The Grand Final of the inaugural 2026 Woding "King of Tilapia" Commercial Pond Championship has concluded successfully!

From September 14 to 17, the Grand Final of the 2026 Inaugural "Woding: Exploring the Extraordinary" Tilapia King Commercial Pond Championship took place at the Jianye Fishing Park in Jianghai District, Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province. Since March of this year, the tournament has undergone a rigorous selection process comprising 108 qualifying rounds, producing over 90 "Pond Champions" (with some anglers winning at multiple venues). Due to scheduling constraints, 52 anglers ultimately competed in the Grand Final, joining the four semi-finalists—Tang Shiquan, Jiang Bangyu, Yi Huaping, and Wu Xiang—to vie for the ultimate title of "Woding: Exploring the Extraordinary Tilapia King."

The Grand Final consisted of four stages—the qualifier, the Top 16 knockout round, the Top 4 round, and the championship match—all conducted under strict competitive standards. The designated rod for the entire event was the "Woding: Exploring the Extraordinary" commercial pond rod series. Developed with a philosophy rooted in practical application and proven through over a hundred commercial pond competitions, this series supports anglers with stable backbone strength and precise feedback for fish control.

According to the tournament format, the 52 anglers were divided into 12 qualifying groups. Over the two-day qualifier (September 14–15), the groups drew lots and took turns competing in a multi-person knockout format. The competition was intense and fluid; anglers executed seamless sequences of hooking, controlling, and retrieving fish, frequently landing "double catches" (two fish at once). Top anglers from various commercial ponds faced off directly, resulting in multiple dramatic shifts in the standings.

After two days of high-intensity competition, the 12 group winners successfully advanced, joining the four semi-finalists—Tang Shiquan, Jiang Bangyu, Yi Huaping, and Wu Xiang—to form the Top 16. They are as follows:

Semifinal Champion: Tang Shiquan — May 24, Juyuyuan Fishing Venue (Large Tilapia) – Pool Winner

Semifinal Runner-up: Jiang Bangyu — April 11, Tianshun Fishing Venue (Small Tilapia) – Pool Winner

Semifinal 3rd Place: Yi Huaping — April 15, Xingtong Tianxia Wushuang Fishing Venue (Large Tilapia) – Pool Winner

Semifinal 4th Place: Wu Xiang — June 7, Golden Coast Fishing Venue (Large Tilapia) – Pool Winner

Group 1 Winner: Li Ming — April 9, Beiyi Fishing Venue (Large Tilapia) – Pool Winner

Group 2 Winner: Liang Shunchu — July 31, Jingzhu Large Tilapia Pond (Large Tilapia) – 3rd Place (Qualification passed down)

Group 3 Winner: Yang Bo — April 11, 168 Fishing Supplies Venue (Large Tilapia) – Pool Winner

Group 4 Winner: Liu Yang — April 1, Xingfu Yule Fishing Venue (Large Tilapia) – Pool Winner

Group 5 Winner: Duan Zhantao — April 16, Shunyi Fishing Venue (Large Tilapia) – Pool Winner

Group 6 Winner: He Lang — May 1, Xiao'er Fishing Venue – Pool Winner

Group 7 Winner: Yu Ai — June 30, Yulin Leisure Fishing Base (Small Tilapia) – Runner-up (Qualification passed down)

Group 8 Winner: Luo Ruixing — May 28, Renhe Wangzi Giant Tilapia Leisure Fishing Venue (Large Tilapia) – Runner-up (Qualification passed down)

Group 9 Winner: Zhang Peipei — March 27, Tanbei Daxian Fishing Venue (Large Tilapia) – Pool Winner

Group 10 Winner: Zhang Yongjie — April 8, Xiangqian Fishing Venue (Small Tilapia) – Pool Winner

Group 11 Winner: Hu Shangmin — May 15, Tianshun Fishing Venue (Small Tilapia) – Runner-up (Qualification passed down)

