The 2025 Pittsburgh Pro, held May 10–11 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, marked a milestone as the first-ever Men’s Open contest in Pittsburgh history. With a $100,000 top prize and Olympia qualification on the line, the competition delivered dramatic finishes and standout performances across seven IFBB Pro League divisions.
Event Overview
- Date & Venue: May 10–11, 2025; David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA.
- Promoter: IFBB Pro League president Jim Manion.
- Highlights:
- Inaugural Men’s Open division.
- Expo floor featuring leading supplement and equipment brands.
- Live judging panels with athletes and industry experts.
2025 Pittsburgh Pro Results
Overall Winners
- Men’s Open: Derek Lunsford
- Classic Physique: Terrence Ruffin
- Men’s Physique: Erin Banks
- Figure: Lola Montez
- Bikini: Aimee Delgado
- Women’s Physique: Natalia Abraham Coelho
- Wellness: Valquiria Lopes
Each of these athletes not only secured their Olympia qualification but also delivered the standout presentations that defined this historic inaugural Pro show in Pittsburgh.
Men’s Open
- Derek Lunsford (USA) – Claimed the title after a rare tiebreaker round against Nick Walker.
- Nick Walker (USA) – Matched Lunsford on scorecards but fell short in the sudden-death pose-down.
- Martin Fitzwater (USA) – Delivered aesthetic balance to secure bronze.
- William Bonac (NLD)
- Michal Krizanek (Slovakia)
- Leandro Sencini Peres (Brazil)
- Ron Gordon (USA)
- Justin Musiol (Germany)
- Pavel Beran (Czech Republic)
- Joe Ballinger (UK)
Classic Physique
- Terrence Ruffin (USA) – Dominated with classic lines and razor-sharp conditioning.
- Jose Manuel Munoz (Spain)
- Richard Nagy (Hungary)
- Brady King (USA)
- Murat Khan (Australia)
- Anton Ratushnyi (USA)
- Caike Deoliveira (USA)
- Camilo Diaz (Colombia)
- Dominic Carter (USA)
- Zay Adonnis (USA)
Men’s Physique
- Erin Banks (USA) – Unflappable posing and superior V-taper earned him the top spot.
- Vitor Chaves (Brazil)
- Edvan Palmeira (Brazil)
- Brandon Hendrickson (USA)
- Ricardo Cenat (USA)
- Carlos Asiedu Ocran (China)
- Mengyi Liu (China)
- Tunahan Guler (Turkey)
- Victor Ramirez (Venezuela)
- Rhyan Clark (USA)
Figure
- Lola Montez (Canada)
- Natalia Soltero (Mexico)
- Lena Ramsteiner (Germany)
- Nicole Zenobia Graham (USA)
- Melissa Brodsky (USA)
- Jennifer Zienert (Germany)
- Jeanne Kassel (Germany)
- Adela Ondrejovicova (Slovakia)
- Ericka Morgan (Guatemala)
- Manuella Lima (Brazil)
Bikini
- Aimee Delgado (USA)
- Ashlyn Little (USA)
- Maureen Blanquisco (USA)
- Ivi Escandar Fernandez (USA)
- Maria Acosta (USA)
- Ally Vatthauer (USA)
- Alice Rocha (USA)
- Jordan Brannon (USA)
- Ariana Brothers (USA)
- Lacy Rutland (USA)
Women’s Physique
- Natalia Abraham Coelho (USA)
- Rachel Daniels (USA)
- Sheronica Henton (USA)
- Birgit Andersch (Austria)
- Anna-Lena Prinz (Slovakia)
- Natalie Rae Wolfe (USA)
- Barbara Menage (France)
- Xin Qi (China)
- Justine Albert (USA)
- Jihye Lee (South Korea)
Wellness
- Valquiria Lopes (Brazil)
- Rayane Fogal (Brazil)
- Leonida Leo (Moldova)
- Kassandra Gillis (Canada)
- Lisa Meiswinkel (Slovakia)
- Chery Figueroa Calix (Spain)
- Wynter Addams (UK)
- Sandra Colorado Acal (Spain)
- Jasmine Payne (USA)
- Sophie Brewster (UK)
Note: All placements are pulled directly from Official Website Of The National Physique Committe and NPC Worldwide official recap of the 2025 Pittsburgh Pro Each female division awarded Olympia qualification to its champion.
