Italo Ferreira Wins Raglan Title and Becomes World No. 1

Overview

• Italo Ferreira defeated Australia’s Morgan Cibilic in the final with a combined score of 17.50 to 15.80 to claim the Raglan/Manu Bay stage and move to the top of the 2026 world tour standings.
• The semifinal between Ferreira and fellow Brazilian Yago Dora was interrupted when WSL photographer Ed Sloane was struck by a marine animal; Sloane was taken to hospital and has been reported to be OK.
• WSL competition director Renato Hickel said officials could not confirm the species that attacked the photographer and that an on-site doctor leaned toward it being a sea lion rather than a shark.
• Organizers paused the event for roughly four hours to conduct water safety checks, then resumed competition; Ferreira overturned a 6.33–3.00 deficit to win the semifinal 15.10–13.33 and advance to the final.
• The victory is a major result for Ferreira, marking his 11th Championship Tour win and strengthening Brazil’s top positions on the leaderboard while leaving league safety procedures and marine-animal risk management under renewed scrutiny.