Group 12 Winner: He Wenwei — June 13, Houhai Large Tilapia Pond (Large Tilapia) – Pool Winner

16强晋级实拍（部分）

The Round of 16 competition kicked off on September 16. The 16 contestants were divided into four groups to compete, with the winner of each group advancing directly to the Top 4. The designated rod for this stage was the Woding "Explore the Extraordinary" (Tansuo Feifan) 16H 3m *Heikeng* (commercial pond) rod. Amidst the fast-paced race to land fish, the rod’s performance remained consistently reliable, helping anglers maintain a high-efficiency catch rate and firmly seize the initiative to advance.

Competition intensified during the Round of 16, with every cast influencing the path to the Top 4. The matches saw frequent deadlocks, followed by crucial moments where anglers managed to turn the tide and take the lead.

After three rounds of fierce battle, the four group winners secured their spots in the Top 4: Liu Yang, Yang Bo, Zhang Peipei, and Zhang Yongjie.

The grand finale featuring the Top 4 took place on September 17. The finalists first competed under a double-elimination format to determine the top two seeds, who would then face off for the championship. On the field, the scores seesawed back and forth; amidst the flurry of casting, the lead changed hands multiple times. Ultimately, the battle for the title came down to a match between Zhang Peipei and Liu Yang.

The championship final was a 1-on-1, best-of-five series with 30-minute rounds (the deciding round was split into two 15-minute halves), pushing the anglers' skills, stamina, and mental resilience to the limit. The two engaged in a grueling contest where every cast demonstrated their prowess and every round held the outcome in suspense. After four rounds of intense competition, Zhang Peipei clinched victory with a 3–1 score, claiming the title of "2026 Woding Explore the Extraordinary Tilapia King."

At the closing ceremony, Mr. Tan Guoli, Brand Planning Manager of Weihai Woding Outdoor Products Co., Ltd., presented the winner with a grand prize of 100,000 RMB in cash, along with an equipment package: a "Woding Explore Extraordinary" (Woding Tansuo Feifan) custom champion-edition *Heikeng* (commercial pond) rod set worth 25,070 RMB; one ton of Peilaidao bait worth 16,000 RMB; and a set of "Captain" brand genuine gold and *urushi* lacquer floats worth 2,380 RMB.

Liu Yang secured the runner-up position. Mr. Li Ming, General Manager of Guangdong JiangmenPeilaidao Technology Co., Ltd.,

presented him with a 10,000 RMB cash prize and a comprehensive set of Peilaidao additives worth 600 RMB.

Yang Bo took third place; through exceptional skill in the top-four showdown, he won a 5,000 RMB cash prize and a

comprehensive set of Peilaidao additives worth 600 RMB. Mr. Ning Qin, representing Dongguan Captain Fishing Tackle Co., Ltd., presented him with his exclusive prizes.

With this, the Grand Final of the 2026 First "Woding Explore Extraordinary" Tilapia King *Heikeng* Championship has successfully concluded. Spanning six months from March to September—featuring a hundred qualifying rounds, the progression from individual pond champions to the semi-final top four, and finally the peak showdown of the top sixteen—every competitor wrote their own extraordinary chapter through skill and passion.

The "Woding Explore Extraordinary" *Heikeng* rod accompanied competitors throughout the season; forged in actual competition, it proved its performance in the heat of the action. Although this tournament has ended, Woding’s journey of exploration continues. More exciting events are in the pipeline, and we invite all anglers to stay tuned.

Woding also extends its gratitude to the event's co-organizers—Guangdong Jiangmen Peilaidao

Technology Co., Ltd. and Dongguan Captain Fishing Tackle Co., Ltd.—as well as supporting partners Sichuan Panda Angler Sports Culture Communication Co., Ltd. and "Chuidiao Tianxia" (Angling World) Smart Keep-nets, for their steadfast companionship and tremendous support throughout the event. The next stop promises to be exciting—we look forward to seeing you there.