The second Berlin Titscher Masters was a day that brought together everything this sport is all about: friendship, ambition, a bit of chaos – and plenty of skipping stones. 106 competitors from 13 nations came together to show just how far a flat stone can fly across the water, despite challenging conditions with wind, rain, and constantly changing weather.

For the first time, the tournament took place at a brand-new venue designed for throws of up to 135 meters. A specially designed buoy-based measuring line, made possible with the support of the Landessportbund Berlin, was used here for the very first time.

The weather made life difficult for the athletes this year. Wind gusts and rain repeatedly disrupted flight paths, causing some favorites to stumble early on. Among them was Gary Bailey – last year’s winner – who was eliminated surprisingly early. Despite the conditions, the atmosphere remained upbeat – not least thanks to our MC, Carl, who combined deep expertise with sharp wit, delivering both warm praise and good-natured teasing throughout the day.

In the children’s category, Bene Schulz put on a strong performance in the final, winning with a throw of 18 meters and a narrow one-meter lead. The colorful Kids’ Swan trophy will no doubt find a place of honor at home.

In the women’s competition, Anne Hagedorn showed once again why she currently dominates the sport in Germany. The reigning national champion claimed the international title too, with a throw of 28 meters, and proudly added the black swan to her trophy cabinet.

In the men’s field, upsets came early. Irie Dreddes, the reigning German champion, was eliminated already in the quarterfinals. Advancing to the next rounds were, among others, Matthieu Lacourie from France with a strong 69-meter throw, Ning Hou from China – who recently won a major tournament in Japan – and Hans Eshuis from the Netherlands, who entered the competition confidently after his team’s Swiss Open victory.

The final once again demonstrated why this sport is so captivating. As the sun finally broke through the clouds and a rainbow arched over the arena, the throws became longer and more precise. Sebo Naumann reached the final with 45 meters, while Ning Hou narrowly missed out with 41 meters. Victory ultimately went to Alex Lewis, whose throw of 78 meters – while not enough to break Victor Binot’s previous Berlin record of 85 meters – was more than enough to dominate the field.

From a German perspective, Flo “Schatzi” Richter delivered a highlight performance: his 53-meter throw secured 5th place overall and earned him the title of German Champion. Schatzi only recently joined THC Franziskaner FC, the first and so far only German club to officially offer stone skimming as a sporting discipline. Johnny took second place nationally after grinding his way through the preliminary rounds and quarterfinals and hitting his stride just in time.

The team competition provided another highlight. Amid pyrotechnics and loud cheers, The Bouncing Bombs claimed victory with a lead of just 7 meters over their international rivals.

The Berlin Titscher Masters 2025 was not just a competition – it was a gathering of a growing and close-knit community. Between ambitious throws, friendly rivalry, and the joy of being outdoors together, the event once again showed what makes this sport so special.

If you couldn’t make it to the water’s edge this time, you can still watch the event on the Stream. And be sure to follow us on Instagram for more updates. We’re already looking forward to next year – BTM26!