Sorato Anraku Wins His First Climbing World Championship Gold

Sorato Anraku is the 2025 Boulder World Champion. Anraku was in peak form today in Seoul, South Korea, being the only climber to top all four problems of the evening. At the lead semi-finals on Friday, he came in 10th, meaning he missed out on his chance to compete for gold in the finals. Although he’s had many World Cup first-place finishes, this is the 18-year-old’s first World Championship gold medal. At the last World Championships in Bern in 2023, he won silver in lead and placed fourth in boulder.

The men’s Boulder final in Seoul managed to be just as exciting as the women’s, which took place yesterday. As with the women, winning gold came down to the final problem, this time with Mejdi Schalk and Anraku vying for first place. Schalck was in the lead throughout the comp, with Anraku and Dohyun Lee not far behind. All three competitors topped the first three problems, but Schalk had the most points because of his fewer attempts. 

The final problem was powerful and exciting, with a heinous final move that shut down many climbers. Schalck made the zone on his first attempt. He then opted to rest for the maximum amount of time, allowing himself only one more go. It was a risky tactic, and was in fact the very same one that his teammate Oriane Bertone had employed the day before when she was neck in neck for gold against Janja Garnbret.

Unfortunately, as was the story for Bertone, the gamble did not pay off. Schalck did not get the send on his second attempt and had no time left for a third. Lee came close to finishing the problem, continuing to put on a great show for his loving home crowd. He was able to make it to zone twice, but was also ultimately unable to send the problem.

Photo: IFSC

It was a nail-biter watching Anraku, knowing a top meant he would overtake Schalck in points to claim gold. None of the other competitors were able to top the problem. He reached zone on his first attempt. After a short rest, he sent the problem with relative ease, securing his gold medal.

“I knew that I had to finish the last boulder and I’m happy I could do it,” said Anraku in his interview after the comp. “I was able to really enjoy my climbing. I usually get stiff in that situation, but I was so happy I could do well this time.”

Joining Anraku on the podium were Schalck with silver and Lee with bronze, a repeat of the 2023 World Championships in Bern where Schalck took home silver and Lee bronze.

Final Results

  1. Sorato Anraku (JPN) 99.2
  2. Mejdi Schalck (FRA) 84.5
  3. Dohyun Lee (KOR) 84.2
  4. Tomoa Narasaki (JPN) 59.7
  5. Meichi Narasaki (JPN) 44.8
  6. Jan-Luca Posch (AUT) 29.7
  7. Thorben Perry Bloem (GER) 29.0
  8. Jack MacDougall (GBR) 19.8

Men’s Boulder World Championship Final

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