Lee Dohyun Shines in Men's Boulder Semi-Final at IFSC World Cup 2025

In an impressive display of athletic prowess, Lee Dohyun of South Korea dominated the men's Boulder semi-final at the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) World Cup in Bern on June 15, 2025. Lee secured first place with an outstanding score of 99.8 points, outperforming his competitors by more than 30 points. His performance, characterized by three consecutive flashes of the boulders M2, M3, and M4, showcased not only his technical skill but also his strategic acumen in navigating complex climbing problems.

Lee's nearly flawless execution, particularly on the challenging M4 slab problem—where he was the only athlete to successfully top the boulder—set a high standard for the semi-final. "I felt more comfortable than last week's competition," Lee remarked after his performance. "I just want to enjoy this one; I did pretty well in the semi-final, and I'm satisfied with that. There were many powerful moves in the semi-final, some friction holds, and I like this style. Now I just want to enjoy the final."

Anraku Sorato of Japan followed Lee in second place with 69.4 points, demonstrating his strength by topping M2 and M3. Sorato's advancement to the final is notable as he stands as the only Japanese finalist among the top eight—a deviation from Japan’s traditionally strong representation in the sport. Rounding out the top three was Hannes Van Duysen of Belgium, who secured third place with 54.5 points, having shown versatility across all boulders.

The semi-final's results also included Dayan Akhtar of Great Britain in fourth place with 49.6 points, followed by Paul Jenft of France in fifth with 44.4 points, and Pan Yufei of China in sixth with 44.3 points. The final two spots were claimed by Mejdi Schalck of France and Colin Duffy of the USA, who finished tied in seventh place with 34.2 points.

The men’s Boulder final is set to take place later today at 17:00 (UTC+2:00) in Bern, promising to be an electrifying conclusion to the event. Fans can follow updates and live coverage on the IFSC’s official website and its social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

As climbing continues to gain momentum as a competitive sport—especially with upcoming events like the Paris 2024 Olympics and Los Angeles 2028—athletes such as Lee are setting benchmarks for future competitions. The global climbing community eagerly anticipates the outcomes of these athletes, who are not only competing for medals but also for the advancement of climbing as a recognized discipline on the world stage.