Carissa Moore victory sets up epic quarter-final showdown with Stephanie Gilmore in Rio

Six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore is set for a stunning quarter-final showdown with Hawaiian Carissa Moore at the Oi Rio Pro in Brazil.

Stephanie Gilmore will face reigning champion Carissa Moore in the quarter-finals of the Rio Pro

Six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore is set for a stunning quarter-final showdown with Hawaiian Carissa Moore at the Oi Rio Pro in Brazil.

One of the sport’s most competitive rivalries will be reignited for the second time at the event after Moore edged out Australian Bronte Macaulay in a tight fourth round heat.

Moore kept her early season bid for a fourth world title in five years alive with an 11.84 to 10.93 points win over Western Australian injury replacement Bronte Macaulay.

Stephanie Gilmore will face reigning champion Carissa Moore in the quarter-finals of the Rio Pro

“I was a little nervous because the conditions were pretty tricky out there,” said Moore.

“The waves were pretty short and steep, so when Bronte got her scores right off the bat, I knew I had to get moving.”

Gilmore will enter the heat brimming with confidence after enjoying an unbeaten run through the fourth stop on the Women’s World Tour including a third round win over Moore and compatriot Laura Enever.

Joining Gilmore are fellow Australians Sally Fitzgibbons and Tyler Wright who take on Malia Manuel and Johanne Defay respectively.

The last quarter-final is made up of current ratings leader Courtney Conlogue and Hawaiian Tatiana Weston-Webb.

With growing swell forecast in coming days and eight of the top nine ranked women’s surfers still in contention for the Rio title, the stage is set for a thrilling climax.