Nel pulled off one of the most dramatic upsets in the competition’s history, edging out his rivals with a nail-biting 0.5-point victory. He came into the final day trailing by 9 points, but despite this daunting gap, he held his nerve against some of the sport’s most decorated athletes.

Rayno Nel. Photo: X

Defending champion Tom Stoltman surged on day two, winning both of Sunday’s events and putting himself within striking distance of a fourth title. But it wasn’t quite enough. The contest came down to the final event – the legendary Atlas Stones – and Nel, born in Krugersdorp, delivered under pressure. He secured the win by the narrowest of margins, loading his fourth stone just milliseconds faster than Canada’s Mitchell Hooper, who finished third overall.

“I’m just over the moon,” Nel told USA TODAY Sports moments after sealing the 2025 title. “To represent South Africa in any way whatsoever – it feels surreal. We’re a small country with a lot of struggles. To achieve something like this, I know it means a lot to my people.”

Reflecting on the intensity of the final day, Nel added: “It’s one thing to know your two weakest events are coming up. But knowing that Mitch Hooper – a former champion – and Tom Stoltman, a three-time winner, are chasing you ... that’s something else entirely. I just tried to stay focused and limit the damage as best I could.”

Nel’s victory is not only a personal triumph but a proud moment for South African sport – proving that with resilience and heart, even the biggest giants can be taken down.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg