In a thrilling display of grit and skill, George Wanderley and Saymon Barbosa ignited the crowd at the Beach Volleyball Pro Tour Elite16 in Joao Pessoa by defeating the reigning Olympic champions, David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig. Playing before a home crowd, the Brazilian pair secured a 2-1 win with set scores of 16-21, 21-18, and 15-13, propelling them directly into Saturday’s second elimination round.
Despite entering the tournament as the 16th-ranked team in the main draw, George & Saymon bounced back after conceding the first set. Their strong teamwork and ability to adapt under pressure allowed them to overcome the odds against the fourth-seeded Swedish duo, highlighting the unpredictable nature of elite beach volleyball tournaments.
They weren’t the only ones causing upsets. The Portuguese duo of João Pedrosa and Hugo Campos, ranked lowest among the 24 teams, created ripples by winning their pool. Their impressive victories included defeating top-seeded Norwegians Mol & Sørum and American Olympians Miles Evans and Chase Budinger.
Other standout teams advancing from pool play include:
- Austria’s Timo Hammarberg & Tim Berger
- The Netherlands’ Stefan Boermans & Yorick de Groot
- Sweden’s Jacob Holting Nilsson & Elmer Andersson, who narrowly defeated Argentina’s Capogrosso brothers
The first elimination round begins Friday, with intensity expected to escalate as teams battle for a place in the final stages. The Joao Pessoa event continues to serve as a critical stop on the 2025 Beach Volleyball Pro Tour, shaping the path for global beach volleyball rankings.
