Cieslak Crowned World Champion after Churchill’s Heartbreak on Final Glide
RIVOLI DI OSOPPO, ITALY, 9 February 2026 – In the history of the FAI Virtual Sailplane Grand Prix, there has never been a finish like this. The 3rd FAI World Virtual SGP Final concluded yesterday evening with a moment of drama so shocking it left commentators breathless. In a "winner-takes-all" final race spanning three countries, Poland’s Maciej Cieslak (POL) emerged from the chaos to claim the World Championship title, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat after race leader Sean Churchill (UK) struck a power line just meters from the finish line.
The Final Task of the Series: 220km in Austria, Slovenia and Italy
The Stage: A Tour of Three Nations
Guiding fans through the action were Ben Fest (GER), the first-ever E-Airsports and VSGP World Champion, and Antoine Havet (FRA), FAI Virtual Gliding Director, who found themselves calling a "one-shot" race to crown a new World Champion.
The Task Setter saved the hardest for last. The final 220 km task launched from Austria, diving south into Slovenia to tag Bovec and the towering Triglav massif, before crossing back north to Micheldorf. The pilots then had to leave the high mountains of Slovenia to fly towards Cerkno, and finally turning west into the flatlands of Italy towards Udine and the finish at Rivoli di Osoppo.
The weather was technical: weak, broken thermals requiring a shift in gears from high-mountain ridge running to flatland racing.
The Start: The Giants Stumble
As the gate opened, the fleet split immediately. A northern group led by David Redman (AUS) and Jeroen Jennen (BEL) charged down the valley. Meanwhile, Polish Champion Witold Rozak (POL) opted for a riskier line with Maciej Cieslak (POL), hunting for lee-side lift.
S19 placed an attack more than 110km away from the Finish Line
The pressure of the World Final took its toll early. Witold Rozak, the dominant force of the qualifying week, found himself stuck lower than the group in the early sectors, unable to connect with the high-speed energy lines. As Rozak and Jennen faded into the midfield, the door swung wide open for a new champion. By this time, approaching TP2, Ben Fest was still very confident that both of them could recover their loss and get back in the lead.
The Breakaway: Churchill’s Charge
S19 still higher and in a commanding position before TP4 Udpre
It was Sean Churchill (UK) who seized the initiative on the longest leg towards TP3. He placed a decisive attack 113km away from the Finish Line! It was an early move, and the commentators were wondering if it wasn’t too early to do it! He decided to break away from the leading pack to follow his own route, that lead to a stunning cloud street. Reaching the turning point 3 of Cerkno, Churchill made a gap and succeeded to escape the main group. He left the safety of the gaggle to fly a solo line towards the Italian border. It was a masterstroke. While the pack hesitated, Churchill utilized the tailwind perfectly, surfing the final ridges before diving into the Udine flatlands with a commanding lead.
Chasing him was Maciej Cieslak. The Polish pilot had quietly worked his way through the field, aggressive and precise - but lower than Sean - sensing that the title could be a two-horse race if he could fly better than Sean towards to finish line. A lot of opportunities were open with a strong headwind between Udpre turnpoint (neat Udine) and a few cloud streets leading to the Reporting Point. Maciej placed an attack a few kilometers before Udpre: he decided to continue and take the lead - lower than his opponents - instead of stopping in a weak climb with Sean and the pack. That’s were he escaped.
The Climax: Disaster at Rivoli
VLZ and S19 fighting for the World Title, at the Reporting Point
The final 10 kilometers into Rivoli di Osoppo will be replayed for years. Churchill and Cieslak were neck-and-neck on the final glide, pushing their 18m gliders to the limit of their polar curves, and at the Maximum Speed.
Churchill held the inside line, lower and faster. With the runway in sight, he pushed the stick forward to squeeze every knot of speed out of the airframe, flying dangerously close to the deck.
Then, disaster struck.
In a cruel twist of fate, Churchill’s left wing clipped a high-tension power line just hundreds of meters from the line. The impact was instant. The British pilot plummeted to the ground, his championship dreams shattered in a split second.
Maciej Cieslak (POL), flying just meters above and behind, witnessed the crash. He held his nerve, cleared the obstacle, and crossed the finish line to become the 3rd FAI Virtual Sailplane Grand Prix World Champion.
The Aftermath
Behind the shock of the winner, the battle for the podium was fierce. In a heart-stopping duel for the remaining medals, David Redman (AUS) and Davis Chappins (USA) charged toward the line wingtip-to-wingtip.
Redman, squeezing every ounce of energy from his JS3, managed to hold off the surging American in a near photo-finish, crossing the line moments ahead to claim the Silver. Chappins, secured a hard-fought Bronze, with Nico Bianchi (ARG) rounding out the top four.
Meanwhile, Witold Rozak, the undeniable favorite of the qualifying week, crossed the line well down the order: a stark and brutal reminder that in this new format, consistency gets you to the final, but only the final race defines your legacy.
Grand Final Results (Top 5)
A New Era
The 3rd FAI World Virtual SGP Final is over, and Maciej Cieslak sits on the throne. From the tactical battles in Slovenia to the heartbreak in Italy, this series has proven once again that virtual gliding is as mentally and technically demanding as the real thing.
Thank you to all the pilots, organizers, and fans who made this season unforgettable. See you in the skies for the next edition!
Your 3rd FAI Virtual Sailplane Grand Prix World Champion: MACIEJ CIESLAK
