Tristan Péron crowned eSailing world champion once again - grand final held in Gdynia during Gdynia Sailing Days
Often hailed as the sailing capital of the country – hosted the 2025 eSailing World Championship Final for the very first time in front of a live audience, during the prestigious Gdynia Sailing Days. The event, organized by Polish Yachting Association (PYA) in cooperation with World Sailing, marked a historic moment in the growing convergence of sailing and e-sports.
In brief
Frenchman Tristan Péron defended his eSailing World Champion title in the grand final held live for the first time in Gdynia as part of Gdynia Sailing Days. The twelve best players in the world competed on the Virtual Regatta Inshore platform, and Poland's representative Bartosz Szydłowski took 10th place, qualifying for the medal race. The Polish Yachting Association hosted and co-organised the event in cooperation with World Sailing, and the broadcast ran on the channels of both organisations. Polish Yachting Association President Tomasz Chamera stressed that the final is part of the road to the 2027 World Sailing Championships in Gdynia.
Twelve of the world’s top virtual sailors competed on the Virtual Regatta Inshore platform in a high-stakes digital regatta that drew global attention. France’s Tristan Péron (Asere) once again demonstrated his dominance in virtual sailing, clinching his second world title after his previous victory in 2023.
Poland’s Bartosz Szydłowski secured 10th place overall, qualifying for the medal race and gaining invaluable experience among the world’s elite.
- The eSailing World Championship Final is the largest event of its kind in the sailing world,” said Szymon Wierzbicki, Olympian and PYA eSailing coordinator. “We’re proud of the flawless execution, from the competition to the live broadcast. It shows what our team is capable of delivering.
The finals were streamed live on the official YouTube and Facebook channels of PYA and World Sailing, engaging both sailing enthusiasts and e-sports fans around the world.
Unlike traditional sailing, in-game adjudication is handled by an automated rules engine, as explained by Katarzyna Goralska, one of the event’s officials.
- All Part 2 rules are resolved by the system. There are no protests or redress requests – unless there's a violation of fair play or Rule 69. It’s a different, fascinating kind of challenge.
The closing ceremony was attended by Tadeusz Szemiot, Chairman of the Gdynia City Council; Olympic medallist Agnieszka Skrzypulec–Szota, Vice President of World Sailing; and Tomasz Chamera, President of the Polish Yachting Association, who emphasized the long-term vision behind the event:
- This is more than just a final. It’s a stepping stone towards the 2027 World Sailing Championships, which will also be hosted in Gdynia. We are immensely grateful to the City of Gdynia, volunteers, staff, and all involved for making this happen.
While the virtual sails are being lowered for now, the waters off Gdynia will come alive again this week as the Youth Match Racing World Championship begins on Wednesday, continuing the city’s dynamic maritime momentum.
Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier
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