Mick Fanning has lost the surfing world championship race to Adriano de Souza, a day after learning his eldest brother had died. De Souza defeated Mason Ho in the semi-finals to win the championship on points.
Fanning lost his semi-final to Gabriel Medina in the last three minutes with Medina scoring 6.25 on a wave when Fanning was ahead by 5.54 points. If Ho had won the semi-final Fanning would have won his fourth world championship, just a day after learning his older brother Peter had died in Queensland, Australia.
He reportedly died in his sleep.
Fanning made the semi-finals after defeating Kelly Slater with a score of 9.50 to 6.17. “The day of my life has arrived,” de Souza said after his semi-final win. “In the middle of the title race, I thought Mick deserved it more than me. He’s such a strong man and a three-time world champion. I wish so much to give a hug to Mick’s mum,” he added.
Nine-year tour veteran de Souza dedicated the win to his countryman Ricardo dos Santos, who was shot dead by an off-duty police officer in January. The champion had trailed for much of his semi-final, but his patience paid off as he beat Ho 6.83 to 3.83 in tricky conditions, with few good waves on offer. Fanning led for most of his semi-final against Medina, who produced a spectacular aerial full rotation to score a 6.50 with just over three minutes remaining.
Soon after, 28-year-old de Souza celebrated his first title in style, overcoming his excitement and beating compatriot Medina 14.07 to 8.50 in the final. He posted a 7.67 with his first wave and added a 5.17 with his third. Medina, who had already clinched the Triple Crown, struggled in the early stages of the final. The 2014 world champion scored a 4.00 with his first wave, but achieved less than two with seven of his last eight.
De Souza scored a 6.40 with his last wave in the closing seconds to widen his victory margin and become the first Brazilian to win the Pipe Masters.
