Australian star Mick Fanning, mourning the sudden death of his brother, was denied an emotional fourth crown as Adriano de Souza kept the world surfing title in Brazilian hands on Thursday.
De Souza defeated compatriot and defending champion Gabriel Medina in the final of the Pipe Masters in Hawaii — the decisive, final event in the World Surf League professional tour.
De Souza, 28, had clinched the overall world title by reaching the final as Fanning, who came into the event atop the standings, fell to Medina in the semi-finals.
Photo: EPA
Fanning, 34, who finished second in the championship standings, was competing with a heavy heart having learned just a day earlier of the death of his brother Peter, who reportedly died in his sleep in Australia.
It has been a traumatic year for Fanning — he spectacularly escaped unscathed from a shark during competition in South Africa in July in an attack that made headlines around the world.
Fanning had beaten 11-time world champion Kelly Slater in the quarter-finals before he was eliminated by Medina — who became the first Brazilian to win the “triple crown” as the surfer with the highest points total from the three events in Hawaii: at Haleiwa, Sunset and Pipeline.
De Souza finished atop the championship standings with 57,700 points, with Fanning second on 54,650 and Medina third on 51,600.
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