26/05/2026
The 27th Masters Championship Final brought the action and didn’t dissapoint! Did your pick come out on top?
The finalists launched from the pit to the cheers of the crowd at Boat Race Miyajima, and immediately attention was drawn to Shirai (in the red Boat No. 3), as he stood out by opting to start his runup towards the start line from the very back.
His strategy paid off, and he surged forward to a strong start, aggressively approaching the first mark before expertly maneuvering inside with a perfectly timed sashi (inside pass). Kikuchi (in the blue Boat No. 4) also attempted a sashi of his own, making an intense early battle, but Kikuchi ultimately ended up falling behind Shirai as they pulled out of the turn.
Down the straights the race split into two gripping contests. Uryu (in the white Boat No. 1) fending off relentless pressure from Sugiyama (in the yellow Boat No. 5), whilst Ishiwata (in the black Boat No. 2) and Shirai battled it out.
As the four boats approached the second mark, it was Shirai who seized the moment and turned with precision, bursting forward to seize the lead!
Final Results:
🥇 1st: Eiji Shirai (Red Boat No. 3)
🥈 2nd: Masaki Sugiyama (Yellow Boat No. 5)
🥉 3rd: Teppei Ishiwata (Black Boat No. 2)
Did the race unfold like you predicted? Let us know how your pick performed in the comments!