Stage Set For Finals Day at Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy

BELLS BEACH, Victoria, Australia (Saturday, April 26, 2025) – The stage has been set for Finals Day at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, Stop No. 5 of the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), after day five of competition saw the completion of the men’s Round of 16, the women’s Quarterfinals, and first two heats of the men’s Quarterfinals. After waiting for the low tide, the Bells Bowl dished up semi-clean surf in the four-to-five-foot range, which will likely continue into tomorrow for a possible Finals Day.

Women’s Semifinalists Decided at Bells 

Luana Silva (BRA) has guaranteed her best ever result at the CT level, earning a spot in the Semifinals after taking down Lakey Peterson (USA) in the first heat of the Quarterfinals. After becoming the World Junior Champion earlier this year, Silva has struggled to continue that success at the elite level but this week she showed she has what it takes to mix it with the best and will now have a shot at a massive result here at Bells but will first have to get past an in-form Brisa Hennessy (CRC) in Semifinal 1 when competition recommences. 

“I don’t know if there could be a better place to make a Semifinal,” Silva said. “This event is so historical. I’ve watched it ever since I was a little girl and have seen all my idols win it. Steph [Gilmore] and Carissa [Moore] won it back-to-back. This is just a dream come true, and I really can’t believe it. After seeing the waves pumping yesterday, I was so excited to get out there and had to really calm myself down and just be present in the moment. You never know what to expect from Lakey [Peterson] because she’s such an experienced competitor, so I’m really happy to get that win.” 

Brisa Hennessy (CRC) put on a clutch performance to come from behind and end the run of Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) in the Quarterfinals today. Fitzgibbons held a strong lead, leaving Hennessy chasing a 9.17 with only a few minutes left. With priority, Hennessy found a set and threw two massive turns on the opening sections of the wave to post a 9.40 (out of a possible 10), the highest single wave of the event so far. 

Less than two weeks since they contested the Final of the Surf City El Salvador Pro, Isabella Nichols (AUS) and Gabriela Bryan (HAW) matched up again, this time in the Quarterfinals at Bells. Nichols looked certain to even the ledger after posting an 8.77, backing it up with a 7.17, leaving Bryan to chase a near-perfect single wave score to move closer to her third-straight Final. In the end, Bryan was unable to find her groove, leaving Nichols to head into the Semifinals, where she will match up with Tyler Wright (AUS). 

“I was actually riding the same board out there that I was in El Salvador,” Nichols said. “It’s a super trustworthy board, so it’s nice to be able to rely on my nice little magic board. I’ve been coming here since I was 15, and I just love it so much and feel at home here. It feels nice to be putting a few results together after a bit of a rough start to the year.” 

The only former Bells winner left in the draw is Tyler Wright (AUS), who overcame Hawaii’s Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) in the final exchange of heat. Wright took a while to get going but was able to post a winning heat total over Sakura Johnson, who held the highest single-wave score of the heat with a 7.73.

Igarashi Upsets Event Favorite For Semifinal Spot 

Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) has put on a solid showing at the Bells Bowl this afternoon to eliminate one of the event favorites, Ethan Ewing (AUS), and progress into the Semifinals. Igarashi surfed a smart heat, finding himself on the best waves of each set, and executing when it counted, leaving Ewing chasing from the get-go. Igarashi’s Semifinal berth has guaranteed his best result of the season so far and builds on his strike rate against Ewing, which now sits at three wins from three matchups.  

“I respect Ethan [Ewing] so much as a surfer and as a person, and I was so keen to get that heat going and go one for one with him,” Igarashi said. “We had plenty of opportunities, which was good, and I just wanted to take off on every wave that he was on and keep the pressure on. I love this event, and it is one that I mark down every year as one to do well at. I’ve never made it out of the third round, so this feels really amazing.” 

Igarashi will take on Morgan Cibilic (AUS) in Semifinal 1 after he was able to beat Jordy Smith (RSA) in the last heat of the day today. The Rip Curl Trials Winner has been on a charge through the draw and was able to continue it today to take down the current World No. 4 Smith, who is fresh off a win in El Salvador two weeks ago.

Robinson Overcomes Toledo to Book Spot on Finals Day 

Jack Robinson (AUS) has moved a step closer to claiming his first win at Bells, taking a commanding win over 2022 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner Filipe Toledo (BRA). Robinson surfed his waves well to earn a two-wave total of 16.53 (out of a possible 20), but it was his strategy between the waves that was the most impressive. The West Australian sold Toledo on waves and used priority to perfection to book a spot in the Quarterfinals, where he will take on an in-form Jake Marshall (USA). 

“I felt great during that heat,” Robinson said. “I know he [Filipe Toledo] is super dangerous out here, but everyone is dangerous, so you just have to focus on yourself and what you can control. I feel like I surfed the conditions better today than I did yesterday, which is good. It’s good when you can make an adjustment and feel it. Good to get another one done, and now I’ll shift my focus to tomorrow.”

For highlights from today’s competition at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com. 

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Round of 16 Remaining Results: 
HEAT 6: Samuel Pupo (BRA) 12.17 DEF. Ian Gentil (HAW) 10.60
HEAT 7: Jake Marshall (USA) 12.76 DEF. Yago Dora (BRA) 12.37
HEAT 8: Jack Robinson (AUS) 16.53 DEF. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 12.26

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Women’s Quarterfinal Results: 
HEAT 1: Luana Silva (BRA) 12.17 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 9.33
HEAT 2: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 15.40 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 15.17
HEAT 3: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 15.94 DEF. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 10.67
HEAT 4: Tyler Wright (AUS) 14.00 DEF. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 13.20

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Quarterfinal Results Heat [1 – 2]: 
HEAT 1: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 15.40 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 14.43
HEAT 2: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 13.83 DEF. Jordy Smith (RSA) 13.80

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Quarterfinal Remaining Matchups [3 – 4]: 
HEAT 3: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA)
HEAT 4: Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Jack Robinson (AUS)

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Women’s Semifinal Matchups: 
HEAT 1: Luana Silva (BRA) vs. Brisa Hennessy (CRC)
HEAT 2: Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)

Watch LIVE
The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy will hold a competition window through April 28, 2025. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, and the free WSL App. Check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners.The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy is proudly supported by Rip Curl, Bonsoy, Visit Victoria, Red Bull, YETI, Apple Watch, Surfline, True Surf, Surf Coast Shire, GWM, Stone & Wood, Oakberry, Hydralyte, Boost Mobile, Bioglan, Bond University, and Fatboy E-bikes.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.