FXR pro angler Matt Robertson of Kuttawa, Kentucky, is the first-ever World Bass Enterprises world champion after winning “The Champions” on Old Hickory Lake this past Saturday, Oct. 31. Robertson weighed five bass for 20 pounds, 2 ounces on Championship Saturday to finish with 56 pounds, 1 ounce over three days and claim a $1.25 million first-place check, the largest payout ever awarded in professional bass fishing.
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FXR Pro Angler Matt Robertson Wins Record $1.25 Million at WBE’s Inaugural “The Champions”
The inaugural event brought together 60 of the top performers from the Bassmaster Elite Series and the MLF Bass Pro Tour for the first true head-to-head championship between the sport’s two biggest organizations, all chasing a record $3.25 million purse. Robertson set the tone from the opening day, bringing in the only 20-pound bag of the tournament and leading qualifying before weights reset for the final 15.
Because The Champions was fished in event-issued team colors, Robertson didn’t compete in his FXR branded jersey this week. For FXR, that only makes the moment bigger. The win wasn’t about a logo on a jersey. It was about the angler, and it confirms what FXR saw when it brought Robertson onto its pro staff: a competitor with the instincts, grit and decision-making to beat the best in the world when the stakes are highest.
Robertson wasn’t the only FXR angler in the hunt. Trey McKinney, the 2026 Bassmaster Angler of the Year, and Fisher Anaya both advanced to Championship Saturday, giving FXR Pro Fish three of the top 15 anglers who fished for $1.25 million on the final day. McKinney put together a strong Championship Saturday of his own, finishing fourth and taking home $200,000, while Anaya earned $60,000 for his run to the final day. In all, FXR had eight anglers in the 60-angler field, with Tyler Williams, Bryan Schmitt, JT Thompkins, Evan Kung and Jacob Wall also competing on Old Hickory. In a field built exclusively from the world’s best, FXR’s pro staff proved it belongs at the very top of the sport.
Chris Meyeraan, Brand Director of FXR Pro Fish, had this to say about Matt: “We couldn’t be prouder of Matt. Whether or not he’s wearing our colors on a given weekend, he’s an FXR angler, and this win shows the caliber of people we’re lucky to represent. To have Matt, Trey and Fisher all fishing on Championship Saturday for over a million dollars says everything about where this team is.”
FXR’s fishing program continues to grow alongside its Pro Fish apparel line, built for anglers who spend long days on the water in every condition. Robertson, McKinney and Anaya lead a roster of anglers who compete, and win, at the sport’s highest level.
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