{"id":156648,"date":"2025-11-28T01:28:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T01:28:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/156648\/"},"modified":"2025-11-28T01:28:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T01:28:08","slug":"eight-time-world-champion-leads-line-up-for-world-match-racing-tour-final-in-shenzhen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/156648\/","title":{"rendered":"EIGHT-TIME WORLD CHAMPION LEADS LINE-UP FOR WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR FINAL IN SHENZHEN"},"content":{"rendered":"

London, UK (November 28, 2025) The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) today announced the sixteen confirmed skippers to compete in the 2025 World Match Racing Tour Final Shenzhen Bao\u2019an in China scheduled to take place from 6-11 January 2026. The winner of the WMRT Shenzhen finale will be crowned the World Sailing Match Racing World Champion and receive a share of the USD200,000 prize purse. Great Britain\u2019s Ian Williams, eight-time world champion and current defender of the world title returns to Shenzhen in a bid to add a record ninth world title to his career.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n

2025 marks the third consecutive year the Bao\u2019an District of the City of Shenzhen\u00a0 has hosted the WMRT Final as part of a multi-year host venue agreement with the World Match Racing Tour. Due to the China National Games taking place in Shenzhen this November and December, held every four years with over 14,000 athletes, the WMRT Final Shenzhen Bao\u2019an has been re-scheduled to 6-11 January 2026 with six days of racing to take place in the centre of Shenzhen. The event is operated by China Resources Culture and Sports Development Co. based in Shenzhen and managed by the Bao\u2019an District Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0WMRT Final venue in Shenzhen Bao\u2019an
\n\"\"World Match Racing Tour Trophy by Garrard <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very excited to be returning to the spectacular Bao\u2019an District in Shenzhen for the 2025 WMRT Final\u201d commented WMRT Executive Director James Pleasance. \u201cThe later date for the final this year will run back-to-back with the start of the 2026 Tour season at the Macao Match Cup from 14-18 January which will be an advantage to teams competing in both events by reducing travel time and costs.\u201d <\/p>\n

This year\u2019s world championship also increases the number of qualified skippers from twelve to sixteen with invitations awarded to the 2024 defending world champion Ian Williams (GBR), and the top ranked WMRT and World Sailing match racing skippers. The winner of the WMRT Final Shenzhen Bao\u2019an will be crowned the 2025 World Sailing Match Racing World Champion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am really looking forward to coming back to Shenzhen and hopefully defend our title with the team\u201d added Williams. \u201cIt is a very different style of venue in Bao\u2019an but one that seems to have suited us winning the last two years. I am grateful to have the generous support of Pindar by Manuport Logistics and Gladstones Long Beach again to back our bid again for the title.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Current points leader of the WMRT leaderboard going into the Shenzhen final is USA\u2019s Chris Poole, keen to secure his world championship title after a consistent performance in 2025 with a second-place finish at the Congressional Cup in Long Beach, and third place finishes at the Macao Match Cup and Bermuda Gold Cup stages.<\/p>\n

\u201cMyself and my Riptide Racing team are fully focussed on winning the world championship this year.\u201d commented Poole. \u201cThe lighter and fickle conditions are a challenge in Shenzhen and so our boat handling and crew work are going to be key to getting ahead. We have sailed the Far East 28\u2019s a lot now and so we know the boats well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Current WMRT Points leader Chris Poole, USA\/ Riptide Racing<\/p>\n

Joining Williams and Poole in the skipper line-up are Switzerland\u2019s Eric Monnin and \u00a0the Swedish trio of Johnie Berntsson, fresh from his third consecutive win at the Bermuda Gold Cup last month; Oscar Engstr\u00f6m, 25, competing in his first match racing world championship; and Bj\u00f6rn Hansen, match racing veteran and \u2018Master of Marstrand\u2019 after winning the Swedish stage of the world tour a total seven times.<\/p>\n

From New Zealand, 2022 match racing world champion Nick Egnot-Johnson, 27, will be back in Shenzhen with his popular \u2018Knots Racing\u2019 team representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.<\/p>\n

