Sorato Anraku has emerged as the 2025 Boulder World Champion in a thrilling competition held in Seoul, South Korea. Demonstrating exceptional performance, Anraku topped all four problems in the finals, marking his first World Championship gold medal at just 18 years old. Despite finishing 10th in the lead semi-finals earlier in the event, Anraku showcased resilience and skill, having previously secured silver in lead and placed fourth in bouldering at the 2023 World Championships in Bern.
The men’s Boulder final was packed with tension, drawing parallels to the women’s final held the day before. The competition saw Anraku, Mejdi Schalk, and Dohyun Lee battling for the top spot. Schalk maintained a lead throughout most of the event, clinching points based on fewer attempts while all three climbers topped the first three problems.
The deciding final problem proved to be a daunting challenge, featuring a tough last move that stumped many competitors. Schalk, after reaching the zone on his first attempt, opted to rest the maximum time before his second go—a strategy mirroring that of his teammate Oriane Bertone, who faced a similar situation in the women’s final. Unfortunately for Schalk, the gamble backfired, leaving him unable to secure a send on his second attempt, and he had no time for a third attempt.
Lee put up a strong fight, impressing his home crowd by reaching the zone twice but ultimately failed to complete the problem. Anraku was in a nail-biting position where completing the final challenge would elevate him above Schalk in points. Hitting the zone on his first attempt, Anraku then executed the last problem with poise, clinching his gold medal for Japan.
“I knew I had to finish the last boulder, and I’m happy I could do it,” Anraku remarked after the competition. He expressed his joy in climbing, saying, “I usually get stiff in that situation, but I was so happy I could do well this time.”
The podium was rounded out with Schalk taking silver and Lee earning bronze, mirroring the results from the previous World Championships in Bern.
Final Results
1. Sorato Anraku (JPN) – 99.2
2. Mejdi Schalk (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
