Australia's surfing world champion Mick Fanning has won the Moche Rip Curl Pro, but will have to stave off Gabriel Medina and Kelly Slater if he wants to win back-to-back world titles.
Fanning defeated South Africa's Jordy Smith in the final at Supertubos, the second-last stop on the world title tour.
"I am just so stoked" -- Mick Fanning
His 15.5 ride was more than enough to clinch the win, with Smith managing just 7.67 in the final.
The victory means only Fanning, 11-time world champion Slater and Brazilian wunderkind Medina remain in the running for the 2014 championship.
The Australian - who now seizes the world no. 2 ranking - surfed five separate heats on the final day, defeating Brazilians Alejo Muniz and Filipe Toledo, as well as countryman Kai Otton.
"I am just so stoked," Fanning said after the win.
"It's been five years since I won here."
Fanning said it would be "stressful" heading into the final event of the tour, the Billabong Pipeline Masters in Hawaii, with a title on the line.
But he didn't want to think too far ahead.
"I guess I will just deal with that when I get there," he said.
Despite losing in his semi-final match-up with Fanning, defending event champion Otton also moves up the rankings six places to world No.18.
The Billabong Pipe Masters kicks off on December 8.
POTENTIAL OUTCOMES HEADING INTO THE FINAL TOUR EVENT:
*If Medina finishes 2nd or better, he will clinch the 2014 ASP World Title.
*If Medina finishes 3rd, Fanning will need to win the event and Slater will be out of contention.
*If Medina finishes 5th, Fanning will need to win the event and Slater will be out of contention.
*If Medina finishes 9th, Fanning will need to finish 2nd or better and Slater will be out of contention.
*If Medina finishes 13th or 25th, Fanning will need to finish 3rd to win or 5th to send the title race into a one-heat "surf-off" between himself and Medina.
*If Medina finishes 13th or 25th, Slater will need to win the event.
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