In a surprising turn of events, the Ontario pair of Sam Schachter and Jonathan Pickett achieved a remarkable feat by advancing to the men’s semifinals at the Elite16 beach volleyball tournament in Montreal.
Defying the odds, the 39th-ranked Canadian duo defeated the world’s number one team, Jacob Hölting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson, with a score of 2-0 (21-19, 21-17) during the quarterfinal match held at Parc Jean-Drapeau on Saturday.
Hailing from Richmond Hill and Wiarton, Ontario, respectively, Schachter and Pickett also triumphed over Austria’s Alexander Horst and Paul Pascariuc earlier in the day.
Their next challenge will be against Brazil’s Renato Andrew Lima de Carvalho and Andre Stein in the upcoming semifinal match on Sunday morning.
Witness the intense match between Sweden’s Jacob Hölting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson against Canada’s Samuel Schachter and Jonathan Pickett at the 2026 World Volleyball Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 Montreal.
Meanwhile, on the same day, the Canadian duo of Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson are set to continue their pursuit of a third consecutive victory in the women’s competition.
This Toronto-based pair will be challenging Latvia’s Tina Graudina and Anastasija Kravcenoka in the quarterfinal round.
Having secured the titles in 2023 and 2025, Humana-Paredes and Wilkerson, who also claimed an Olympic silver medal in the interim, are aiming for another triumph.
