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Newly crowned World Champions head to Brussels Stephex Masters
After last week’s FEI Jumping World Championships in Aachen, one of the most iconic venues in international show jumping, the world’s best now move on to Belgium for the Brussels Stephex Masters. With its impressive setting, electric atmosphere and top-level sport, the event has built a reputation that increasingly invites comparisons with the sport’s greatest stages. This year, the link between Aachen and Brussels is stronger than ever, with many of the riders who battled for the world title just days ago lining up again for the twelfth edition of the Rolex Series Event.
In addition to the fact that the CSI5* field is already of the very highest caliber, it is remarkable how many stars from the World Championships have set their course directly for the Brussels Stephex Masters. It promises to be a true clash of the titans. Will the icons from Aachen manage to reach the heights in Brussels too? Find out from the 26th to 30th of August at the idyllic grounds of the Stephex Stables in Wolvertem!
World Champion Steve Guerdat leads stellar Brussels line-up
No fewer than 10 of the 25 riders who contested Sunday’s World Championship final will line up in the CSI5* at the Brussels Stephex Masters this week, including five riders from the top 10: Steve Guerdat (1st), Thibeau Spits (2nd), Piergiorgio Bucci (4th), Daniel Deusser (6th) and Nina Mallevaey (8th).
All eyes will naturally be on newly crowned World Champion Steve Guerdat. The Swiss star claimed individual gold in Aachen with Dynamix de Belheme and now heads to familiar territory in Brussels. Guerdat and Dynamix already came agonisingly close to one of Brussels’ biggest titles in 2024, when they finished second in the Rolex Grand Prix presented by Audi. Now, with a world title to his name, Steve returns to the iconic grass arena as one of the combinations everyone will be watching.
World Champion Germany brings its firepower to Brussels
Germany delivered a masterful performance in front of its home crowd in Aachen, claiming the team world title in spectacular fashion. Two members of that gold-medal-winning team, Daniel Deusser and Richard Vogel, will now bring that winning momentum to the Brussels Stephex Masters.
Deusser in particular played a decisive role in Germany’s victory. His clear final round secured the world title, and he arrives in Brussels with plenty of momentum behind him. His record at the Brussels Stephex Masters is equally impressive. In 2019, he claimed two CSI5* victories: the Audi Prize with Killer Queen VDM and the Henders & Hazel Prize with Calisto Blue. Two years later, Deusser and Killer Queen VDM won the Audi Prize again. In 2024, he added another CSI5* victory on Friday with Otello de Guldenboom, before returning the following evening to win the final qualifier for the Rolex Grand Prix presented by Audi with Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z, ahead of Steve Guerdat.
One major title is still missing from his Brussels record: the Rolex Grand Prix presented by Audi. Deusser came very close in 2021, finishing just 0.10 seconds behind Jessica Springsteen. With a world team title freshly added to his résumé, he is undoubtedly one of the names to watch in Brussels this week.
Thibeau Spits and his Belgian teammates return with World Championship silver
The Belgian team that claimed silver in the World Championship team final will be out in full force in Brussels, with Nicola Philippaerts, Pieter Devos, Thibeau Spits and Abdel Saïd all set to compete. Emilie Conter, who travelled to Aachen as Belgium’s reserve rider, will also line up in the CSI5*competitions.
For the Belgian crowd, one name in particular is sure to receive an especially warm welcome. After helping Belgium to team silver, Thibeau Spits went on to produce a phenomenal performance in Sunday’s individual final, claiming World Championship silver with Impress-K van ’t Kattenheye Z. Spits is certainly no stranger to the Brussels Stephex Masters. The young Belgian has been competing at the event for years and has grown into a firm favourite with the home crowd. This week, fans will have the chance to welcome him back to Stephex Stables as a double World Championship silver medallist.
After his incredible week in Aachen, seeing Spits enter the Brussels arena again promises to be one of those moments the Belgian crowd will not want to miss.
A sparkling edition
There’s no doubt that the twelfth edition of the Brussels Stephex Masters is set to be a special one. After the Prestige League, Super Cup, Top Series and Kids’ Day get the week underway on Wednesday, the world’s best riders and horses will enter the 5* arena for the first time on Thursday. That evening, the Equihome Prize brings the first big test of the week: a spectacular speed class and the first opportunity to qualify for the Rolex Grand Prix presented by Audi.
Friday puts breeding in the spotlight with the foal auction, the ‘Stephex Exclusive Breeding Collection’, while the sporting programme continues at full speed. In the brand-new STX Finance Prize, a CSI5* jump-off class, the world’s top riders will compete for valuable prize money and another chance to qualify for the Rolex Grand Prix presented by Audi.
On Saturday, the Brussels Derby Challenge makes its debut. This modern take on a traditional derby will feature a series of impressive natural obstacles and promises to bring something completely different to the programme. Later that evening, the Audi Prize takes centre stage. A firm favourite on the schedule, the jump-off traditionally delivers some of the most exciting sport of the week, with a magnificent Audi at stake. It is also the final opportunity to qualify for Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix presented by Audi.
The week reaches its climax on Sunday at 2.30 pm, when Brussels’ iconic grass arena becomes the stage for the Rolex Grand Prix presented by Audi. Half a million euros in prize money, a new Audi and a Rolex watch are at stake. Who will succeed Nina Mallevaey as this year’s winner? Find out from 26 to 30 August at the twelfth edition of the Brussels Stephex Masters, a Rolex Series Event.
