Day 1 from Juarez: Friday
Juarez, MEX, WPH Press, 9/11/26
The 2026/27 Race 4 Eight season kicked off the nine-event season at the 2026 Abierto Mexicana de Handball R48 Men’s LTE on Friday, with four of the Race 4 Eight’s Elite 8 in action at Juarez’s 360 Fit Center. The 2026 Abierto Mexicana de Handball R48 Men’s LTE marks the 103rd event in the history of the Race 4 Eight tour, with the tour spanning eighteen states and two countries since the Race 4 Eight’s inaugural season in 2011/12.
Martin Mulkerrins entered the 2026 Abierto LTE aiming to stay undefeated in “The North Pass,” having spoiled the Juarez party several times, defeating Juarez legends Lucho Cordova and Leo Canales in his Juarez triumphs.
Abierto Round of 16 (Friday)
The top seeds cruised in Friday’s round of 16, with Martin Mulkerrins staying undefeated in Juarez and Leo Canales, Mark Doyle, and Danos Cordova advancing to Saturday’s quarterfinals. The Schmitt brothers played impressively, with Taylor defeating Moses Gardea in two games and Dylan dropping the first game before rallying to defeat Eli Gutierrez in three games.
2026 Abierto Round of 16 Results
Mulkerrins def Baylon 15-5, 15-4
Schmitt def Gardea 15-6, 15-7
Bike vs. Garcia, Jr. (Saturday morning)
Danos def S. Canales 15-2, 15-5
Doyle def Olguin 15-2, 15-11
Gutierrez (won by forfeit)
Schmitt def E. Gutierrez 15-17, 15-3, 15-1
Canales def Aguilar 15-5, 15-3
Abierto LTE Quarterfinals (Saturday)
Mulkerrins vs. T. Schmitt
Danos vs. Bike/Garcia, Jr.
Doyle vs. J. Gutierrez
Canales vs. D. Schmitt
Photos courtesy of Noel Aguilar
2026 Abierto Mexicana de Handball R48 Men’s LTE starting times and to follow the brackets HERE
2026 Abierto Mexicana de Handball R48 Men’s LTE Press Release HERE
2026/27 Race 4 Eight Rankings and Methodology HERE
Race 4 Eight Fun Facts and History of Champions HERE
Race 4 Eight pro player bios HERE
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2026/27 Race 4 Eight schedule HERE
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WPH RACE 4 EIGHT: The World Players of Handball’s 2026/27 Race 4 Eight Powered by ESPN features nine Race 4 Eight stops from California to Mexico, all culminating with The Player’s Championship in St. Louis, MO in May of 2027. Similar to NASCAR’s Nextel Cup and the FedEx PGA Playoffs, players earn points in the Race 4 Eight’s regular season stops to qualify for the season-ending Player’s Championship and bonus prizes.
For more information on the WPH Race 4 Eight title sponsor opportunity, please contact World Players of Handball Executive Director David Vincent at dave.vincent@wphlive.tv or World Players of Handball Development Director David Fink at david.fink@wphlive.tv. For more information on the World Players of Handball, please visit wphlive.tv
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer