Press release from Longines Global Champions Tour, edited by World of Showjumping

Belgium's Gilles Thomas secured the 2025 Longines Global Champions Tour championship title in Rome today, with two stages still to go. Finishing second with the 9-year-old mare Qalista DN (Emerald van 't Ruytershof x Landetto), Thomas brought his points up to an untouchable 275 to take the title as the youngest ever Longines Global Champions Tour champion. 

"Today I was focusing on trying to win this stage, but now I am also the championship winner," Gilles Thomas commented after. "All year my horses jumped amazing, and getting this armband quite early in the season? Maybe it gave me some wings... I was very motivated and focused on every LGCT Grand Prix and I liked the pressure of being the leading rider and it means everything to win it!”

With two stages still to go, the rest of the overall standings are still to be settled with Harrie Smolders (NED) currently in second on 214 points and Christian Kukuk (GER) in third on 208 points.