The 2026 World Match Racing Tour – Macao Match Cup, organized by the Sports Bureau and Ursa Major Sailing Event Management, co-organized by the Marine and Water Bureau and the Macau Sailing Association, and held in partnership with the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT), today (27 March) completed its round-robin qualifying stage, with all quarter-final berths confirmed.

In changing and light wind conditions, all teams engaged in fierce battles for the coveted spots in the last eight. France’s Aurélien Pierroz secured the top spot in the qualifying round with nine wins and two losses to earn a place in the quarter-finals. Fellow quarter-finalists are Oscar Engström (Sweden), Jeppe Borch (Denmark), Ian Garreta (France), Nick Egnot-Johnson (New Zealand), Cole Tapper (Australia), Johnie Berntsson (Sweden), and Christian Prendergast (USA).

Top seed and world number two Tapper had a slow start to the competition, but managed to edge out compatriot Tom Picot to secure the last qualification spot after defeating Berntsson in his final race of the day.

The best-of-five quarter-finals will start tomorrow (28 March) morning, with matchups include Pierroz vs Prendergast, Garreta vs Engström, Tapper vs Borch and Berntsson vs Egnot-Johnson. Residents and visitors can enjoy the racing from shoreline viewing areas, while the races will also be broadcast live online. Live streaming will be available on multiple platforms including the “Macao Major Sporting Events” YouTube channel and Facebook page, the event’s official website www.macaomatchcup.com, and the World Match Racing Tour YouTube channel.

For more information, please visit the event’s official website at www.macaomatchcup.com, or follow the “Macao Major Sporting Events” Facebook page, “澳門體育” (Macao Sports) WeChat public account and “澳門特區體育局” (Macao SAR Sports Bureau) WeChat subscription account.