From Sydney, Australia, the 2024 Youth Match Racing World Champion and Youth America\u2019s Cup skipper Cole Tapper, 23, will again be representing the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia under his team\u2019s new name \u2018Kairos Racing\u2019. Tapper finished 8th at the 2024 WMRT Final in Shenzhen Bao\u2019an.<\/p>\n

Denmark\u2019s Jeppe Borch, 28, from Copenhagen returns to Shenzhen after missing the 2024 WMRT Final due to injury. Earlier this summer, Borch and team secured their first win of the Match Cup Sweden tour stage in Marstrand, sailed in the same Far East 28 boats which will also be in Shenzhen.<\/p>\n

\"\"Denmark\u2019s Jeppe Borch (pictured far right) and team winning the 2025 Match Cup Marstrand <\/p>\n

Completing the skipper line-up are Rocco Attili from Italy, Christian Prendergast from Chicago USA, and no less than five skippers from France \u2013 Ian Garreta, Aur\u00e9lien Pierroz, Timoth\u00e9e Rossi, Tom Foucher and current defending Women\u2019s Match Racing World Champion, Pauline Courtois and her Match in Pink by Normandy Elite team. Should Courtois win the WMRT Final in Shenzhen, she and her team will be the first to successfully win both the Open and Women\u2019s Match Racing World Championship, and in the same year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are thrilled to be invited to compete in the WMRT Final Shenzhen Bao\u2019an\u201d added Courtois. \u201cIt will be our first time in Shenzhen and the level of competition is very high, but we have been working very hard this year as a team and it has been one of our long term goals to win the WMRT Final!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Defending Women\u2019s Match Racing World Champion Pauline Courtois, FRA (pictured far left) and her Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team
\n\"\"2024 World Match Racing Tour Shenzhen Bao\u2019an Final<\/p>\n

Providing the impressive backdrop for the WMRT Final for the third time is the City of Shenzhen in the Guangdong Province, supported by the City\u2019s Bureau of Sports and Tourism. One of China\u2019s fastest growing modern metropolises with a population over 18million across its nine district, Shenzhen links Hong Kong to China\u2019s mainland, known for its many shopping destinations and contemporary buildings such as the 600m-tall skyscraper Ping An International Finance Centre.<\/p>\n

In 2025, Shenzhen has seen a rapid development plan of over 800 major infrastructure projects totalling more than 3 trillion yuan, spanning R&D hubs, transport upgrades, smart-city systems, and green-energy initiatives. The Bao\u2019an District, with its expanding waterfront and modern transport links, has emerged as a strategic host for international sporting events including AFCU20 ASIAN CUP CHINA 2025, the Third Asian amateur WEIQI Championship, and the FIBA 3\u00d73 World Tour Shenzhen Masters 2025. Recent projects in the district also include the world\u2019s largest indoor ski centre Qianhai Snow World launched in 29th Sept 2025.<\/p>\n

\"\"The newly opened Qianhai Snow World, Shenzhen <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cOn behalf of Bao\u2019an, Shenzhen, I extend our warmest welcome to the world\u2019s top skippers competing in the World Match Racing Tour Finals,\u201d said Liang Haiyang, Director of the Bao\u2019an District Public Culture and Sports Service Center. <\/p>\n

\u201cShenzhen boasts a superior business environment and captivating urban scenery, along with extensive experience in hosting world-class events and top-tier sports facilities. We are fully committed to providing comprehensive support to ensure the complete success of the WMRT Finals. We sincerely invite all citizens and visitors to come to Bao\u2019an during the event, experience the thrill of sailing, and cheer for the athletes.\u201d<\/p>\n

