The Basque Pelota World Championships is a quadrennial tournament first organized in 1952 by the International Federation of Basque Pelota. The modern championships crown the best amateur players in fifteen different playing categories.

History The first edition of the tournament was organized in 1952 and until 1958 was played every three years. The tournament has occurred every four years since then. No third place titles were awarded during the first five editions of the tournament. Additionally, the number of disciplines disputed at each tournament has varied depending on the edition and has even included disciplines played on the Plaza Libre in 1952 and 1958. Until the edition of 1990, no women's categories were disputed in the championships. A single women's discipline was added in 1990 (Paleta goma – Trinquete), then another one in 1994 (Frontenis), and finally a third one in 2014 (Paleta goma – Fronton 30 m), bringing the total number of disputed categories to fifteen. Starting in 1995, the FIPV has also organized a Basque Pelota World Cup on each of the four categories of Basque pelota (Trinquete, Fronton 30m, Fronton 36m, Fronton 54m) which are also played quadrennially.

Modern events Trinquete, 6 events: Hand-pelota (individual) Hand-pelota (pairs) Paleta goma (men's) Paleta goma (women's) Paleta cuero XareFronton (30 m), 4 events: Paleta goma (men's) Paleta goma (women's) Frontenis (men's) Frontenis (women's)Fronton (36 m), 4 events: Hand-pelota (individual) Hand-pelota (pairs) Paleta cuero Pala cortaFronton (54 m), 1 event: Jai alai

Editions YearHost city and countryBest performing nationsNumber of participating nations1952 San Sebastián, Spain81955 Montevideo, Uruguay71958 Biarritz, France9+1962 Pamplona, Spain71966 Montevideo, Uruguay7+1970 San Sebastián, Spain5+1974 Montevideo, Uruguay5+1978 Biarritz, France9+1982 Mexico City, Mexico9+1986 Vitoria, Spain12+1990 Havana, Cuba10+1994 Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France10+1998 Mexico City, Mexico10+2002 Pamplona, Spain162006 Mexico City, Mexico182010 Pau, France222014 Zinacantepec, Mexico182018 Barcelona, Spain142022 Biarritz, France322026 Venado Tuerto, Argentina

Nations finishing in top three Nation First place Second place Third place Total9731965617246122349

Medals (1952–2022)

List of hosts List of hosts by number of championships hosted. Times hostedHostYear(s)6 1952, 1962, 1970, 1986, 2002, 20185 1958, 1978, 1994, 2010, 20224 1982, 1998, 2006, 20143 1955, 1966, 19741 1990

See also Basque Pelota World Cup

References