The first qualification for seven-year-old horses at the World Championship in Lanaken began with the sun trying to break through the clouds but ended in wetter conditions. However, this couldn't dampen the spirits of the 203 combinations present. For Angelos Touloupis and Kannandillo, their round resulted in a first place in this First Qualifier.
A lot of seven-year-old horses competed against each other in this first qualification. The 1.40m high course was ridden in two phases. Angelos Touloupis (GRE), riding the Holstein stallion Kannandillo, delivered the fastest round in the second phase. The son of Kannan finished with a time of 27.13 seconds, securing the top spot for the Greek rider. Sanne Thijssen (NED) guided Chiara VDH, a daughter of Chacco Blue, to the second place with a time of 28.35 seconds in the second phase. The top three was completed by the Italian Emilio Bicocchi and Excaliburg, also a son of Kannan.
On four was Kendra Claricia Brinkop (GER) riding the BWP gelding Quercus van den Oude Eik, a gelding by Jenson van 't Meulenhof. Abdullah Mohd Al Marri (UAE) filled in the fifth spot with Lucardo O, a KWPN stallion of Eldorado van de Zeshoek.