Karen Lile and Rick Tittle interview Ian Williams after his historic 9th Title win 11 Jan 2026 finalized in Shenzhen, China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ian Williams (GBR) and his Pindar by Manuport Logistics team of Gerard Mitchell, Richard Sydenham and Jon Gundersen made history today by winning a record-breaking ninth Match Racing World Championship title at the 2025 World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) <\/a>Final in Shenzhen. Williams defeated Sweden\u2019s Oscar Engstr\u00f6m 2-0 in a tense, first-to-two-points final, successfully defending his title for the third consecutive year.After a delayed start to the final day, anticipation was high with three teams still in the running. The semifinal saw a thrilling deciding battle between USA\u2019s Chris Poole and Engstr\u00f6m, which was tied 2-2 the previous evening. In a dramatic finish, Engstr\u00f6m triumphed after a tense downwind leg, securing his place in the final against Williams.The final kicked off with a flawless performance from Williams, who quickly established a four-boat-length lead after a well-executed pre-start and upwind leg. Engstr\u00f6m, racing in his first-ever WMRT final, and against the multiple world champion, was unable to close the gap, and Williams sealed the first point with a controlled, mistake-free finish.In the second race, Engstr\u00f6m faced immense pressure after a costly penalty early on. Williams capitalized on the advantage, expertly handling the shifts and outmanoeuvring the Swedes to maintain the lead. As Engstr\u00f6m struggled to recover, Williams crossed the line to claim victory, completing his third straight World Championship win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n