Cover photo: WSL/Ryder 

Brazilian Filipe Toledo, current leader of the rankings, became the first man to qualify for the WSL finals after beating Rio Waida and reaching the quarterfinals of the JBay Open, which today had its best day of waves.

Not only did Filipe make it to the quarterfinals, but two of the top 5 players also crashed out of the event, Griffin Colapinto and Joao Chianca. In addition, John John, ranked sixth, and Leo Fioravanti, ranked ninth, also said goodbye to the event.

This puts Filipe further away and secures him a place in the finals with at least 49725. In other words, if for example Ethan Ewing wants to overtake him now at JBay, he would need to win the event and for Toledo to lose now in the quarterfinals, where he will face Jack Robinson.

The Brazilian received the news with relief, saying he hoped it could happen at JBay but until he hears it, the tension will not calm down.

Of the top five men and top five women going to the finals, Toledo joins Carissa Moore and Tyler Wright who are also guaranteed to make it to the finals.

See this post on Instagram

A post shared by World Surf League (@wsl)