MATT ROBERTSON WINS RECORD $1.25M IN INAUGURAL WORLD BASS ENTERPRISES' "THE CHAMPIONS" TOURNAMENT

Matt Robertson of Kuttawa, Kentucky won the inaugural World Bass Enterprises (WBE) “The Champions” tournament on Oct. 31, 2026, taking home a record $1.25 million. Robertson’s championship catch totaled 20 lbs. 2 oz. across five fish on the final competition day at Old Hickory Lake near Nashville, Tennessee. The event’s overall purse was $3.25 million, with $500,000 going to second-place angler Pake South (13 lbs. 7 oz., four fish), and $300,000 to third-place finisher Wesley Strader (11 lbs. 2 oz., five fish). Trey McKinney earned $200,000 and Michael Neal $100,000. The tournament drew a featured field of 62 anglers, plus two “Average Joes,” competing in teams labeled Team Stripes and Team Stars, with Team Stars winning the “Champions Cup.”