Niamh Heffernan secured the 2025 Player's Cup in Salt Lake City propelling her to the number one spot on the Race 4 Eight Pro Tour.
Heffernan knew a win over Fiona Tully would result in not only winning the Player's Championship, but the coveted Player's Cup as well. A loss meant no Player's Cup for the Claregalway native.
It was Heffernan's fourth Race 48 final in her fifth WR start and Tully was appearing in her fifth R48 final. Both women were seeking their first WR title.
It was the Tribeswomen who prevailed in a thrilling encounter as she edged out her opponent on a 15-12, 15-12 scoreline.
Heffernan showed huge character as she had to come from behind in both games. Game one saw Heffernan trailing 11-3 before mounting a stunning comeback to level the score at 12-12. Showing exceptional composure and mental strength, she edged out the opening game 15-12. Riding that momentum, Niamh stayed in control in game two, closing it out 15-12 to claim her first Pro Tour title.
"I was down in both games and one thing I’ll say is I’ll never give up," Heffernan told ESPN’s Kara Mack.
"That was a tough game, I just had to focus point by point. I’m absolutely delighted," beamed Heffernan in her post-match interview.
The victory marks a significant milestone in Niamh’s career — her first Race 4 Eight tournament win.
The men's final followed, with Moycullen's Martin Mulkerrins in action against Lucho Cordova. Mulkerrins was number one ranked with Cordova ranked number two as the pair went to battle for the season-ending number one ranking.
Mulkerrins was defending champion and had led, albeit marginally, since the first ProStop in Portland, last September. After nine events which brought the players from Montana to Mexico, Los Angeles to Tucson and beyond, Mulkerrins entered last weekend's showdown with a 3.5-point lead over his arch rival Lucho Cordova, with double points on offer. Only a win would secure the title for either player.
The final was a thriller. The players were tied at 12-12 in both games but it was the Mexican who got the final points to secure the title with a 15-12,15-13 scoreline.
The final points standing, at the conclusion of the 2024-25 Tour, saw Cordova take all the spoils with 71 Championship points to Mulkerrins' agonisingly close 70.5 points.
