The final result
The 2026 final didn't deliver the long tussle the field might have promised. The Messonnier triplette took control early, built a seven-point lead before the strategic break and withstood their opponents' reaction. The final score, 13-5, reflects a game where experience and shooting quality told in the decisive moments.
Patrick Messonnier
Michel Loy
Yohan Cousin13-5 win · 65th edition
Patrick Laur
Sébastien Rousseau
Sony EvenRunners-up · reaction in the 6th end
| Team | Score | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Messonnier – Loy – Cousin | 13 | Winners |
| Laur – Rousseau – Even | 5 | Finalists |
A final decided by the first ends
The start of the game set the tone. The two teams first cancelled each other out, then Patrick Laur's lack of success at pointing offered chances to the opposing side. Messonnier converted them into points, while Loy and Cousin kept up the pressure in the decisive zones.
After three ends, the teams were still neck and neck at 1-1. The first real turning point came when Laur failed to place his bowls close enough to the jack. Messonnier found himself with several bowls in hand and turned that technical margin into four points, taking the score to 4-1.
The next end continued the same momentum. Another difficult pointing sequence let the champions take four more points. At 8-1, the scenario looked heavily in favour of Messonnier, Loy and Cousin, even if a Mondial final can swing on a single end.
Start: 1-1 after the first ends, neither team wants to concede the initiative.
First turning point: Messonnier capitalises on several poorly placed bowls and builds a 4-1 lead.
Acceleration: another four-point end takes the score to 8-1.
Reaction: Laur and Rousseau come back to 8-5 after a more offensive sixth end.
Conclusion: Cousin produces the winning carreau and closes out the final at 13-5.
Laur's comeback wasn't enough
The sixth end nonetheless reignited the sporting interest. Patrick Laur rediscovered his accuracy and the finalist triplette closed the gap to 8-4. Sébastien Rousseau then pulled off a difficult carreau to bring his team to 8-5. The crowd then got back the feeling of an open final.
Messonnier's response was that of an experienced team: don't go for the spectacular shot, secure the first bowls and wait for the opening. In the eighth end, Sony Even tried a bouchon shot, without success, then missed his carreau. Yohan Cousin, flawless in that sequence, produced the winning carreau to take the score to 13-5.
That final action sums up the final. The champions didn't just start better; above all they handled the moments when the opponents came back better. In a tournament as long as this, the ability to keep a clear game plan counts as much as shooting power.
Three paths, three stories in the champion team
Patrick Messonnier: a third star
With this win, Patrick Messonnier adds a third title to his Mondial La Marseillaise record, after 2015 and 2019. He joins the list of players who have lasted in an event where the format, the density of the draw and the crowd pressure make every run different.
Michel Loy: the title that was missing
A three-time world champion and already multi-awarded on the big terrains, Michel Loy finally treats himself to the Marseille trophy. His reading of the ends and his ability to stay in control amid an eventful game gave the triplette a solid framework.
Yohan Cousin: the winning carreau
The youngest of the team closed out the final. His final carreau isn't just a striking image: it comes after an opposing bouchon attempt and locks the score at the moment when a comeback could still have fuelled the suspense.
A 2026 Mondial true to its identity
The 65th edition ran from 3 to 8 July 2026 in Marseille, with Parc Borély at the heart of the setup and the final phases in the city's landmark venues. The main competition stays open to both licensed and non-licensed players, with no age limit, and is played in triplette. The women's Grand Prix Paprec and the Crédit Mutuel youth Trophy livened up the opening.
The official website presented this edition as a six-day event devoted to the draws, results, videos and highlights of the Mondial. The practical information also announced the final on Wednesday 8 July. Coverage of this edition confirmed the international dimension of the tournament, but also its popular, Marseille roots.
The draw produced several surprises before the final. Title holder Yves Rakotoarisoa was beaten in the semi-final by Patrick Laur by 13-12, while the Messonnier triplette came through the final day with enough control to reach the final with the necessary confidence.
What to take away for the rest of the season
Beyond the trophy, this final reminds us of three top-level principles. First, a game can be won through consistency at pointing even before the spectacular shots come into play. Second, an early lead must be protected without becoming passive: at 8-5, Messonnier and his partners kept an offensive intent. Finally, the last end often comes down to the ability to choose the right risk, not just arm strength.
For the clubs and players following the summer calendar, the Mondial also opens a dense period of Nationaux and Masters. The full results, draws and upcoming dates should be checked with the organisers and federations involved, as schedules and line-ups can change.
Sources consulted
- Flashscore — 2026 final report, published 9 July 2026: 13-5 score, breakdown of the eight ends, roll of honour and team line-ups.
- Official website of the Mondial La Marseillaise : 2026 edition, calendar, format and event information.
- Le Progrès — final four before the final, 8 July 2026: paths of the semi-finalists and context of the draw.
Cover photo: Dorian d'Amore / Hans Lucas via AFP, published by Flashscore in the results article cited above. Image downloaded locally for this draft, with no title or banner added.