CLOUDBREAK, Fiji (Wednesday, September 2, 2026) – A massive day at the Fiji Pro Presented by Corona Cero delivered no shortage of excitement, setting up huge matchups as the event moves into its Final Series — with event winners possibly crowned as early as tomorrow under the official Yellow Alert issued by the WSL Tours and Competition team. Stop No. 8 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2026 Championship Tour (CT) served up more perfect rides, close battles, and movement in the World Title race in six-to-eight-foot conditions at Cloudbreak.
With more swell continuing to pulse through Cloudbreak, tomorrow’s call will be at 6:45 a.m. Fiji time for a possible 7:05 a.m. start to complete the event, beginning with men’s Quarterfinals 3 and 4, followed by the men’s Semifinals, then the women’s and men’s Finals.
Teenage Phenom Erin Brooks Takes Down 5X World Champ Carissa Moore to Book Finals Day
Erin Brooks (CAN) continued her run through the women’s draw, taking down five-time World Champion and Olympic gold medalist Carissa Moore (HAW) in Semifinal 1 to book her second Finals Day in Fiji in as many appearances. Brooks cleared her path to the final with back-to-back statement wins, eliminating Vahine Fierro (FRA) in the Quarterfinals before edging out Moore in another tight battle, posting a 7.67 and 4.17 to Moore’s 4.30 and 5.67. The result continues a strong head-to-head tally for Brooks against Moore, having also eliminated the Hawaiian at the previous event in Tahiti.
“It feels so good to make another Final. I honestly can’t believe it,” Brooks said. “That heat against Carissa [Moore] was so stressful, as she’s been surfing so well this event and had priority at the end, so I’m just so thankful that it went my way. I also just can’t believe I’m in another Final. It felt impossible at the end of last year and the beginning of this year, but to get back-to-back Finals, wow, I’m just so grateful. I think I’ve proved to myself that I can do it. At the start of the year, I was so baffled by my results after all the hard work I put in during the offseason. I was just losing with really high heat totals. I had disbelief in myself, but I’ve found new faith and started just having fun with it. These are the two events I’m expected to do well at, but to do it feels insane. Playing games on the island with everyone has been so fun and has kept me competitive because we’ve had a lot of off days. It honestly feels more like a surf trip than a contest.”
Despite the Semifinal exit, Moore’s run through Fiji marks a significant result for her World Title campaign. She moves into the World No. 1 spot and will wear the Yellow Leader Jersey into the next stop at the Lexus Trestles Pro as she continues her pursuit of a sixth World Title.
En route to the Semifinals, Moore took down Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) in Quarterfinal 1, controlling the heat early and forcing Johnson into a combination situation. Johnson answered with an excellent 8-point ride late, closing the gap and turning the final minutes into a heated battle, but Moore’s earlier work proved decisive.
Brooks dispatched Fierro in a very close heat, taking the win by just 0.43 of a point. Fierro racked up more attempts than Brooks across both turns and tubes in search of the score, but Brooks found the more efficient combination to hold her off.
Pictured: Isabella Nichols (AUS) showcases her powerful backhand surfing to win two heats today and make the Final at the Fiji Pro Presented by Corona Cero. Credit: WSL / Cait Miers
Isabella Nichols Toughs Out Injury to Claim Narrow Win Over Brisa Hennessy
Isabella Nichols (AUS) got the better of Brisa Hennessy (CRC) by the narrowest of margins, with just 0.17 separating the two at the final horn. Nichols set the tone early with a 7.17 built on powerful backhand turns, leaving Hennessy searching for a winning score. The finish took a dramatic turn in the closing minute when Nichols suffered an ankle injury but chose to get back in the lineup to see out the heat, ultimately securing the result and continuing her debut run at Cloudbreak.
