Anraku Sorato of Japan continued his dominant run at the World Climbing Series 2026, finishing first in the men’s Boulder semi-final in Innsbruck, Austria.

The Japanese climber backed up his top qualification result by becoming the only athlete to top all four boulders, finishing with 99.7 points and securing his place in the final.

HISTORY MAKER

The 19-year-old Japanese star looked in control throughout the round, topping every boulder and adding flashes on M2 and M3 to finish comfortably ahead of the field.

Anraku has also won all four Boulder Series events contested so far this season, beginning in Keqiao, China, and continuing through every event on the calendar: Bern, Switzerland; Alcobendas, Spain; and Prague, Czechia. A victory in Innsbruck would make it five from five in 2026 and keep alive the possibility of a perfect six-win season in Salt Lake City, USA, next October.

The only climber to achieve a six-from-six season remains Slovenia's Janja Garnbret in 2019.

MILNE WAITING FOR HIS KAI HARADA MOMENT

Japan placed three athletes into the final as Kawamata Rei finished second with 84.9 points and Amagasa Sohta took fourth with 84.7 points. Amagasa enters the Innsbruck final two years after winning the event in 2024.

Separating the two Japanese climbers was Maximillian Milne of Great Britain, who placed third with 84.8 points. Milne flashed two of the three boulders he topped and remained in contention for the top spot until falling short of the top on M4.

The British said: "I had a good feeling coming into this competition. My shape has just gone better as the season went on, and the middle two comps, Madrid and Prague, were a bit shafty because I sliced my finger open, so I didn't get to climb as or show my shape.

"I came out, executed really well, and then just kept topping blocks! I was like 'Maybe I can top all four.' I didn't top the last one, but I was really close. It was just the swinging move to the pinch. It was definitely my style, fine margins... This kind of round, you either do them first try, or you don't do them at all, because your hands get too hot and your body gets too hot. You could see I knew I was in as well, so maybe my drive wasn't as switched on for that last move.

"I feel like I can get on the podium. I've been in two other finals this year, I've never done that in a season, so I've been striving for consistency, but it's super hard in this game. and I feel I'm finally there, I just have to have the blocks suit me and it'll work out.

"I keep thinking, every competition at the moment, I go out there and if it's my Kai Harada moment, where the round suits you, I'll fly, if not, just climb well and see what happens. But we're in Innsbruck, so hopefully I can!" concluded Milne.

CHON READY TO CHALLENGE THE NEXT GEN

Lee Dohyun of South Korea advanced in fifth place with 84.1 points, followed by Hannes Van Duysen of Belgium in sixth on 74.9 points.

Joining them in the final will be Chon Jongwon of South Korea, who secured the 29th Boulder final appearance of his career with seventh place on 69.3 points, and Sam Avezou of France, who completed a strong comeback from 17th in qualification to eighth in semi-final, and claim the final qualification spot with the same score of 69.3 points.

Chon commented: "I'm pretty much a friction climber. I had the very good fiction on my hand. So this type of boulder is my main strength. Well, nowadays I think it's Sticky Boy Sorato, but after him, there's me. Now we're both in the final, old versus new, usually the new thing is better, but I'll give myb heart... classic is forever. I'm doing my best."

For the men's Boulder complete results click here.

NEXT UP

The World Climbing Series Innsbruck 2026 continues tonight with the men’s Boulder final at 19:40 (UTC+2:00).

News and updates about all World Climbing events will be available on the World Climbing website, and on the Federation’s digital channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, and exclusively for the Chinese audience, Douyin, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu.