Virtual Reality, Real Emotion: Cieslak Crowned World Champion in Dramatic Italian Finale
Rivoli-di-Ossopo, 9 January 2026 - If there were any doubts that esports could replicate the tension of real-world aviation, this weekend silenced them. The 3rd FAI World Virtual Sailplane Grand Prix Final concluded on Sunday with a finish so dramatic it will be talked about for years. After a grueling qualifying series and a high-stakes final weekend, Poland’s Maciej Cieslak emerged as the new World Champion, seizing the title in the final meters of a 220 km race across the Alps.
Here is how the final weekend unfolded, whittling down the world's best virtual pilots to one champion.
Friday: The Return of the Belgians (Race 4)
Celje (Slovenia) – After a two-week hiatus, the fleet returned to the skies on Friday for Race 4. The conditions were "Spring-like"—weak, broken thermals that punished impatience.
The narrative of the day was the resurgence of Jeroen Jennen. The Belgian real-world World Champion, who had won the very first race of the series, mastered the low-energy airmass. While others struggled to climb out of the Celje basin, Jennen connected the ridges to Tolmin with surgical precision. He won the day, putting significant pressure on the overall championship leader, Witold Rozak (Poland).
Saturday: The Cut (Race 5)
Friesach (Austria) – Saturday was dubbed "The Pressure Cooker." With only the top 10 in the overall standings advancing to the Grand Final, no one was safe.
The 212 km task sent the pilots over the Karawanks range. A massive tactical split occurred early, with one group hugging the northern peaks and another gambling on the southern valleys. Witold Rozak (POL) proved why he was the favorite. Ignoring the desperate moves of his rivals, he flew a dominant race along the northern ridges, winning the day and securing his spot in the final as the top seed. High-profile names like Ryan Wood (CAN) and Arne-Martin Guëttler (NOR) - the 2nd FAI VSGP World Champion - were eliminated, leaving a field of 10 elite pilots for Sunday.
Sunday: The Grand Final – "Absolute Cinema"
Rivoli di Osoppo (Italy) – The format for Sunday was simple: One Race. One Winner. World Champion.
The points from previous races were wiped clean. The 220 km task spanned three countries, launching from Austria, tagging the Triglav in Slovenia, and finishing in the flatlands of Italy.
The Race:
Early on, the favorites stumbled. Witold Rozak (POL) and Jeroen Jennen (BEL) got stuck in weak lift, watching the lead pack moving fast in front of them. The door was wide open.
British pilot Sean Churchill (UK) seized the opportunity. Breaking away from the gaggle before Cerkno, he flew a brilliant solo line, using a tailwind to surf the final ridges before diving into the Italian plains. He looked unstoppable.
The Finish:
Churchill arrived at the finish line at Rivoli di Osoppo on a screaming final glide, neck-and-neck with Maciej Cieslak (POL). Pushing his glider to the absolute limit to minimize altitude loss, Churchill flew aggressively low.
In a heartbreaking twist, Churchill’s wing clipped a power line just meters from the finish line. As the British pilot crashed, Maciej Cieslak - flying just meters above him - flashed across the line to take the win.
The New VSGP World Champion
Maciej Cieslak (Poland) is the 3rd FAI Virtual SGP World Champion. His victory is a testament to resilience; while he wasn't the loudest voice in the qualifying week, he delivered when the pressure was at its absolute peak.
Final Podium:
🥇 Maciej Cieslak (POL)
🥈 David Redman (AUS)
🥉 Davis Chappins (USA)
The fans and the commentary team (Ben Fest and Antoine Havet) described the final moments as "Absolute Cinema," and they were right. The Virtual SGP has proven that the tactical depth, the psychological pressure, and the sheer thrill of soaring racing translate perfectly to the digital world.
Congratulations to Maciej Cieslak, and thank you to the thousands of fans who tuned in to watch history in the making. This Virtual event reached more than 400k people online on all social media platforms.
Did you miss the action? You can watch the full replay of the event on the FAI Virtual Gliding YouTube channel.