“I’m more emotional about actually making the Final here than I am about injuring my ankle,” Nichols said. “That was a crazy one. I pulled into that barrel, and my board just flipped under me and rolled my ankle. I felt this really sharp pain shoot from my foot to my hip, and it felt debilitating, like I couldn’t stand on it. It felt like the worst injury I’ve ever had. The guys on the ski got to me really quickly, so props to them. There was a moment where the adrenaline took over the pain, and I got back out there in case I could block her from getting one at the end. I know I’d be kicking myself if I didn’t take that opportunity, especially after such a tough year. To make the Final is crazy — I’m so stoked, and so emotional. Emotional because I’m in pain, and also because I made the Final at a place I didn’t think I could. At the start of the year I wrote down my goals, and my biggest one was to make a Semifinal or above at a left-hand barreling wave of consequence. I’ve done it back-to-back, in Tahiti and now here. I’m going to get this ankle tended to and see if I can weight-bear tomorrow. I feel like I’ll have to be in peak form to beat Erin [Brooks], as she’s been on absolute fire.”
Nichols also eliminated Yolanda Hopkins (POR) in Quarterfinal 3, with the Portuguese surfer unable to find the finish on a string of committed barrel attempts. Nichols locked in her winning scores early and held the lead despite Hopkins’ late efforts.
Hennessy looked completely dialed in against Lakey Peterson (USA) in Quarterfinal 4, knowing exactly which waves to hunt down and committing fully to the barrels that have long defined her surfing in waves of consequence. That composure made the difference, as Hennessy eliminated the Californian for her best result of the season.
Kauli Vaast Puts on Cloudbreak Clinic With Perfect 10
Making his first competitive appearance at Cloudbreak, Olympic gold medalist Kauli Vaast (FRA) produced the event’s second Perfect 10, threading a massive Cloudbreak cavern on his way to eliminating World No. 4 Miguel Pupo (BRA). Vaast expertly navigated the deep barrel, timing his exit with precision and speed as the wave stood up around him. Pupo, unable to break free of mid-range scores, had no answer for the perfect ride.
“I’m super happy because I always dream of having a heat like this with perfect waves,” Vaast said. “The only time I’ve had a taste of this is at home at Teahupo’o in Tahiti. So being here in this place is amazing, and so are the people. This is my first time in a lineup with big, real waves that you can get big barrels and big turns on — it was amazing, this wave is world-class. I’ve always seen it in the videos, so to be able to surf it with just two of us is amazing. I have big legs and a big butt, and I just want to push on a big board, a 6’3″, so I’m stoked.”
Vaast will now meet three-time World Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) in Quarterfinal 4 tomorrow. Medina booked his spot in Finals Day with a win over Barron Mamiya (HAW), setting up a must-watch clash. Medina has been a standout at Cloudbreak, with two wins from three Finals in Fiji, and will look to carry that history into the heat against an in-form Vaast.
Goofy Footers Dominate Pumping Conditions to Set Up Exciting Finals Day
Connor O’Leary (JPN) turned in an incredible performance, posting a commanding 14.33 heat total — including a 9.00 out of a possible 10 — to leave World No. 1 Italo Ferreira (BRA) well short with a 7.27 two-wave combination. Cloudbreak’s left-hand setup handed O’Leary a rare opportunity to showcase his forehand powersurfing, on full display throughout the heat. The win adds to O’Leary’s strong history at this venue, where he reached the Final in 2017 but has yet to break through for a win at the Fiji Pro, continuing to build his case as one of the most dangerous surfers left in the men’s draw.
O’Leary will now take on Griffin Colapinto (USA) in Quarterfinal 3 when Finals Day gets underway. In Colapinto’s heat, broken boards filled the lineup as he worked through seven scoreless waves and snapped two boards before finally finding his rhythm against Samuel Pupo (BRA). Colapinto battled back in dramatic fashion, posting a 6.83 and 7.17 to complete the comeback at a critical moment in his season. With Ferreira and M. Pupo both out of the draw, the win opens the door for Colapinto, currently just outside the Top 5, to push into Finals Day and back into the World Title conversation.
The first surfer to book a spot in the Semifinals was Cole Houshmand (USA), who caused something of an upset when he eliminated reigning World Champion and defending Fiji event winner Yago Dora (BRA) in Quarterfinal 1. The all-goofyfoot matchup delivered on its promise, with both surfers posting solid scores on the face and in the tube, but it was the San Clemente local who found himself on the best waves, posting an excellent 16.13 heat total to guarantee the best result of his season and a place in the Semifinals.
