Brazil secure second Rio 2016 spot after two pairs advance to women's Beach Volleyball World Championship final

Brazil's Fernanda Alves and Tatiana Lima hug the mascot Spike after winning their semi-final match ©Getty Images

Brazil secured a second Rio 2016 Olympic beach volleyball berth after two of their pairings advanced to the final of the Beach Volleyball World Championship here today.

Having reached the closing stages of the tournament all the remaining matches of the week-long event are being held in front of lively crowds in the home of The Netherlands' Government and they were treated to two high-quality women's semi-final matches.

With Brazil boasting three of the four pairings in the last four of the competition, they alawys appeared likely to seal the second Rio 2016 berth.

With a spot given to the World Championship winners, only Germany's Katrin Holtwick and Ilka Semmler stood in their way.

They had previously played and fallen to a three set defeat to Brazil's pairing of Fernanda Alves and Tatiana Lima at the 2014 Dutch Grand Slam.

They were unable to improve on that showing as they were comprehensively outplayed in the opening semi-final.

Fernanda proved to be the star of the match as her defensive abilities, particularly at the net, helped secure then first set with Lima 21-12.

The second set did not have the same convincing scoreline but Fernanda and Lima still remained in complete control of the match which was over very quickly, their attacking play was too much for the Germans as they sealed a 21-12, 21-15 win.

Agatha Bednarczuk and Barabara Sexias de Freitas won an entertaining second semi-final ©Getty Images

They are now set to face Agatha Bednarczuk and Barabara Sexias de Freitas in the final following their victory in an all-Brazilian last four match against Juliana Felisberta da Silva and Maria Antonelli.

The match proved to be a more entertaining and closer fought affair than the opening semi-final, with rallies lasting a sustained period of time, due to the defensive abilities of both teams, with no dominant pair emerging.

Agatha and Barbara were able to hold their nerve in the closing stages of the opening set, though, to claim a narrow lead, taking it 24-22.

The match continued in a similar vain in the second set, with both pairs scrambling for every point in front of the packed crowd, in front of The Netherlands' Government house.

Antonelli and Juliana were unable to force a deciding set, however, as again they missed out on the crucial points to fall to a 23-21, 21-19 defeat.

While Brazil are now assured of gold in the women's event, they will also be looking to see both of their men's pairings advance in tomorrow morning's semi-final, prior to the women's final being held in the evening.