The World Games 2025 – Fistball
Chengdu, China | Day 3 – 12 August 2025

Thrilling Semifinals Set the Stage for Fistball Finals at The World Games Chengdu

The Fistball competition at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu reached a dramatic highlight on Day 3, as top national teams battled through semifinal and classification rounds across both men’s and women’s tournaments. With medals now within reach, the day was marked by enormous heat, relentless intensity, tactical brilliance, and world-class performances.

 Women’s Tournament:

Women’s Semifinals: Brazil and Switzerland Book Their Spots in the Final

Brazil demonstrated exceptional control and attacking consistency in their semifinal victory over Austria. Both teams exchanged powerful rallies and sharp defensive plays, but Brazil’s experience and efficiency under pressure carried them to a 3-1 win and a place in the gold medal match.

In the second semifinal, Switzerland overcame Germany in a thrilling five-set contest. In one of the most competitive matches of the tournament, Switzerland maintained composure through several momentum swings to edge past their opponents and earn a chance to compete for gold. The reign World Games Champion Germany surprisingly miss out of the grand final.

Women’s Quarterfinal Recap

Earlier in the day, Austria secured their semifinal berth by withstanding a determined Chilean side. The match was closely contested, with Austria’s consistent execution making the difference in the decisive moments.

Germany also advanced from the quarterfinals with a commanding 3–0 victory over New Zealand. The German side displayed precise coordination and control throughout, giving their opponents little opportunity to gain a foothold.

Women’s Classification Matches

In the consolation rounds, Chile defeated the United States in a 3–1 encounter to advance to the 5th-place match. Meanwhile, New Zealand prevailed over Argentina in another spirited match, setting up a rematch against Chile for fifth place.

Men’s Tournament:

Men’s Semifinals: Brazil and Germany Set for Championship Clash

In the men’s bracket, Brazil produced a clinical performance to eliminate Switzerland in straight sets. While Switzerland challenged the south american champions in the early stages, Brazil’s tactical depth and physical dominance proved decisive as they pulled away to secure victory.

Germany advanced to the final following an emotional 3–1 win over Austria. The match was marked by high-intensity exchanges and strategic substitutions from the German side, who managed to outmaneuver a resilient Austrian team and seal their place in the gold medal match.

Men’s Quarterfinal Recap

Switzerland reached the semifinals with a 3–0 victory over Chile. The match featured a particularly intense final set, which Switzerland edged 15–14 to close out the sweep. Austria also progressed with a strong performance against Italy, winning in straight sets and showcasing dominance at the net.

Men’s Classification Matches

Chile secured their place in the 5th-place match by overcoming New Zealand 3–1 in a dynamic contest, while Italy earned their spot with a confident 3–0 victory over Argentina.

Looking Ahead to Day 4 – August 13: Medal Matches

With the final day of Fistball competition set to determine the medal standings, teams will return to the court for one last push toward the podium. The level of play, the intensity of the rivalries, and the passion on display have captivated fans throughout the World Games in Chengdu. Wednesday promises to be a historic finale to an unforgettable tournament.

Gold Medal Matches:
15:30 Women’s Final: Brazil vs. Switzerland
17:00 Men’s Final: Brazil vs. Germany

Bronze Medal Matches:
11:30 Women: Germany vs. Austria
13:00 Men: Austria vs. Switzerland

Contact on Site – at The World Games in Chengdu:
Valentin Weber – IFA Head of Media
v.weber@fistball.sport

IFA Photo Service:

http://ifa.sport/media

Creative Commons License apply for all photos.
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

The World Games 2025 – Fistball
Chengdu, China | Day 2 – 11 August 2025

Fistball Heats Up in Chengdu as Rain Clears on Day 2 of the World Games 2025

Chengdu, China — After a full day of rain delays, the Fistball competition roared back to life at the World Games 2025 with thrilling matchups and fierce competition across both the Men’s and Women’s divisions. Brazil is topping the Men’s and Women’s competitions at the end of the Preliminary Round.

Women’s Tournament:

Silver Group: Chile and New Zealand Shine

In slippery, challenging conditions, Chile secured a vital win over Argentina through calm defense and timely serving, claiming the top position in Group Silver. New Zealand also impressed, sweeping the United States 3:0 for their second win of the tournament to enter the quarterfinals.

Final Group Silver Standings:
1. Chile, 2. New Zealand, 3. Argentina, 4. USA

Gold Group: Brazil on to of the Group

Brazil delivered one of the standout performances of the day, defeating reigning World Games champions Germany 3:1 in a match filled with spectacular rallies and powerful play. Switzerland also claimed a 3:1 win over Austria, showing consistency and depth despite Austria’s late-game resurgence.