Houshmand will now face Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) in Semifinal 1 tomorrow. Fioravanti closed out the day’s action with a win over Callum Robson (AUS), a result that puts him in prime position heading into Finals Day. Fioravanti currently sits second on the world rankings, and with most of the men’s Top 5 eliminated from the draw, he now finds himself with a golden opportunity to seize control of the World Title race as the event nears its conclusion.
“It feels amazing,” Houshmand said. “To do it in that fashion, with the waves pumping and going up against Yago [Dora], who is one of my favorite surfers and in my head is the one to beat. I couldn’t help but think of it as a rematch from Raglan. That’s where the passion came from in that heat; I was claiming a bunch and fighting tooth and nail. I just dug back into that memory and wanted to give it a good go. I was having nightmares with four minutes left and him needing a 7.00, but I did everything I could in that heat and capitalized on a few opportunities, and it felt good to get one back on him. I did a couple of trips here last year, and I feel like it’s paying off. I’m stoked to put in the work and try to save my career on Tour.”
Prior to the Quarterfinals, Dora laid down an impressive 14.40 heat total over perennial Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) in their Round 3 matchup, posting two strong 7-point rides to Igarashi’s lower-range scores. Dora will now set his sights on the Lexus Trestles Pro, another wave that suits his progressive style, to climb back up the leaderboard.
For highlights and more information from today’s competition at the Fiji Pro Presented by Corona Cero, visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
2026 Fiji Pro Presented by Corona Cero — Women’s Quarterfinal Results
Heat 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.34 def. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 11.00
Heat 2: Erin Brooks (CAN) 11.10 def. Vahine Fierro (FRA) 10.67
Heat 3: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 9.67 def. Yolanda Hopkins (POR) 6.77
Heat 4: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 10.83 def. Lakey Peterson (USA) 7.47
Women’s Semifinal Results
Heat 1: Erin Brooks (CAN) 11.84 def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 9.97
Heat 2: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 10.67 def. Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 10.50
Women’s Final Matchup
Heat 1: Erin Brooks (CAN) vs. Isabella Nichols (AUS)
Men’s Round 3 Matchups
Heat 1: Cole Houshmand (USA) 10.17 def. Seth Moniz (HAW) 4.00
Heat 2: Yago Dora (BRA) 14.40 def. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 6.83
Heat 3: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 14.33 def. Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 10.43
Heat 4: Callum Robson (AUS) 10.50 def. Jake Marshall (USA) 8.77
Heat 5: Connor O’Leary (JPN) 14.33 def. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 7.27
Heat 6: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 14.00 def. Samuel Pupo (BRA) 12.60
Heat 7: Kauli Vaast (FRA) 19.07 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 11.17
Heat 8: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.77 def. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 13.33
Men’s Quarterfinal Results (Heats 1–2)
Heat 1: Cole Houshmand (USA) 16.13 def. Yago Dora (BRA) 13.27
Heat 2: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 14.10 def. Callum Robson (AUS) 10.94
Remaining Men’s Quarterfinal Matchups (Heats 3–4)
Heat 3: Connor O’Leary (JPN) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA)
Heat 4: Kauli Vaast (FRA) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA)
Watch Live
The Fiji Pro Presented by Corona Cero, Stop No. 8 on the 2026 WSL Championship Tour, holds a competition window through September 4, 2026. The competition 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 Fiji Pro Presented by Corona Cero is proudly supported by Tourism Fiji, Corona Cero, YETI, I-SEA, Red Bull, Surfline, Bonsoy, Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay, Tavarua Island Resort, Fiji Airways, One Ocean, and True Surf.
For more information, visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
About the WSL
The World Surf League (WSL) is the global home of competitive surfing, crowning World Champions since 1976 and showcasing the world’s best surfing. The WSL oversees surfing’s global competitive landscape and sets the standard for elite performance in the most dynamic playing field in all of sports. With a firm commitment to its values, the WSL prioritizes the protection of the ocean, equality, and the sport’s rich heritage, while championing progression and innovation.
For more information, visit WorldSurfLeague.com.