MBABANE – The XIX Black Bass World Championship, held from September 4–6, 2025 at Arabie Dam in Limpopo, South Africa, showcased the world’s finest anglers.
Among the 15 competing nations, Eswatini stood out, securing an impressive eighth-place finish. Organised by the South African Bass Angling Association and sanctioned by International Federation of Freshwater Sport Fishing (FIPSed), the championship saw elite anglers compete on the challenging waters of Arabie Dam.
Eswatini’s team delivered a stellar performance, amassing 50.030kg across 45 fish over three days, including the tournament’s heaviest fish at 3.980 kg, caught by Team Captain Daryl McKenzie and Louis Van Zuydam.
Despite high winds of up to 60 km/h on the final day, the team showed consistency with catches of 16.150kg in the second leg and 16.510kg in the third, earning 200 penalty points (82, 70 and 48 across the legs), which boosted their ranking in the final leg.
Instead of being based solely on total weight, the competition awards ‘penalty points’ based on a team’s daily finish. The lower the number of points, the better.
The championship’s pair’s format tested both individual skill and teamwork. Eswatini’s anglers excelled, with penalty points ranging from seven to 35 per leg, demonstrating resilience and tactical nous.
Their eighth-place finish placed them ahead of nations such as Namibia, Portugal and Canada—a remarkable achievement for a nation of Eswatini’s size.
The United States claimed gold with 67.720kg and 80.5 penalty points, followed by Italy and Australia. South Africa, benefitting from home waters, secured fourth.
Eswatini’s performance, just behind Germany, signalled their rise in the sport. Their standout moment was the record-breaking 3.980kg bass, which surpassed the USA’s 3.290kg catch.
William Brown, Eswatini’s Team Manager, praised the team’s outstanding performance and expressed ambitions for a podium finish in 2026.
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