| 1A | Mir Kim ( Republic of Korea
Current championsAs mentioned above, the World Yo-Yo Contest did not take place in 2020, 2021, or 2022. In 2021 and 2022, the Online World Yo-Yo Contest was held in its place, the champions thereof receiving the title of Online World Yo-Yo Champion. The World Yo-Yo Contest returned in 2023, when the competition was held in Osaka, Japan. The 2024 World Yo-Yo Contest was held from July 31 to August 3, in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2025, from August 7-10, the contest was held in Prague, Czech Republic. The results of said competition are given below.
| Style | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | | 1A | Mir Kim (Republic of Korea
Winners by country and players (1993-2013 Unoffficial World Championship)The World Yo-Yo Contest has historically been dominated by the Japanese-taking home 85 World Titles in the past 22 years. The United States has also had a lesser dominance, taking home 27 World Titles.
Shinji Saito remains the most decorated yo-yoer of all-time with 13 World Titles. Hajime Miura is second with 9 World Titles to his name.
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |  Japan
Historical notesWorld Yo-Yo Contest (2000-2012)In 2003, Brazil's Rafael Matsunaga became the first player outside Japan or the United States to win a World Title, doing so in 5A. In 2004, Hiroyuki Suzuki won his first World Title. Both Daisuke Shimada and Shinji Saito won their third World Title in as many years. Hiroyuki Suzuki became the first player to ever win back-to-back titles in the 1A division in 2005. Shinji Saito continued his dominance, winning his fourth World Title in the 2A division. Kentaro Kimura won the 3A division with what is considered the greatest 3A routine of all time in 2009. In 2010, Canada's Jensen Kimmitt became the first player outside Japan or the United States to win a World Title in 1A. Without Shinji Saito entering the 2A division, Yashushi Furakawa won the World Title. Singapore's Marcus Koh became the second player outside of the United States or Japan to win in the 1A division when he won in 2011. Shinji Saito also returned from a year competition hiatus to win the 2A division for a record eighth time. In 2012, Switzerland's inmot!on became the first team outside Japan or the United States to win the Artistic Performance division. It was also the first ever World Title won by European competitors.
IYYF World Yo-Yo Contest (Post-2013)In 2013, Hungary's Janos Karancz became the first European to win the 1A division at the 2013 World Yo-Yo Contest. 2013 was also the first, and only, year to feature a top-3 in 1A with no players from Japan or the United States. In 2014, Rei Iwakura completed a flawless routine in the 4A division en route to his third World Title.
In 2018, Hajime Miura won both the 3A and 4A division, making him the first and only player to ever win two major style divisions in the same year. Notably, until 2024, he was the only player in history to have more World Titles than appearances at Worlds. He would win the 3A World Title again in 2019 but would get his first ever non-1st place in the 4A division, where he performed a full 3-minute soloham routine, placing 7th.
Mir Kim won the 1A division in both Online World Yo-Yo Contests and won again in the 2023 and 2024 World Yo-Yo Contests. He was the first player from South Korea to win a 1A World Title, and also had the highest scoring 1A freestyle ever in 2023, with a final score of 99.7/100.
2024 was the first year Hajime Miura competed in the World Yo-Yo Championship and did not win at least one World Title, coming fourth in the 3A final due to major deductions. Miri Kim was the first female competitor to appear in Open Division 1A Finals since Kahli Evans in 2008, placing 13th. 2024 was the first year since 2013 to feature a top-3 in 1A with no players from Japan.
Championship divisionsThe World Yo-Yo Contest has 6 championship divisions that award the title of 'World Yo-Yo Champion'
| Division name | Other name | Explanation | | 1A | Single Hand String Trick | The player uses a long spinning yo-yo to perform "string tricks" that typically require manipulation of the string. | | 2A | Two Hands Looping Trick | The player uses two responsive yo-yos simultaneously to perform reciprocating or looping maneuvers. | | 3A | Two Hands String Trick | The player uses two long spinning yo-yos and performs tricks with both simultaneously. | | 4A | Offstring | The player uses an offstring yo-yo, often releasing the yo-yo into the air and attempting to catch it on the string. | | 5A | Counterweight | The player uses a yo-yo with a counterweight on the other end of the string rather than having it attached to a finger. | | AP | Artistic Performance | The performer uses any type of yo-yo or other prop for an open-ended performance which emphasizes choreography and stage presence. |
Championship division structureThere are a series of preliminary rounds before the final round at the World Yo-Yo Contest. In the past, anyone could enter the World Yo-Yo Contest. Competitors were allowed a one-minute routine, and a set number of players would make the finals. The preliminary rounds have been evolving over the years to accommodate the growing popularity of competitive yo-yos around the world.
In the 1A division, there are currently four rounds of competition. In 2A-5A, there is currently only the Preliminary and the Final.
Any player can enter the Wild-Card round
Top-10 at a sanctioned National Competition/Multi-National Competition seeded directly to Preliminary
Top performing competitors from Wild-Card
Top-3 at sanctioned Multi-National Competition & sanctioned National Champions seeded directly to Semi-Final
Top performing competitors from Preliminary
Previous Year's World Champion seeded directly to Final
Sanctioned seeding competitionsPlayers can earn a seed to various rounds of the preliminaries through multi-national competitions, national competitions, and the previous year's World Yo-Yo Contest.
- European Yo-Yo Championship
- Las Vegas Yo-Yo Championship
- Asia Pacific Yo-Yo Championship
- Latin American Yo-Yo Contest
- Previous year's World Yo-Yo Contest
- One of 33 IYYF approved National Competitions
Defunct divisionsThe World Yo-Yo Contest has also held other championship divisions that are now defunct either because it was replaced or had judging standardization issues.
| Division name | Other name | Year | Note | | TM | Team | 1999–2001 | | | MT | Mega Team | 1999 | | | X | | 2000–2002 | Included all tricks and styles not eligible for 1A and 2A. In 2003, it was separated into 3A, 4A and 5A divisions. | | CB | Combined | 2006–2009 | Players compete and demonstrate skill in multiple styles. Due to difficulties with judging, this division was removed. Shinji Saito was the winner all four years it was held. |
Non-championship divisionsIn addition to these World Divisions, the World Yo-Yo Contest also hosts additional divisions such as the 'Women's Division' and, in 2015, the 'Over 40 Freestyle'. There is also numerous yo-yo modifying and design contests, known in the field as modding. These non-championships divisions do not award the title of 'World Yo-Yo Champion'.
Participating nationsThere are 33 countries currently registered with the IYYF that have the right to seed a National Champion into the semi-final round at the World Yo-Yo Contest. IYYF is also in communication with several other countries, but, currently, these countries do not have the right to seed a National Champion to the semi-finals.
EuropeAsia/OceaniaAfricaSouth America
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