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Two-time world surfing champion John John Florence has become the first Hawaiian to win the WSL's Pipeline Masters since the late Andy Irons in 2006.
For the first time since the late, great Andy Irons in 2006, the WSL's Pipeline Masters title has been won by a Hawaiian with John John Florence victorious in the season-opening event.
The two-time world champion realised a lifelong dream by defeating Gabriel Medina in Monday's final at the iconic Banzai Pipeline reef break.
After two injury-marred years in 2018 and 2019, Florence looked back to his best at his home break as he scored 11.77 out of 20 to pip dual world champion Medina by a mere 0.67 in a nailbiting final.
His victory makes him the first hometown surfer to win at Pipeline since Irons claimed his fourth Pipeline title 14 years ago.
"It feels so good to win, especially in that heat, that was a really hard heat," the 28-year-old said.
"I'm stoked to win it against Gabe because I feel like competing with him is why I want to compete.
"Winning the Pipe Masters, it's been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. I've grown up watching this event. I've made a couple of finals and just never quite got it so to win out here, I'm super stoked."
Florence's win came after a long day of action at Pipeline on Monday which started with the remaining round of 16 heats featuring Australian trio Jack Freestone, Ryan Callinan and Jack Robinson.
Tour rookie Robinson, who delivered the heat of the day on Friday to eliminate Julian Wilson, was unable to repeat the dose against 11-time world champion Kelly Slater.
The 48-year-old American claimed a narrow win over the 22-year-old Western Australian product but was no match for Florence in the semi-finals.
Freestone and Callinan were also knocked out in the round of 16, losing to Brazilian duo Medina and Italo Ferreira respectively.
The two world championship-winning South Americans met in the semi-finals with Medina winning through before his narrow loss to Florence in the final.
The next stop on the WSL tour will be the Sunset Open from January 19 in Oahu.
