The international final of Liebherr’s Game of Cranes took place at the end of November at the company’s Ehingen plant in Germany, bringing together the top five mobile crane operators from around the world. Competitors from North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and the Africa/Middle East/Asia region battled through a series of challenging practical and theoretical tasks to claim the title of “World Crane Champion”.
Across two days, finalists faced five demanding stages designed to test precision, technical expertise, and nerves of steel. Tasks included calculating load capacities, configuring cranes, and transporting oversized loads through tight obstacle courses. Operators worked both indoors and outdoors, attaching equipment such as concrete buckets and blocks before manoeuvring containers filled with pylons and delicate structures.
One particularly intricate stage required calculating wind loads on a steel plate, lifting it smoothly over an obstacle, and even pouring a bottle into a beer glass using dual hooks. In another, operators guided a 5-tonne load through an S-shaped route while simultaneously lifting, luffing, and slewing—careful not to hit any barriers. The final “hot wire” challenge demanded exceptional concentration as a slewing ring had to be moved over a pipe structure without contact.
After an intense competition, Scott White of City Lifting (Great Britain) secured first place with 898 points. “It was a fantastic competition and great fun – I’m over the moon that I did it!” he said, already set to defend his title in 2027.
Second place went to Joey Fisher (Australia), followed by Kirk Smith (New Zealand), Nick Jackman (USA), and Leonardo Navarro (Brazil).
Liebherr received around 200 applications for this year’s contest. “All participants demonstrated how demanding and professional crane operation is today,” said Christoph Behmüller, Head of Training and Development.
