Climbers Crown First Pro Climbing League Champions in London

Professional climbing just got a major upgrade, and two athletes made history by winning the sport's most exciting new competition.

France's Oriane Bertone, 20, and Scotland's Max Milne, 25, were crowned champions of the first-ever Pro Climbing League Championship in London on February 28. The event introduced a fresh competition format where climbers face off side-by-side on identical boulder problems, racing to reach the top first.

Bertone delivered a masterclass performance in the women's final, going up against climbing legend Janja Garnbret. She flashed the problem immediately, conquering two tricky foot-cutting moves with confidence while Garnbret fell after reaching the second hold. "It's so great overall, everything was so fun," Bertone said after her win. "It's a new format, it's very interesting."

The young French climber came in as the world's number one-ranked female boulderer with 11 World Cup podiums already under her belt. Garnbret took second place, with Annie Sanders finishing third.

Milne's victory was even more dramatic. Known as a creative showman but considered a dark horse coming into the competition, the Scottish climber pulled off a stunning last-second move. Right as the clock ran out in the final round, he used an innovative double hand jam technique to power through the difficult section, climbing so hard he literally left his hands bloody.

He reached the fifth hold out of seven, while his opponent Colin Duffy made it to the second hold. Duffy finished second overall, with Tomoa Narasaki taking third.

The prize money reflected the league's serious investment in the sport. Winners took home £10,000 (about $13,500), with second and third place earning £5,000 and £2,500 respectively.

Why This Inspires

The Pro Climbing League is breathing new life into competitive climbing. The head-to-head format creates instant drama and makes the sport more accessible to fans who might find traditional scoring confusing. Sixteen elite athletes (eight men and eight women) competed through qualifying rounds, semifinals, and finals, each with just over four minutes to complete their climbs.

The event drew an all-star lineup including Olympic gold medalist Toby Roberts and multiple world champions. But it was two hungry competitors who seized their moment, proving that innovation in sports can create opportunities for new champions to shine.

Professional climbing continues to grow globally, and events like this show the sport's bright future as it attracts new fans and bigger prize purses.