Acuna Claims Gateway City Title as Season Ends with More Surprises
The 2025-26 International Racquetball Tour season came to a close in dramatic fashion at the KWM Gutterman Gateway City Pro/Am in St. Louis, Missouri.
With nearly 200 participants, a packed crowd, and one of the most passionate racquetball communities in the country in attendance, the season finale delivered everything fans could have hoped for.
The tournament featured upsets, breakthrough performances, and a championship run by Andres Acuna that reminded everyone why he remains one of the premier players in the sport.
A Calm Start Before the Storm
For one of the first times all season, the Round of 16 played out exactly according to seed.
All eight of the top seeds advanced, setting up what looked like a predictable quarterfinal round.
That prediction didn’t last long.
Quarterfinal Friday Delivers Fireworks
The first shock of the evening came when Rodrigo Montoya faced the red-hot Jhonatan Flores.
Flores entered the event carrying momentum from a breakout second half of the season and appeared poised for another deep run. Instead, Montoya delivered one of his strongest performances of the year, winning 15-12, 15-14 in two tightly contested games filled with spectacular rallies and athletic shot-making.
The next quarterfinal produced perhaps the biggest upset of the tournament.
Eduardo Portillo took down World No. 1 Kane Waselenchuk in a thrilling tiebreaker. Portillo controlled much of the match, moving Kane all over the court and finishing balls from every position imaginable. His aggressive style and confidence never wavered as he earned one of the biggest victories of his career.
The surprises continued in the third quarterfinal.
Adam Manilla defeated Jake Bredenbeck in straight games, earning his first career victory over Bredenbeck on the IRT Tour. After years of close battles, Manilla finally broke through against one of the sport’s most consistent performers.
The final quarterfinal belonged to Andres Acuna.
Acuna made quick work of Andree Parrilla, setting the tone for the remainder of the tournament. His serve was clicking, his movement was sharp, and he consistently finished rallies from both sides of the court.
By the end of the evening, three of the top four seeds had been eliminated.
Portillo and Acuna Advance
The semifinal round featured two compelling matchups.
In the top half of the draw, Eduardo Portillo faced Rodrigo Montoya in an all-Mexican battle.
While Montoya’s athleticism and highlight-reel retrievals kept the match entertaining, Portillo controlled most of the action. Portillo advanced to the final with a 15-5, 13-15, 11-4 victory.
The second semifinal featured Andres Acuna and Adam Manilla.
Acuna established early leads in both games and never allowed Manilla to fully settle into the match. Although Manilla mounted several comeback attempts, Acuna’s relentless pace and pressure proved too much as he advanced to the championship match in two games.
Acuna Finishes the Job
The championship match featured two players performing at an extremely high level throughout the weekend.
But from the opening points, Acuna looked determined to finish the tournament on top.
Using a combination of powerful serving, excellent court coverage, and precise shot-making, Acuna controlled the match and defeated Eduardo Portillo 15-7, 15-12.
Throughout the tournament, Acuna showcased every aspect of his game.
His conditioning allowed him to maintain a high pace deep into matches. His power consistently put opponents on the defensive. And his shot selection helped him control rallies from start to finish.
The victory gives Acuna his second IRT title of the season and secures the Year-End No. 3 ranking.
The Final Rankings Are Set
With the conclusion of the Gateway City Pro/Am, the 2025-26 season officially comes to an end.
At the top of the rankings stands Kane Waselenchuk.
Despite the quarterfinal loss in St. Louis, Kane finishes as the Year-End No. 1 player in the world for the 16th time in his remarkable career.
Sixteen Year-End No. 1 titles is one of the most impressive accomplishments in professional sports and further cements Kane’s place among the greatest athletes the game has ever seen.
The season also saw five different tournament winners:
• Kane Waselenchuk
• Conrrado Moscoso
• Andres Acuna
• Jake Bredenbeck
• Jhonatan Flores
The depth of talent across the tour produced one of the most competitive and entertaining seasons in recent memory.
Looking Ahead
The KWM Gutterman Gateway City Pro/Am proved to be the perfect ending to a memorable season.
From packed crowds and energetic fans to dramatic matches and unexpected champions, the event showcased everything that makes professional racquetball special.
Thank you to KWM Gutterman, Vetta Sports, our sponsors, volunteers, players, and the incredible St. Louis racquetball community for making the season finale such a success.
The 2025-26 season may be complete, but the future is bright.
Be on the lookout for the announcement of the 2026-27 IRT schedule. We have an exciting lineup of events planned and can’t wait to get the next season underway.
