The 2025 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour kicks off this week with the Yucatan Challenge in Puerto Progreso, Mexico. This tournament marks the season’s first Challenge event and features a highly competitive men's lineup led by reigning world champions Ondrej Perusic and David Schweiner of Czechia.
New Tournament Format
The event, running from March 19 to March 23, introduces a new format with a 32-team main draw. Eight teams will advance from the qualification rounds to join 24 pre-seeded duos. The structure consists of pool play followed by a knockout phase, where teams will compete for the title.
Strong Contenders in the Field
Perusic and Schweiner make a return to Mexico, where they won the 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship. They aim to climb the rankings after limited appearances last season. However, strong challengers look to stand in their way, including:
- Noslen Diaz and Jorge Alayo (Cuba)
- Marco Grimalt and Esteban Grimalt (Chile)
- Chase Budinger and Miles Evans (USA)
New Partnerships to Watch
Several newly formed duos will also compete, adding excitement to the tournament. Some notable pairings include:
- Samuele Cottafava and Gianluca Dal Corso (Italy)
- Samuel Schachter and Jonathan Pickett (Canada)
- Arnaud Gauthier-Rat and Theo Rotar (France)
- Jacob Holting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson (Sweden) – winners of the final Challenge events in 2024
Qualification and Match Schedule
The qualification rounds begin on March 19, featuring notable players such as:
- Alexander Horst (Austria)
- George Wanderley (Brazil)
- Trevor Crabb (USA)
Main draw action starts on March 20, leading up to the finals on March 23. Fans can expect intense competition as top teams battle for the first Challenge title of the season.
For more details, visit the official Volleyball World website.
