Virtual Soaring Crowns Asia’s Best: 3rd FAI VSGP Asia Qualifiers Conclude
We are excited to share the results and highlights from the recently concluded 3rd FAI Virtual Sailplane Grand Prix (VSGP) Asia Qualifiers. The competition featured six intense races, and we are thrilled to announce the top performers who have secured their spots in the World Final set for early 2026.
Recap of Races 3 to 6:
Race 3 (20th July): The third race of the qualifiers presented a challenging 182km task around Ljubljana, that tested the pilots' strategic skills and precision. The task was set in a scenic landscape, providing both beauty and complexity. Pilots had to navigate through varying weather conditions, making it a true test of their adaptability and expertise.
Race 4 (23rd July): This race saw competitors tackling a demanding route over the Alps racing for about 2h in a closed 200km task. The pilots demonstrated exceptional skill in managing their gliders' performance, with some impressive displays of ridge soaring and tactical decision-making.
Race 5 (27th July): The task length was 189 km, generally completed in 1h30 to 1h45. Pilots had to be cautious of the activated airspaces near Maribor but successfully completed the task!
Race 6 (30th July): With a task length of 194 km, pilots faced a moderate difficulty level. The race included a ridge race and mountain flight, adding to the complexity and excitement. The activated airspace MATZ AIGEN required careful navigation again, but the nice weather was there to make the race a great and exciting success, with a nice finish!
Livestreaming Success:
A special mention goes to Naoki Takechi, who successfully organized this Qualifier, while hlding livestreamings in Japanese on his Twitch channel, Japan Virtual Soaring. His commentary and insights added immense value to the viewing experience. We invite all fans who wish to relive the excitement or catch up on the races to check out his channel. Naoki was wearing the official 3rd FAI VSGP polo during the last race, and you can get yours in our shop!
Race Results:
Here are the detailed results from each race:
Race 3:
UT (UT) - Japan - 1,000.00
Yuki Kazama (NGS) - Japan - 875.00
Nobuhiro Okada (YZR) - Japan - 833.33
Race 4:
UT (UT) - Japan - 1,000.00
Yuki Kazama (NGS) - Japan - 916.67
Massa Harasky (MHJ) - Japan - 833.33
Race 5:
UT (UT) - Japan - 1,000.00
Nobuhiro Okada (YZR) - Japan - 888.89
Yuki Kazama (NGS) - Japan - 777.78
Race 6:
UT (UT) - Japan - 1,000.00
Massa Harasky (MHJ) - Japan - 875.00
Yuki Kazama (NGS) - Japan - 833.33
Overall Results - Asia Qualifiers
| # | Pilot | Username | Country | Penalty/Crashes | Total of points (Nb of races) | Overall/Average Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UT | U T | Japan | 0 | 4,833.33 (5) | 4,833.33 |
| 2 | NGS | Yuki Kazama | Japan | 0 | 4,668.25 (5) | 4,668.25 |
| 3 | YZR | Nobuhiro Okada | Japan | 0 | 3,853.17 (5) | 3,853.17 |
| 4 | 2MO | 2 mo | Japan | 0 | 3,595.24 (5) | 3,595.24 |
| 5 | MHJ | Massa Harasky | Japan | 0 | 3,363.10 (5) | 3,363.10 |
| 6 | KON | Hirotaka Kono | Japan | 0 | 2,083.33 (4) | 2,083.33 |
| 7 | ZZ | Totoro YY | Japan | 0 | 1,702.38 (4) | 1,702.38 |
| 8 | MTR | Mitsuru Watanabe | Japan | 0 | 1,638.89 (3) | 1,638.89 |
| 9 | YKM | Yakumo M | Japan | 0 | 948.41 (5) | 948.41 |
| 10 | 468 | Yang Cao | China | 0 | 750.00 (3) | 750.00 |
| 11 | BIN | Satoshi Hashimoto | Japan | 0 | 611.11 (3) | 611.11 |
| 12 | 9V | Simon Tee | Singapore | 0 | 250.00 (1) | 250.00 |
| 12 | FVT | Hokaze Hasumi | Australia | 0 | 250.00 (2) | 250.00 |
| 14 | 139 | Tom Wang | China | 0/1 | 0.00 (0) | 0.00 |
| 14 | IZM | Izumo Ootori | Japan | 0 | 0.00 (0) | 0.00 |
| 14 | SOU | Soutaro Matsuoka | Japan | 0/1 | 0.00 (0) | 0.00 |
| 14 | TKZ | Kazu T | Japan | 0/1 | 0.00 (0) | 0.00 |
Announcing the Winner:
After six intense races, we are proud to announce UT as the winner of the 3rd FAI VSGP Asia Qualifiers! The top two pilots have qualified directly for the World Final in early 2026, meaning that UT and NGS will represent Asia for the 3rd FAI VSGP WF! Congratulations to all the participants for their outstanding performances and sportsmanship.
Looking Ahead:
The World Final promises to be an even more thrilling event, bringing together the best virtual soaring pilots from around the globe. We look forward to seeing our qualifiers compete at the highest level and wish them the best of luck.
Stay tuned for more updates and detailed analyses of the races. Thank you to everyone who followed and supported the 3rd FAI VSGP Asia Qualifiers. Your enthusiasm and passion for virtual soaring make this community truly special.
See you in just a few days for the South American Qualifiers, which should be epic!
