Celebrating the Thrilling Action at the 2024 Weymouth Grand Slam

The 41st Weymouth Grand Slam was a breathtaking display of beach volleyball talent, drawing crowds and competitors from near and far, ranging from local Weymouth players to ones from halfway around the world.

This year’s tournament kicked off on Friday with 18 teams fiercely competing for the coveted four spots in the weekend’s main event. On the men’s side, Jones/Müller and Chau/Yeung secured their places, while Zorzi/Vitali and Grimson/Macdonald advanced in the women’s bracket.

Saturday saw the commencement of pool play, featuring 16 teams per gender, divided into four pools. The intense competition culminated in the first round of 16 eliminations, setting the stage for an action-packed Sunday.

Sunday began bright and early at 9 am with the quarter-finals, leading into the highly anticipated semi-finals.

In the Women's Semi-finals, number 4 seed Keefe/Zeimann faced off against Number 2 seed Barbour/Morrison. Keefe/Zeimann emerged victorious in straight sets, 2-0 (21-17, 21-18). Number 6 seed Tokarenko/Sviridova upset the top-seeded Beattie/Coutts with a commanding 2-0 win (21-12, 21-7).

For the Men's Semi-finals, Jones/Müller triumphed over Number 5 seed Hunter/Topalov, winning 2-0 (21-13, 21-17). Lipscombe/Seekings defeated Mckelvie/McHardy in a closely contested match, 2-0 (24-22, 21-17).

Barbour/Morrison and Hunter/Topalov both secured bronze medals for ther womens and mens competitions respectively, leaving the finals to promise high stakes and intense competition.

The finals did not disappoint. In the women’s final, Yulia Tokarenko and Maria Sviridova started strong, taking the first set 21-16. However, Katie Keefe and Alice Zeimann mounted a remarkable comeback, winning the second set 21-10 and clinching the decider 15-12. The victory was especially sweet for Zeimann, who celebrated her birthday by being named Womens Player of the Tournament.

The men’s final was equally thrilling. Top seeds Gerrard Lipscombe and Josue Seekings dominated the first set 21-10. Yet, Jones/Müller fought back to win the second set 21-18, pushing the match into a dramatic third set. In an intense battle that went into overtime, Piero Müller’s crucial blocks secured a 17-15 victory, earning him and Harry Jones the gold. Jones, following in his father’s footsteps, was honored as the Mens Player of the Tournament.

A huge shoutout to all the volunteers, sponsors, and the Weymouth Beach Volleyball Club for their unwavering support and dedication, which were instrumental in the success of this incredible event. The 41st Weymouth Grand Slam was a testament to the vibrant beach volleyball community, and we eagerly anticipate what next year will bring.