Racquetball World Championships

The World Racquetball Championships is the top international racquetball competition organized by the International Racquetball Federation (IRF).[1]

History edit

The first event was held in 1981 as part of the 1981 World Games. The second World Championships were in 1984, and they have been a biannual event since then with the exception of the COVID-19 pandemic period, which delayed the 2020 event by one year.

Worlds have been held in 13 countries across four continents: North and South America as well as Asia and Europe. The United States has hosted Worlds most often – 4 times, though not since 1996, followed by Mexico, 3 times, and twice each in Canada, the Dominican Republic, and South Korea.

The 2022 World Championships were held in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, which was the first time Worlds was in Mexico since 2000, when it was also held in San Luis Potosí. The 2022 Worlds introduced Mixed Doubles for the first time, and re-introduced the Team Competition (best of three matches: two singles & one doubles), which was held at Worlds until 2012, after which the team winners were determined by the points earned in the individual competitions.

Also, the 2022 World Championships used a best of five games match format with each game to 11 points, win by 2, with rally scoring, as used in other sports like squash and volleyball. Rally scoring – the winner of every rally scores a point – was introduced at Worlds in 2021. Previously, racquetball games used side-out scoring, where players scored points only when they had won a rally which began with that player serving. Rallies won when not serving were simply side-outs: the rally losing player lost the serve and the rally winning player won the opportunity to serve, but did not win a point.

Editions and team results edit

No.YearHostMen's teamWomen's teamOverall / combined
I1981United States USA
II1984United States  USA  USA USA
III1986United States  Canada  USA USA &
Canada
IV1988Germany  Canada  USA USA
V1990Venezuela  USA  USA USA
VI1992Canada  USA  USA USA
VII1994Mexico  USA  USA USA
VIII1996United States  Canada  USA USA
IX1998Bolivia  USA  USA USA
X2000Mexico  Canada  USA Canada
XI2002Puerto Rico  Canada  USA USA
XII2004South Korea  USA  USA USA
XIII2006Dominican Republic  USA  USA USA
XIV2008Ireland  USA  USA USA
XV2010South Korea  USA  USA USA
XVI2012Dominican Republic  USA  Mexico USA
XVII2014Canada  USA  Mexico USA
XVIII2016Colombia  USA  Mexico Mexico
XIX2018Costa Rica  Mexico  Mexico Mexico
XX2021Guatemala  USA  Mexico USA
XXI2022Mexico  Mexico  Mexico Mexico

Winners edit

No.YearHostMen's SinglesWomen's SinglesMen's DoublesWomen's DoublesMixed Doubles
I1981United States Ed Andrews Cindy Baxter Mark Malowitz & Jeff Kwartler Mary Ann Cluess & Karen Borga
II1984United States Ross Harvey Mary Dee Stan Wright & Steve Trent Carol French & Malia Kamahoahoa
III1986United States Egan Inoue Cindy Baxter Jack Nolan & Todd O'Neil Carol McFetridge & Marion Sicotte
IV1988Germany Andy Roberts Heather Stupp Doug Ganim & Dan Obremski Diane Green & Trina Rasmussen
V1990Venezuela Egan Inoue Heather Stupp Doug Ganim & Dan Obremski Malia Bailey & Jackie Paraiso
VI1992Canada Chris Cole Michelle Gould Doug Ganim & Eric Muller Malia Bailey & Robin Levine
VII1994Mexico Sherman Greenfeld Michelle Gould John Ellis & Eric Muller Laura Fenton & Jackie Paraiso Gibson
VIII1996United States Todd O'Neil Michelle Gould Adam Karp & Bill Sell Joy MacKenzie & Jackie Paraiso
IX1998Bolivia Sherman Greenfeld Christie Van Hees Adam Karp & Bill Sell Joy Mackenzie & Jackie Paraiso
X2000Mexico Álvaro Beltrán Cheryl Gudinas Luis Bustilos & Javier Moreno Kersten Hallander & Kim Russell
XI2002Puerto Rico Jack Huczek Cheryl Gudinas Polo Gutierrez & Gilberto Mejia Jackie Paraiso Rice & Kim Russell
XII2004South Korea Jack Huczek Cheryl Gudinas Shane Vanderson & Mike Dennison Jackie Paraiso Rice & Kim Russell
XIII2006Dominican Republic Jack Huczek Christie Van Hees Álvaro Beltrán & Javier Moreno Aimee Ruiz & Laura Fenton
XIV2008Ireland Rocky Carson Rhonda Rajsich Jason Thoerner & Mitch Williams Aimee Ruiz & Jackie Paraiso
XV2010South Korea Rocky Carson Rhonda Rajsich Ben Croft & Mitch Williams Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas
XVI2012Dominican Republic Rocky Carson Paola Longoria Álvaro Beltrán & Javier Moreno Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas
XVII2014Canada Rocky Carson Paola Longoria Sebastian Franco & Alejandro Herrera Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas
XVIII2016Colombia Rocky Carson Paola Longoria Álvaro Beltrán & Javier Moreno Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger
XIX2018Costa Rica Rodrigo Montoya Gabriela Martinez Álvaro Beltrán & Daniel De La Rosa Valeria Centellas & Yasmine Sabja
XX2021Guatemala Alejandro Landa Paola Longoria Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas
XXI2022Mexico Conrrado Moscoso Paola Longoria Álvaro Beltrán & Daniel De La Rosa Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas

Multiple world champions edit

ChampionSinglesDoublesMixedTotal
Paola Longoria55010
Jackie Paraiso07-7
Álvaro Beltrán1506
Samantha Salas0516
Rocky Carson5005
Javier Moreno04-4
Michelle Gould30-3
Cheryl Gudinas30-3
Jack Huczek30-3
Rodrigo Montoya1113
Aimee Ruiz03-3
Doug Ganim03-3
Kim Russell03-3
Joy MacKenzie03-3
Malia Bailey03-3
Christie Van Hees20-2
Heather Stupp20-2
Sherman Greenfeld20-2
Egan Inoue20-2
Rhonda Rajsich2002
Cindy Baxter20-2
Todd O'Neill11-2
Mitch Williams02-2
Dan Obremski02-2
Eric Muller02-2
Adam Karp02-2
Bill Sell02-2
Laura Fenton02-2

World champions by country edit

CountryMen's SinglesWomen's SinglesMen's DoublesWomen's DoublesMixed DoublesTotal
 United States15111214052
 Mexico2585121
 Canada340108
Bolivia100102
Colombia001001
Guatemala010001

References edit

  1. ^ "International Racquetball Federation – Official website". www.internationalracquetball.com.

External links edit