Eight-time World champion leads line-up for World Match Racing Tour Final in Shenzhen

by WMRT 27 Nov 21:02 PST 6-11 January 2026

Ian Williams tallks to the media at the 2024 World Match Racing Tour Final © Ian Roman

The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) today announced the sixteen confirmed skippers to compete in the 2025 World Match Racing Tour Final Shenzhen Bao'an 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's 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.

2025 marks the third consecutive year the Bao'an District of the City of Shenzhen 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'an 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'an District Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau.

WMRT Final venue in Shenzhen Bao'an - photo © World Match Racing Tour

"We are very excited to be returning to the spectacular Bao'an District in Shenzhen for the 2025 WMRT Final" commented WMRT Executive Director James Pleasance. "The 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."

The WMRT Trophy by Garrard - photo © World Match Racing Tour

This year's 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'an will be crowned the 2025 World Sailing Match Racing World Champion.

"I am really looking forward to coming back to Shenzhen and hopefully defend our title with the team" added Williams. "It is a very different style of venue in Bao'an 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."

Current points leader of the WMRT leaderboard going into the Shenzhen final is USA's 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.

"Myself and my Riptide Racing team are fully focussed on winning the world championship this year." commented Poole. "The 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's a lot now and so we know the boats well."

Current WMRT Points leader Chris Poole, USA/ Riptide Racing - photo © Ian Roman / WMRT

Joining Williams and Poole in the skipper line-up are Switzerland's Eric Monnin and the Swedish trio of Johnie Berntsson, fresh from his third consecutive win at the Bermuda Gold Cup last month; Oscar Engström, 25, competing in his first match racing world championship; and Björn Hansen, match racing veteran and 'Master of Marstrand' after winning the Swedish stage of the world tour a total seven times.

From New Zealand, 2022 match racing world champion Nick Egnot-Johnson, 27, will be back in Shenzhen with his popular 'Knots Racing' team representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

From Sydney, Australia, the 2024 Youth Match Racing World Champion and Youth America's Cup skipper Cole Tapper, 23, will again be representing the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia under his team's new name 'Kairos Racing'. Tapper finished 8th at the 2024 WMRT Final in Shenzhen Bao'an.

Denmark's 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.

Denmark's Jeppe Borch (pictured far right) and team winning the 2025 Match Cup Marstrand - photo © Wilhelm Eriksson

Completing the skipper line-up are Rocco Attili from Italy, Christian Prendergast from Chicago USA, and no less than five skippers from France - Ian Garreta, Aurélien Pierroz, Timothée Rossi, Tom Foucher and current defending Women's 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's Match Racing World Championship, and in the same year.

"We are thrilled to be invited to compete in the WMRT Final Shenzhen Bao'an" added Courtois. "It 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!"

Defending Women's Match Racing World Champion Pauline Courtois, FRA (pictured far left) and her Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team - photo © Ian Roman / WMRT

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's Bureau of Sports and Tourism. One of China's fastest growing modern metropolises with a population over 18million across its nine district, Shenzhen links Hong Kong to China's mainland, known for its many shopping destinations and contemporary buildings such as the 600m-tall skyscraper Ping An International Finance Centre.

2024 World Match Racing Tour - Shenzhen - photo © Ian Roman / WMRT

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'an 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 3×3 World Tour Shenzhen Masters 2025. Recent projects in the district also include the world's largest indoor ski centre Qianhai Snow World launched in 29th Sept 2025.

The newly opened Qianhai Snow World, Shenzhen - photo © World Match Racing Tour

"On behalf of Bao'an, Shenzhen, I extend our warmest welcome to the world's top skippers competing in the World Match Racing Tour Finals," said Liang Haiyang, Director of the Bao'an District Public Culture and Sports Service Center.

"Shenzhen 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'an during the event, experience the thrill of sailing, and cheer for the athletes."

2025 WMRT Final Shenzhen Bao'an confirmed skippers: