Maldivian surfing icon Hussain Areef (Ibu), has secured this year's National Surf League championship by dominating the fourth round of the Rannamari Challenge.
The top performers in the quarter-finals earn 610 points in the league rankings, and Ibu, with his 2,860 points prior to the Rannamari Challenge, now boasts a total of 3,470 points in the league.
Upon confirmation of his league victory, Ibu stated, "This was the result of a lot of work. The first thing I want to say is Alhamdhulillaahi (Thanks be to Allah)".
Last year's league champion, Ahmed Agil (Ammaday), currently occupies the second position in the league rankings, while Najah Mohamed (Kabo), last year's runner-up, is in third place. Both athletes had accumulated 2,340 points before the Rannamari Challenge, and even if one of them secures victory in the competition, their maximum score will be 3,340 points.
Ibu faced a setback during the first tournament of the year in Gadhdhoo Kalhegalekoda, losing in the quarter-finals. However, his 610 points from the event did not contribute to his national ranking. Ibu won second place in the Muleekolhu Raalhugandu event held at M. Muli, earning 860 points. He received 1,000 points each by winning the Gamadhoo competition in K. Himmafushi and the Randha Wave event in K. Thulusdhoo.
The Rannamari Challenge served as the national championship before the Maldives Surf League last year. Ibu, who has claimed the national title seven times, boasts a record number of tournament wins. After recovering from an injury sustained after winning the Rannamari Challenge in 2019, he made a triumphant return to the tournament at last year's Gamadhoo competition, ultimately winning the title.
The top 28 athletes qualified for the Rannamari Challenge by aggregating points from the top three of the first four Surf League tournaments. The top 10 athletes in the rankings received seeding in the Rannamari Challenge, and the top four athletes from the top 10 commenced in the fourth round.
In the first heat of the fourth round, Ibu dominated with a total score of 13.50, earning 6.50 points in the fifth wave and 7 points in the following one. His brother, Abdullah Areef (Fuku), secured the second spot in the heats with a score of 10.50, while Hasan Nasih (Chika) finished third with 8.93 points, followed by Abdullah Arshad, who scored 6.64.
Last year's league champion, Ammaday, achieved the highest score in the fourth round with a total of 14.67. Competing in the fourth heat, he got 8 points for his best wave. Ismail Miglal (Kuda Isse) claimed second place in the heats with a score of 9.83, while Syed Salahuddin finished third with 6.26 points, and Ibrahim Aiman Arif secured 5.53 points.
Hood Ahmed (Hoobz) triumphed in the second heat with a score of 12.50, while Ismail Rashid (Smiley) took second place with 10.50 points, and Kayan Abdulla Areef finished third with a score of 7.44.
Kabo, who won in the third heat, tallied 11.50 points, with Jailam Nizar securing second place with 7 points. Ahmed Arzan earned 5.87 points, and Yasin Ahmed Nashid scored 5.27 points.
The quarter-finalists were determined by selecting the top two athletes from each of the four heats in the fourth round.
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