Tyler Wright has fallen just short in her battle against another former world surfing champion in Carissa Moore, with the veterans duelling in the final of the El Salvador Pro.
Australia's Wright was hunting her first World Surf League title since February 2025 but the Hawaiian logged back-to-back wins after also taking out the New Zealand Pro.
Leo Fioravanti became the first Italian to win a men's Championship Tour event, upsetting Brazil's rankings leader Italo Ferreira in the final, 15.33 to 10.90.
Five-time world champion Moore is making her return to the Championship Tour in 2026, taking two years off and having a baby daughter.
"Before we paddled out we were in the locker room and I was like 'Tyler, this is like the old days, this is awesome'," said 33-year-old Moore, with the pair first squaring off back in 2011.
"It's really cool to see the veterans make another push this year and take some finals and some wins and I'm inspired by both my generation and also new generation - I think it's a really good combo for women's surfing right now."
Wright moved into Saturday's final at Punta Roca after eliminating reigning world champion and fellow Australian Molly Picklum in the semi-finals, as well as 2024 No.1 Caitlin Simmers in the quarters.
Moore took down rankings leader and fellow Hawaiian Gabriela Bryan in the semis.
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Wright, 32, had a slow start in the decider but the two-time world champion fired up and posted two strong scores to briefly take the lead from Moore.
Her long-time rival needed a 5.51 and hit back on the next wave, scoring a 6.77.
That left Wright requiring a hefty 7.44 with less than four minutes remaining and she charged on to a wave but fell, with Moore claiming her 30th event win, 15.10 to 13.84.
Moore has moved up to second in the rankings behind Bryan, while Wright jumped five spots to world No.9, with Picklum still the leading Australian at three.
It's Wright's best result of the year, building her form after hip and back injuries kept her out of the water through the off-season.
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Ferreira was in danger of pulling out of the men's final after he required eight stitches in his knee.
The 2019 world champion wasn't at his lively best with Fioravanti opening with a score of 8.33.
Ferreira put himself in contention late in the heat with a score of 7.50 but the 28-year-old Italian was left to savour his first title victory after nine years on tour.