2025 WMRT Final Shenzhen Bao\u2019an confirmed skippers<\/p>\n

\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 Chris Poole, USA \u2013 Riptide Racing (World ranking #1)
\n\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udded Eric Monnin, SUI \u2013 Capvis Swiss Match Racing (World ranking #2)
\n\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddea Johnie Berntsson, SWE \u2013 Berntsson Sailing Team (World ranking #3)
\n\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7 Ian Garreta, FRA \u2013 Med Racing (World ranking #4)
\n\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7 Aur\u00e9lien Pierroz,, FRA \u2013 Match in Black (World ranking #5)
\n\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddfaCole Tapper, AUS \u2013 Kairos Racing (World ranking #6)
\n\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddff Nick Egnot-Johnson, NZL \u2013 Knots Racing (World ranking #7)
\n\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7 Timoth\u00e9e Rossi, FRA \u2013 Sudistes Sailing Team (World ranking #8)
\n\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 Ian Williams, GBR \u2013 Pindar by Manuport Logistics (World ranking #10)
\n\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7 Tom Foucher, FRA \u2013 APCC Sailing Team (World ranking #11)
\n\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf9Rocco Attili, ITA \u2013 RBYS Racing (World ranking #13)
\n\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 Christian Prendergast, USA \u2013 A Team (World ranking #17)
\n\ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7 Pauline Courtois, FRA \u2013 Match in Pink by Normandy Elite (World ranking #19)
\n\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddea Oscar Engstr\u00f6m, SWE \u2013 Team Liros (World ranking #24)
\n\u00a0\ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddf0Jeppe Borch, DEN, Borch Match Race Team (World ranking #32)
\n\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddea Bj\u00f6rn Hansen, SWE \u2013 Hansen Sailing Team (World ranking #37)<\/p>\n

World Sailing Open match racing rankings as at 1 October 2025<\/p>\n

For more information, visit www.wmrt.com<\/a> and follow us on social media channels at @worldmatchracingtour<\/p>\n

For more information on Shenzhen, visit https:\/\/www.sz.gov.cn\/en\/<\/a> and https:\/\/www.eyeshenzhen.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Contact: media@wmrt.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

ABOUT WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR<\/p>\n

Founded in 2000, the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) promotes the sport of match racing around the world and is the longest running global professional series in the sport of sailing. The WMRT is awarded \u2018Special Event\u2019 status by the sport\u2019s world governing body \u2013World Sailing \u2013 and the winner of the WMRT each year is crowned World Sailing Match Racing World Champion. Since 2000, the World Match Racing Tour and its events have awarded over USD24million in prize money to sailors which has helped to contribute to the career pathway of many of today\u2019s professional sailors.\u00a0www.wmrt.com<\/a><\/p>\n

ABOUT CHINA RESOURCES CULTURE AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT CO.<\/p>\n

CRCS was established by China Resources Land in response to the national fitness program and the strategy for building a leading sports nation. The company is a leading service provider in China with strong capabilities in sports venue operation and the operation of culture, sports, exhibition and performance events. CRCS\u2019s venue operation business has covered first-tier cities, namely Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, and key second-tier cities such as Chengdu, Hangzhou, Xi\u2019an, Xiamen and Sanya. As of September 2025, CRCS has 20 projects under management, with a total area of over 4 million square meters. It has successfully supported large scale events including the Asian Games, World University Games, National Games, National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities and Asian Winter Games. CRCS has successfully operated a number of international and domestic events including the 34th ITTF-ATTU Asia Cup, 2024 World Match Racing Tour Shenzhen BAO\u2019AN Final and World Bay Area Regatta, King Cup International Badminton Open, National Swimming Championships and Shenzhen Nanshan Half Marathon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"London, UK (November 28, 2025) The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) today announced the sixteen confirmed skippers to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":156649,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[94685,94686,94687,94688,85,46,94689,94690,94691,94692,94693,94694,105,94695,94696],"class_list":["post-156648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-bermuda","tag-chris-poole","tag-ian-garreta","tag-ian-williams","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-johnie-berntsson","tag-julia-aartsen","tag-nick-egnot-johnson","tag-nicole-breault","tag-pauline-courtois","tag-peter-wickwire","tag-sports","tag-wmrt","tag-world-sailing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156648","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156648"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156648\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/156649"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156648"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=156648"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=156648"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}