Five-Day Event in Nashville to Feature Record-Setting $3 Million Dollar Purse and Crown First-Ever World Bass Fishing Champion
NASHVILLE, March 4, 2026 – World Bass Enterprises (WBE), announced today that more than 145 of the world’s top anglers have committed to compete in “The Champions” tournament in Nashville in October, which will serve as the first-ever world bass fishing championship and will feature a record-setting purse of $3 million, the largest in the sport’s history.
The anglers committed to participating, should they qualify, include top anglers across The Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series and Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour, the two biggest bass fishing organizations on the planet.
Angler commitments include Trey McKinney, Cory Johnston, Drew Gill, and Jacob Wheeler, and feature top anglers from the United States, Australia, Canada, and Japan.
“The Champions” tournament, which was announced last month, will bring together the top 50 anglers in the world and will be comprised of the top 25 anglers from both The Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series and Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour. The tournament will crown a true world champion and award The Champion’s Cup.
The five-day event, with three days of competition, will be held on Old Hickory Lake at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville, Tenn., from Oct. 28 – Nov. 1 and will include a record-setting $1.25 million payout to the winning angler – the biggest monetary prize ever awarded to a winner of a bass fishing tournament. Additionally, the second and third place finishers will receive $500,000 and $300,000 payouts, respectively.
“The response from the best bass anglers in the world and the entire fishing community has been incredible,” said World Bass Enterprises Founder and CEO Brian Bird. “The Champions tournament was built to unite the sport’s elite in a true world championship showdown, and they have answered the call. The excitement has not slowed since our announcement – it’s only gaining momentum.”
Alongside the tournament, the family-friendly event at Old Hickory Lake, hosted within Sanders Ferry Park, will feature a fireworks show, a flyover, interactive games, fishing activities for all ages, food and beverage vendors, and multiple musical acts, including a to-be-named Friday night headline musical act.
Separately, World Bass Enterprises will hold a pro-am competition on Sunday, Nov. 1 at Percy Priest Lake which will feature the top 15 anglers from “The Champions” tournament fishing alongside legendary anglers, celebrities, and more.
Nearby, the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville will host a number of ancillary event activations, including the tournament’s media day and opening ceremonies, as well as the Official Expo of The Champions, featuring 70,000 square feet of expo booths from top brands across fishing, hunting, and outdoor sports.
Additional details on “The Champions” tournament, including qualifying anglers, ticket sales, broadcast information, and more, will be announced at a later date.
For more information on “The Champions” tournament, fans can visit worldbassenterprises.com.