WBE ANNOUNCES TWO ‘AVERAGE JOES’ WHO WILL COMPETE FOR RECORD $3.25M PRIZE PURSE AT “THE CHAMPIONS” TOURNAMENT
WBE ANNOUNCES TWO ‘AVERAGE JOES’ WHO WILL COMPETE FOR RECORD $3.25M PRIZE PURSE AT “THE CHAMPIONS” TOURNAMENT
Eric Giessing, 53 of Farmington, Mo. and Kyle Carr, 39 of Gatesville, Texas will compete against 60 of the top anglers in the world for record-breaking purse, including $1.25M grand prize.
NASHVILLE, September 16, 2026 – World Bass Enterprises (WBE) today announced its ‘Average Joes’ sweepstake winners: Eric Giessing and Kyle Carr. Giessing and Carr will compete in the inaugural “The Champions” tournament against the top anglers in the world for the $3.25 million purse, including $1.25 million for the first-place angler – both records for a bass fishing tournament.
“The Champions” features the top 60 anglers from the two biggest bass fishing organizations in the world, including Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour. The five-day event includes three days of competition and will take place outside of Nashville on Old Hickory Lake at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville, Tenn., from Oct. 28 – Nov. 1.
“Fans of every sport wonder how they’d fare competing against the pros,” said Brian Bird, Founder and CEO of WBE. “We thought it would be neat to give bass fishing fans the chance to actually answer that question. Eric and Kyle will now get to see how they stack up against the pros. We’re going to roll out the red carpet for them and treat them the same way we treat the pro anglers. Both ‘Average Joes’ have a chance to win the grand prize and the ultimate bragging rights, but no matter what, they’ll be leaving Nashville with some prize money and a great story to tell.”
The ‘Average Joes’ sweepstakes was hosted by WBE, with Giessing and Carr winning the opportunity to compete in “The Champions” by purchasing the pay-per-view package for the event. Fans can still purchase the pay-per-view package at worldbassenterprises.com to watch Giessing and Carr take on the top anglers in the world, with five days of content, including exclusive access to watch the Pro-Am event on Sunday, Nov. 1.
“The Champions” is a family-friendly event that will include a fireworks show, a flyover, interactive games, fishing activities for all ages, food and beverage vendors, and multiple musical acts, including country music superstar Riley Green headlining Friday evening’s “WBE Concert 250” at The Pinnacle in Nashville. Access to Sanders Ferry Park for all three days of competition and the All Outdoors Expo at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is free. Those planning to attend can download the free WBE app to register.
About The Average Joes
Eric Giessing
Giessing, 53, of Farmington, Mo. has been an amateur angler for five years. He started fishing as a kid, having been introduced to the activity by his late father. He cites days fishing alongside his dad to be some of his favorite childhood memories. Giessing’s home lake is Lake of the Ozarks, and he has fished a variety of amateur events over the last five years. When he isn’t on the water, he enjoys spending time with his kids, family, and friends, playing golf, bow hunting for deer, and attending sporting events.
“My goal is to continue growing as a competitor, learning from every experience, and pushing myself to see how far I can take this passion,” Giessing said. “I consider myself a power fisherman and enjoy the challenge of finding aggressive fish and figuring out what it takes to get them in the boat. Every tournament and every day on the water gives me another opportunity to learn, improve, and become a better angler. Ultimately, I’d love the opportunity to make my way to the professional ranks and compete at the highest level of tournament bass fishing.”
Kyle Carr
Carr, 39, of Gatesville, Texas, grew up in Somerset, Ky., and, like Giessing, credits his love of fishing to his dad. Carr is a member of the Cen-Tex Bass Hunters in Belton, Texas, where he fishes in monthly club tournaments; he also competes in the Tuesday Night Tight Lines 3×9 Series on Stillhouse Hollow Lake.
“My dad taught me from an early age what it means to be a sportsman, respect the outdoors, and appreciate conservation,” Carr said. “I’ve been hooked on bass fishing since I was a kid, and these days I enjoy putting that passion to work in local tournament fishing. At the end of the day, I just enjoy being on the water, chasing bass, and competing with good people who share the same passion for fishing.”
For additional details on “The Champions” tournament, including ticket sales, event schedule, broadcast information, and more, fans can visit worldbassenterprises.com or download the official WBE app.
