Argentine Santiago Muñiz did it again, winning the UR ISA World Surfing Games and becoming the first surfer to qualify for the Lima 2019 Pan American Games after ruining the party for the Japanese who were preparing at home to celebrate their first gold in an event of this type.

As he did throughout the event, but especially with the sea going down, the Argentinean flew in the final, he was fast, precise and radical. He scored a 7,90 and a 6,73 in his two best waves and left CT member Kanoa Igarashi needing a 6,97 with seven minutes left, but no wave came.

Once out of the water, the Argentine said in the live broadcast: “I am so happy, I don’t have a voice so I am just going to say thank you to Jesus and God for everything and to my family and my team and my sponsors. I am very, very happy. This is great, when you represent your country you feel the energy and that is a very nice feeling, I was born in Argentina, I represent the best country.”

“This is a very good result, tomorrow will be another day, there are other events. Today I am happy with my result and with my team that is supporting me,” he added.

The decision began with Kanoa Igarashi in first place thanks to a 7,67 on his first wave. Then the Peruvian Lucca Mesinas took the lead with two lefts that he attacked with strength and precision. One of his waves, the 6,43, could have been even higher. Then the Japanese got a good backup and moved up to first place.

Muñiz had the best wave of the series, a 7,9 that he got thanks to three strong backside attacks, but he couldn't get the 5,77 back. With seven minutes left he found a right that he filled with fluid maneuvers, but not so strong, and he fell on the last one. The doubt remained in the air for a few seconds, but the judges not only paid 5,77 but almost a point more, 6,73. Igarashi looked for the 6,73 but didn't find any waves.

The Argentine thus became champion for the second time (he had won in Panama 2011) and with this title the Albicelestes added their fifth ISA world title, Usuna in 2014 and 2016, Gundesen in the junior category last year. On the other hand, Latin America has won all the ISA men's world titles since 2013 when the gold went to a South African (Usuna in 2014, McGonagle in 2015, Usuna in 2016 and Corzo in 2017).

With this result, the Argentinean took first place in the qualification for the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. Lucca Mesinas' third place also gave him qualification but he occupied a space reserved for the locals. Kevin Schulz of the United States is then guaranteed second in the second largest multi-sport event in the world, which also qualifies the best male and best female surfer eligible for Tokyo 2020.

Final result 
1- Santiago Muñiz (ARG) 14,63 points
2- Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 13,67 points
3- Lucca Messinas (PER) 12,93 points
4- Shun Murakami (JPN) 9,96 points

In the team rankings, the work of the American women placed their country at the top of the ranking, with Australia in second and France in third.

Hispanic countries appear in the following positions:

6- Peru
7- Spain
9- Argentina
12- Costa Rica
15- Chile
17- Mexico
21- Panama
23- Ecuador
34- Guatemala
37- El Salvador
39- Nicaragua