Coach’s Analysis & Observations
As a competitive coach, witnessing the Men’s Open tiebreaker was electrifying. I’ve rarely seen two athletes match so closely, yet Derek’s back double biceps and flawless transitions gave him the edge in that decisive moment. Nick Walker’s package of sheer mass versus Lunsford’s refined symmetry highlighted a judging emphasis on proportion in today’s Open division.
In Classic Physique, Terrence Ruffin’s presentation reminded me why classic lines remain timeless—his balance of muscle fullness without striation overload set a new standard. For Men’s Physique, Erin Banks proved that a strong shoulder-to-waist ratio can outshine even the most conditioned rivals, reinforcing a trend toward sculpted aesthetics over raw size.
On the women’s side, the diversity of winners—from Lucia Delgado’s stage presence in Bikini to Natalia Coelho’s dense muscle insertions in Physique—shows how the IFBB is expanding competitive opportunities for all body types.
Competitor Statements
After the tiebreaker that decided the Men’s Open champion, Derek Lunsford reflected:
“I’ve been chasing this win all season—tonight I brought my best conditioning and symmetry. Competing against Nick pushed me to the limit.”
Nick Walker admitted:
“It was the toughest pose-off of my career. Derek earned it today, but I’ll be back stronger at California Pro.”
These candid remarks underscore the intense rivalry and respect at the sport’s highest level.
Organizer & Judge Insights
Jim Manion, president of the IFBB Pro League, commented on the event’s success:
“This inaugural Men’s Open in Pittsburgh exceeded our expectations. The level of competition was outstanding, and the crowd response was phenomenal. We’ll be back next year with even more energy.”
Head judge Arturo López added:
“We saw perfect symmetry from Lunsford and sheer mass from Walker—deciding between two world-class physiques is never easy.”
Prize Fund & Sponsors
- Total Prize Purse: $200,000 across all divisions.
- Men’s Open: $100,000 to 1st place; $50,000 to 2nd; $25,000 to 3rd; decreasing to $5,000 for 5th–10th.
- Key Sponsors:
- Optimum Nutrition: Presented the “Best Poser” award.
- Ghost Lifestyle: Sponsored athlete hospitality lounge.
- Titan Fitness: Provided all stage equipment.
These partnerships not only boosted the event’s prestige but also offered athletes valuable resources backstage.
Atmosphere & Audience Reaction
An estimated 2,500 fans packed the convention center. The crowd roared when Nick Walker’s massive back double biceps hit the “heat check” pose, and erupted again at Lunsford’s winning announcement. As a coach, I’ve closely watched dozens of Pro shows, but I’ve never felt such electric energy—the standing ovation for both finalists was one for the history books.
Scoring Trends & Analysis
This year’s judging emphasized proportion and transitions over raw mass:
- Symmetry vs. Size: Lunsford’s balanced muscle insertions and fluid posing transitions edged out Walker’s brute mass.
- Conditioning Standards: Athletes must now deliver not just separation but also full presentation, maintaining tight lines without compromising fullness.
- Tiebreaker Preparedness: With several divisions seeing dead-even scores, competitors should anticipate sudden-death rounds and refine signature poses highlighting their best angles.
Trends & Takeaways
- Tiebreaker Rounds Rising: The Lunsford–Walker finale may inspire more contests to prepare for dead-even scorecards.
- Conditioning vs. Mass Balance: Athletes must marry muscle size with sharp conditioning and fluid posing.
- Growth of Women’s Divisions: Four fully contested female categories signal continued expansion and depth in women’s pro ranks.
- Health & Safety Focus: With first aid and on-site medical teams lauded for their readiness, ensuring athlete well-being remains paramount.
What’s Next
- Mr. Olympia Qualification: All champions are now locked in for the Olympia Weekend 2025.
- Upcoming Events: The next Pro show is the California Pro on May 18–19; fans will be eager to see if this year’s Pittsburgh winners can replicate their success.
- Athlete Prep: I’m already advising my clients to analyze this show’s scorecards—refine symmetry, optimize conditioning, and polish posing transitions.
For more in-depth event coverage and training insights, explore our Events & Competitions category.
