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NFAA News
NFAA News
Feb 22, 2025
Rising to the Challenge: Highlights from The Great Chicago Open
The Great Chicago Open, held February 13-14, 2025, at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, saw top archers from across the world converge to compete in the fifth stage of the Indoor World Series (IWS). This year's tournament was a historic chapter in the IWS, marking its first-ever stop in Chicago—and the first time the U.S. has hosted an IWS stage outside of Las Vegas!
What is the Indoor World Series?
The IWS is a series of open-entry tournaments held during the winter, allowing amateur archers to compete alongside professionals. Elite ranking points are awarded based on final placements in the Senior Compound and Senior Recurve categories, with top archers qualifying for the IWS Finals on Sunday at The Vegas Shoot. The 2024-25 IWS season began in November 2024 and concludes in March 2025 after events in Switzerland, Luxembourg, Chinese Taipei, France, and the United States.
The event featured a World Archery 60-arrow qualification round and elimination matches, with medals and substantial prize money awarded to the top finishers. Senior Men’s and Women’s Compound and Recurve champions each received $2,500 as the grand prize. Other top finishers in these categories, as well as in all other divisions, were also awarded payouts. Scholarships were granted to U18 and U21 competitors, emphasizing the tournament’s focus on cultivating future talent.
Elite Competition and Back-to-Back Challenges
The Great Chicago Open brought fierce competition, with Mike Schloesser taking the top spot in the Compound Men’s division. Known for his precision and composure under pressure, he delivered a world-class performance to secure the win. In the Compound Women’s division, Sarah Prieels fought through a tough bracket to dominate and claim victory. Devaang Gupta won in the Recurve Men’s division, marking his first major international win with an exciting upset over multi-time Olympic medalist Brady Ellison. Casey Kaufhold maintained her dominance in the Recurve Women’s division in an close final match against Ana Maria Rendon. In the Senior Barebow divisions, Elizabeth Howe and Zackary Bisinger each claimed top prizes, showcasing their exceptional skills.
A key highlight of the event was the unique opportunity for archers to compete in both the Great Chicago Open and the NFAA National Indoor Championships, creating an exciting back-to-back challenge. The tournament attracted spectators, industry professionals, and enthusiasts, featuring a dynamic archery tradeshow and exclusive seminars.
The event was not only a milestone for the IWS, but also a rare chance for amateur archers to test themselves against the best. As the competition wrapped up, all eyes now turn to the Indoor World Series Final in Las Vegas, where competitors are eager to take on the next challenge.