Final Group Gold Standings:
1. Brazil, 2. Switzerland, 3. Germany, 4. Austria

Men’s Tournament:

Silver Group: Chile Charges to the Top

Chile kicked off their day with a dramatic victory over New Zealand in a tightly contested match that saw the South Americans edge out the Kiwis in a nail-biting finish. Italy also impressed, defeating Argentina with strategic lineup changes that added a fresh edge to their attack.

Later in the day, Chile continued their dominance, storming back from a slow start to beat Argentina 3:1 and secure the top spot in Group Silver. Italy, meanwhile, overcame a determined New Zealand side in a hard-fought battle, booking their ticket to the quarterfinals.

Final Group Silver Standings:
1. Chile, 2. Italy, 3. Argentina, 4. New Zealand

Gold Group: Brazil Undefeated, Germany Clinches Second

Germany delivered a commanding performance against Switzerland, sweeping their match 3:0 with Johannes Jungclaussen leading a strong offensive line. Brazil followed with an impressive 3:0 display against Austria, taking a tense third set 15:14 and demonstrating composure despite tricky court conditions.

In their second match of the day, Brazil reaffirmed their dominance with a clean 3:0 win over Switzerland, finishing the group stage undefeated. Germany edged out Austria in a high-energy clash to claim the second semifinal spot. Austria and Switzerland have to fight their way up through the quarterfinals.

Final Group Gold Standings:
1. Brazil, 2. Germany, 3. Austria, 4. Switzerland

Looking Ahead to Day 3 – August 12: Quarterfinal and Semifinal Clashes

The knockout rounds are set to begin with exciting quarterfinal matchups:

Men’s Quarterfinals: Austria vs. Italy and Switzerland vs. Chile
(Brazil and Germany advance directly to the semifinals)

Women’s Quarterfinals: Austria vs. Chile and Germany vs. New Zealand
(Brazil and Switzerland advance directly to the semifinals)

The quarterfinal winners take on the top 2 teams of the Gold Group in the semifinals later that day. Stay tuned as the road to Fistball gold continues tomorrow in Chengdu.

Contact on Site – at The World Games in Chengdu:
Valentin Weber – IFA Head of Media
v.weber@fistball.sport

IFA Photo Service:
http://ifa.sport/media

Creative Commons License apply for all photos.
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

The World Games 2025 – Fistball
Chengdu, China | Recap Day 1 – 9 August 2025

Fistball Competition Opens with High Drama on Day 1

Chengdu, China – The fistball tournament at The World Games 2025 started today at Tianfu Park in Chengdu, marking the sport’s official debut on natural grass in mainland China. With eight men’s and eight women’s teams competing across Gold and Silver groups, the opening day delivered a full schedule of high-level competition and closely contested matches.

Women’s Tournament:

Gold Group: Brazil, Germany, Switzerland, Austria
Silver Group: Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, USA

Silver Group Delivers Early Highlights

The Women’s Silver Group provided some of the most gripping contests of the day. Argentina opened their campaign with a hard-fought victory over the United States, securing the 3-0 win after a tense and high-quality second set. New Zealand followed with a narrow 3-2 win over Chile, leaning on disciplined defense and composure in the final stages despite wet ground conditions.

In the evening session, Argentina and New Zealand faced off in another tight encounter. Both teams showed resilience and tactical awareness, but Argentina again emerged victorious 3-2 in the deciding set, finishing the day with two wins from two matches.

Women’s Gold Group: Established Powers Take the Field

In the Gold Group, Brazil began their tournament with a strategic lineup rotation that proved effective in a five-set win over Switzerland. Despite the loss, the Swiss team received strong support from traveling fans. Meanwhile, Germany opened with a commanding winning performance against Austria, using versatile offensive patterns and disciplined defense to secure a straight-sets victory.

In the evening session, Brazil faced Austria in a clash of early frontrunners. After controlling the first two sets, Brazil recovered from an Austrian resurgence in the third to close out the match in four sets 3-1. Later in the day, Switzerland and Germany met in a highly anticipated matchup. Switzerland responded to their earlier defeat with a 3:2 win in overtime, overcoming a strong German start to pull off the upset.

