure to keep spirits high.
Given these enthusiastic beginnings, any follow-up during the festival's progression promises additional challenges to the competitors both on stage and off. Players eagerly anticipate the next round as they assess the strategies adopted with their team selections through ups and downs—a true spectacle emerges mixing humor and fierce competition.
With the night’s preliminary results now out, exciting competition kicks off as fans gather both virtually and physically, sporting their colors and token items to show support for their chosen ones. The intertwining of live performances and competitive fantasy gameplay has once again positioned Sanremo as not just another music festival but as a platform where both artists and their fans can shine together.