Tonino Benson of the Big Island advanced to the fifth round of the winners bracket in the Boys 18 division of the International Surfing Association World Junior Championships yesterday.

The fourth day of the competition was completed in 2-foot waves at Caparica Beach, Portugal.

Benson is one of six remaining undefeated surfers in the winners bracket of the Boys 18 division. He won the world title in the Boys 16 division in 2005.

Kai Barger of Maui lost his fourth-round heat yesterday to drop to the consolation bracket.

In the Girls 18 division, Hawai'i surfers Alana Blanchard and Alessa Quizon advanced to the fourth round of the winners bracket. Monica Byrne-Wickey of Maui lost in the third round and dropped to the consolation bracket.

In the Boys 16 division, Tanner Hendrickson of Maui won his second-round consolation heat.

The contest uses a double-elimination format, so surfers in the consolation bracket can still rally to win the division.

Hawai'i is one of eight teams with all 12 surfers still in contention.

More than 260 surfers representing 28 countries are participating in the contest. Hawai'i is recognized as an independent nation because of its storied history in the sport. A separate United States team also has 12 surfers still in contention.