Elmer Andersson celebrates a triumphant moment in Gstaad.
Men`s Rankings: New Faces and Familiar Dominance
Among the most compelling stories to emerge from Gstaad is the remarkable ascent of Swedish youngsters Jacob Holting Nilsson, 20, and Elmer Andersson, 19. Under the astute guidance of coach Rasmus Jonsson, this duo began their Gstaad campaign in the qualification rounds, a testament to their hunger and ambition. Their journey culminated in a stellar silver medal finish, marking their first Elite-level hardware. This impressive feat earned them 1,100 World Ranking points, their highest single-tournament haul to date. The net effect was an additional 800 points to their total, catapulting them an astonishing seven positions to claim the number 10 spot globally. For a pair so young, this isn`t just a debut in the top 10; it`s a profound statement of intent.
While the Swedish duo captured headlines with their fresh entry, the men`s top five also saw significant reshuffling. Cherif Younousse & Ahmed Tijan of Qatar, former World Ranking leaders, secured the gold in Gstaad. This victory saw them climb two places, returning to the coveted top five for the first time since October 2023, now holding 5,720 points. Their experience and consistent performance continue to be a benchmark in the sport.
The Dutch pair of Stefan Boermans & Yorick de Groot, another team familiar with the world number one position, made a substantial leap from ninth to third place after clinching the bronze medal in Gstaad. Their strategic performance allowed them to net nearly all of their 1,000 earned points.
This dynamic movement had a ripple effect. Reigning Olympic champions David Ahman & Jonatan Hellvig, who notably skipped this year`s Swiss event after winning it last year, found themselves descending to fourth. Similarly, Argentina`s Nicolas Capogrosso & Tomas Capogrosso, despite a somewhat disappointing 19th-place finish in Gstaad, managed to climb back to the number two spot. This peculiar ascent highlights the intricate mechanics of the ranking system, where the expiration of older points can sometimes be more impactful than recent results for other teams.
Unsurprisingly, at the very pinnacle, Norway`s formidable duo, Anders Mol & Christian Sorum, continue their reign as the world`s number one team. Finishing fifth in Gstaad, they maintain a commanding lead of over two thousand points, a testament to their enduring dominance in the sport.
Women`s Rankings: Sister Acts and the Paradox of Points
On the women`s side, Swiss sisters Anouk Verge-Depre & Zoe Verge-Depre delivered a captivating performance, earning bronze in Gstaad. This marked their fourth consecutive podium finish on the Beach Pro Tour, an impressive display of consistency for a relatively new sibling partnership forged for the current Olympic cycle. As a burgeoning team, they effectively pocketed all the points from their Gstaad success, propelling them an astonishing eleven spots up the chart to debut in the World Ranking top 10, securing the tenth position with 4,392 points from seven tournaments, including a national tour event.
However, the most intriguing narrative in the women`s rankings belongs to USA`s Kristen Nuss & Taryn Brasher. They successfully defended their Gstaad Elite16 title, a remarkable achievement in its own right. Yet, in a twist of ranking irony, this victory did not result in an improved standing. Due to the expiration of points from the 2024 Gstaad event, they held their total score at 4,690 points but were surpassed by other teams, notably their gold-medal showdown opponents Tina Graudina & Anastasija Samoilova of Latvia, and Brazil`s Carol Solberg & Rebecca Cavalcanti. Nuss & Brasher, despite their triumph, descended from fifth to seventh place. It`s a poignant reminder that in the world of professional rankings, sometimes standing still means falling behind.
“In the world of professional rankings, sometimes standing still means falling behind, even when you`re standing on the top of the podium.”
Adding to this complex picture, Brazil`s Carol Solberg & Barbara Seixas, despite a less prominent showing in Gstaad, strategically netted their entire 460 points earned. This allowed them to overtake the Latvians, who had claimed bronze in Gstaad, into the fifth position in the World Ranking.
The top four positions in the women`s chart remained steadfast, reflecting consistent high-level performance from the leading teams. Brazil`s Thamela Coradello & Victoria Lopes maintained their number one status, commanding a significant 1,480-point lead. They are closely followed by USA`s Terese Cannon & Megan Kraft at second, Germany`s Svenja Muller & Cinja Tillmann at third, and Austria`s Dorina Klinger & Ronja Klinger holding strong at fourth.