Men’s Tournament:

Gold Group: Germany, Austria, Brazil, Switzerland
Silver Group: Chile, Argentina, Italy, New Zealand

Silver Group Begins with Tight Contests

In the Men’s Silver Group, Chile outlasted Italy in a tense five-set battle on Court 1. The match featured high-intensity rallies and decisive attacking play from both sides, with Chile holding firm in the final set. Argentina overcame a sluggish start to defeat New Zealand in a five-set nailbiter against New Zealand.

Men’s Gold Group: Brazil and Austria Make Strong Statements

Brazil opened their campaign with a 3:1 win over reigning world champions Germany, showcasing balanced play and cohesive execution across all positions. Austria followed with a 3:0 sweep of Switzerland, demonstrating squad depth by rotating all 10 players and maintaining control throughout.

Looking ahead and local commitment

With several top contenders already showing their form and others seeking to recover from early losses, the second day of fistball action is set to be pivotal in determining knockout stage positioning. Group play concludes with the last matches of preliminary Round on Sunday, August 10.

The opening day marked not only by high-level international performance but also by strong engagement from local spectators. Tianfu Park’s venue layout—set within a public green space—allowed for significant exposure to new audiences in China. The International Fistball Association (IFA) noted the symbolic importance of launching the competition in Chengdu, with Chinese sports educators and officials receiving training in advance to support local development of the sport.

Contact on Site – at The World Games in Chengdu:

Valentin Weber – IFA Head of Media
v.weber@fistball.sport

IFA Photo Service:
http://ifa.sport/media

Creative Commons License apply for all photos.
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Chengdu, China | 9–13 August 2025

Historic Milestone in Fistball
Gender Equality and Global Reach with 16 Team at The World Games

The 2025 edition of The World Games marks a major milestone in the sport of fistball. For the first time in the event’s history, both the Men’s and Women’s competitions will feature eight teams each, achieving full gender equality. Teams from four continents—Europe, South America, Oceania, and North America—will participate, making it the most globally diverse and expansive fistball competition in World Games history.

The host city Chengdu, China, will welcome the world’s best fistball nations from 9th to 13th August, with the medal matches closing out the competition on the final day. All eyes will be on the Gold Group, where the traditional powerhouses of the sport reside—no nation outside this elite group has ever claimed a World Games medal.

The World Games 2025 Fistball Tournament is not just about competition—it’s about growth, equality, and global celebration. With history on the line and a global audience watching, Chengdu is set to deliver the most thrilling edition of fistball the world has seen.

Women’s Tournament:

Gold Group: Brazil, Germany, Switzerland, Austria
Silver Group: Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, USA

Can Germany defend their 2022 gold, or will Brazil confirm their status as world leaders?

The women’s competition is entering the second edition at The World Games, after debuting in 2022. Germany won that inaugural title in a thrilling final against Switzerland. However, momentum has shifted. Brazil enters Chengdu as reigning World Champions, having claimed the crown in November 2024 by defeating Germany by 4-0. Switzerland and Austria bring depth and experience, and the group stage promises fierce battles. In the Silver group, debutants Argentina and Chile aim to gain valuable experience on the global stage. New Zealand enters the competition with a promising 7^th position at the World Championships, while Team USA is seeking their first victory in World Games history.

Men’s Tournament:

Gold Group: Germany, Austria, Brazil, Switzerland
Silver Group: Chile, Argentina, Italy, New Zealand

Can Germany handle the pressure of defending their title against a strong field of challengers?

The Men’s lineup features familiar faces—and one new team. New Zealand makes its first-ever appearance at the World Games, joining a competitive Silver group. Germany, the defending champions from Birmingham 2022, bring a younger roster to Chengdu. Their generational shift will be tested immediately against perennial rivals Austria, Brazil, and Switzerland—each of whom has legitimate gold medal aspirations. These four have consistently stood atop the podium in past competitions, with all medals to date being shared among them. Chile, Argentina, and Italy will need exceptional performances to break into this elite circle. A semifinal spot for any Silver group team would be a major upset—and a historic breakthrough.

What to watch for?

Emerging Nations: With new teams like New Zealand and Argentina entering the stage, the global development of fistball is on full display. How will these nations fare against established World Games veterans?

Gold Group Showdowns: Every match in the Gold Groups (both Men’s and Women’s) promises world-class action. The group stage results could shape the entire tournament trajectory.

Medal Race Predictions: Expect tight battles between Germany, Brazil, Austria, and Switzerland in both categories. The medal games could mirror recent World Championship finals or throw up surprises.

Contact on site at The World Games in Chengdu:

Valentin Weber – IFA Head of Media
v.weber@fistball.sport

IFA Photo Service:
http://ifa.sport/media

Creative Commons License apply for all photos.
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)