Drew Gill, Hank Cherry Jr., Fisher Anaya, Takahiro Omori, and Zack Birge Qualify to Compete for Record-Setting $3 Million Purse and $1.25 Million Grand Prize
NASHVILLE, March 18, 2026 – World Bass Enterprises (WBE) announced today the first five anglers to qualify for “The Champions” tournament – the first-ever world bass fishing championship featuring a record-setting purse of $3 million, the largest in the sport’s history.
Drew Gill, Takahiro Omori, and Zack Birge of Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour, and Hank Cherry Jr. and Fisher Anaya of The Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, have qualified for the event by winning individual tournaments in their respective leagues.
“The Champions,”which will be held outside of Nashville on Old Hickory Lake at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville, Tenn., from Oct. 28 – Nov. 1, was established to serve as bass fishing’s first true world championship. The tournament will feature a field of 50 anglers comprised of the top 25 anglers from both the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series and Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour – putting the world’s two biggest bass fishing organizations head-to-head on the same lake for the first time ever.
“We’re thrilled to announce that five of the best anglers in the world have qualified for our tournament,” said Brian Bird, Founder and CEO of World Bass Enterprises. “Our goal is to deliver the most competitive field in bass fishing history. We’re off to a great start, as this first group of qualifiers brings a great mix of youth and experience to our event, showcasing the diverse talent we expect to have competing in our tournament. We’re excited to see how the remainder of the field shakes out and look forward to announcing more qualifiers in the coming months.”
About the first five qualifying anglers:
- Drew Gill – Became the first qualifier for “The Champions”when he captured the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage 1 Presented by Mercury on Lake Guntersville. Hailing from Mount Carmel, Ill., Gill was the 2024 Bass Pro Tour Rookie of the Year and is currently the third-ranked angler in the BassFan World Rankings.
- Hank Cherry Jr. – The Lincolnton, N.C. native is one of just four anglers to win the Bassmaster Classic in back-to-back years (2020 and 2021). Cherry Jr. qualified for “The Champions” by winning the 2026 FXR Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville.
- Fisher Anaya – At just 20 years old, the Eva, Ala. native is the youngest angler competing in the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series this year. Anaya qualified for “The Champions” in just his second Elite Series fishing tournament when he took first place at the 2026 Lippert Bassmaster Elite event at Lake Martin.
- Takahiro Omori – A native of Tokyo, Japan, Omori was the first international angler to ever win the Bassmaster Classic (2004). In March 2026, Omori was inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and earned a spot in “The Champions” when he won Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour O’Reilly Auto Parts Stage 2 tournament at Lake Hartwell.
- Zack Birge – Currently ranks first in the 2026 Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour with 223 points and secured his spot in “The Champions” with a win at the Champion Teamwear Stage 3 Presented by MillerTech held on Lake Whitney and Lake Waco. Birge is a native of Blanchard, Okla. and won a College BASS National Championship at Oklahoma State University in 2012.
Up to 11 additional anglers will have the opportunity to automatically qualify for “The Champions” by winning Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour or Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments throughout the rest of the two leagues’ seasons. Following the conclusion of both seasons, the remainder of “The Champions” 50-angler field will be filled based on the final Top-25 rankings from each league.
“The Champions” is a family-friendly five-day event, with three days of competition, and will be held on Old Hickory Lake at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville, Tenn., from Oct. 28 – Nov. 1. The event 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 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.
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ABOUT WORLD BASS ENTERPRISES:
Established in 2026, World Bass Enterprises serves as the founder and host organization for “The Champions” tournament, the annual world bass fishing championship where the top 50 anglers in the world across The Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series and Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour compete for record-setting prize pools and The Champion’s Cup.
For more information visit worldbassenterprises.com.