Battle of the Year, commonly referred to as BOTY, is an annual international breakdancing competition that began in 1990. It has been regarded as the premier b-boying competition in the world [1] and has been referred to as the "World Cup of B-Boying".[2] Regional qualifying tournaments, also known as preliminaries, are held worldwide culminating in the BOTY International, the world finals event which is currently held at Sud de France Arena in Montpellier, France.
For the first twenty-three editions, Battle of the Year was a crew competition; in 2013, a one-on-one competition was added. Since 2014, the one-on-one portion of Battle of the Year is one of ten tournaments that are a part of the World BBoy Series.
The competition spawned the 2007 documentary Planet B-Boy as well as a 2013 eponymously named feature film Battle of the Year, both directed by Benson Lee. It has also gained attention for positive promotion of hip-hop culture and social unity.[3]
Past Battle of the Year results
[edit]In 2006, 2 semifinal battles were implemented, with the winner of each battle advancing to the finals. The losers of the semifinal battles do not battle each other; therefore, there is no longer a fourth-place award.
Year | First place | Second place | Losing Semifinalists | Best show |
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2023 | ![]() |
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2022 | ![]() |
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2021 | ![]() |
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2019 | ![]() |
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2018 | ![]() |
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2017 | ![]() |
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2016 | ![]() |
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2015 | ![]() |
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2014 | ![]() |
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2013 | ![]() |
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2012 | ![]() |
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2011 | ![]() |
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2010 | ![]() |
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2009 | ![]() |
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2008 | ![]() |
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2007 | ![]() |
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2006 | ![]() |
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Until 2006, one battle was held solely for first place and one battle was held solely for third place.
Year | First place | Second place | Third place 1 | Fourth place | Best show |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | ![]() |
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2004 | ![]() |
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2003 | ![]() |
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2002 | ![]() |
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2001 | ![]() |
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2000 | ![]() |
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1999 | ![]() |
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1998 | ![]() |
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1997 | ![]() |
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1996 | ![]() |
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None awarded |
1995 | ![]() ![]() |
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None awarded |
1994 | ![]() |
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None awarded |
1993 | ![]() |
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None awarded |
1992 | ![]() |
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None awarded |
1991 | ![]() |
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None awarded |
1990 | ![]() ![]() |
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Past Battle of the Year Solo Champions results
[edit]Past Battle of the Year Bgirl Champions*
[edit]- The event was called We B Girlz until 2015.
The event is a 2 on 2 battle, but was a solo battle in 2018 and 2019.
2016 season
[edit]2016 World Finals results
[edit]First Round | Semifinals | Finals | |||||||||||
1 | ![]() | W | |||||||||||
6 | ![]() | L | 5 | ![]() | L | ||||||||
5 | ![]() | W | 1 | ![]() | L | ||||||||
2 | ![]() | W | |||||||||||
2 | ![]() | W | |||||||||||
4 | ![]() | L | 3 | ![]() | L | ||||||||
3 | ![]() | W | |||||||||||
2016 International 1 on 1 Battle results
[edit]Bruce Almighty () earned a bid to the Undisputed World BBoy Series in Prague at the end of the 2016 year by winning BOTY Solo.
2015 season
[edit]2015 World Finals results
[edit]First Round | Semifinals | Finals | |||||||||||
1 | ![]() | L | |||||||||||
4 | ![]() | L | 5 | ![]() | W | ||||||||
5 | ![]() | W | 5 | ![]() | L | ||||||||
2 | ![]() | W | |||||||||||
2 | ![]() | W | |||||||||||
3 | ![]() | W | 3 | ![]() | L | ||||||||
6 | ![]() | L | |||||||||||
2015 International 1 on 1 Battle results
[edit]Menno () earned a bid to the Undisputed World BBoy Series at the end of the 2015 year by winning BOTY Solo.
2014 season
[edit]2014 World Finals results
[edit]First Round | Semifinals | Finals | |||||||||||
1 | ![]() | W | |||||||||||
4 | ![]() | L | 5 | ![]() | L | ||||||||
5 | ![]() | W | 1 | ![]() | L | ||||||||
2 | ![]() | W | |||||||||||
2 | ![]() | W | |||||||||||
3 | ![]() | L | 6 | ![]() | L | ||||||||
6 | ![]() | W | |||||||||||
Crew List for 2014 World Finals
[edit]Crew | Qualification |
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Winner, BOTY Korea 2014 |
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Winner, BOTY BALKAN 2014 |
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Winner, BOTY Japan 2014 |
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Winner, BOTY Italy 2014 |
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Winner, BOTY Nigeria 2014 |
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Winner, BOTY Brazil 2014 |
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Winner, BOTY UK 2014 |
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Winner, BOTY Rusia 2014 |
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Winner, BOTY West Africa 2014 |
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Winner, BOTY France 2014 |
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Winner, BOTY Taiwan 2014 |
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Winner, BOTY Central America 2014 |
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Winner, BOTY SEA 2014 |
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Winner , BOTY Germany 2014 |
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Winner, BOTY BeNeLux 2014 |
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Winner, BOTY Israel 2014 |
2014 International 1 on 1 Battle results
[edit]Alkolil () earned a bid to the Undisputed World BBoy Series at the end of the 2014 year by winning BOTY Solo.
2013 season
[edit]2013 World Finals results
[edit]Like in 2012, Battle of the Year 2013 included an additional semifinals placer to add additional battles to the tournament. Six crews qualified after the showcase stage of the competition consisting of the two highest scoring crews automatically qualified for the semifinals and four crews competing for the two remaining places against them.
Semi final placers | Semifinals | Finals | |||||||||||
1 | ![]() | L | |||||||||||
3 | ![]() | W | ![]() | W | |||||||||
6 | ![]() | L | ![]() | W | |||||||||
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2 | ![]() | L | |||||||||||
4 | ![]() | W | ![]() | W | |||||||||
5 | ![]() | L | |||||||||||
Crew List for 2013 World Finals
[edit]Crew | Qualification |
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Winner, BOTY Balkans 2013 |
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Winner, BOTY Italy 2013 |
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Winner, BOTY Taiwan 2013 |
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Winner, BOTY Japan 2013 |
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Winner, BOTY Israel 2013 |
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Winner, BOTY Central Europe 2013 |
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Winner, BOTY Nigeria 2013 |
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Winner, BOTY Germany 2013 |
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Winner, BOTY UK 2013 |
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Winner, BOTY SEA 2013 |
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Winner, BOTY France 2013 |
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Winner, BOTY USA 2013 |
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Winner, BOTY Korea 2013 |
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Winner, BOTY Central America 2013 |
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Winner, BOTY BENELUX 2013 |
2013 International 1 on 1 Battle results
[edit]2012 season
[edit]2012 World Finals results
[edit]Battle of the Year 2012 included an additional semifinals placer to add additional battles to the tournament. In 2012 six crews qualified after the showcase stage of the competition consisting of the two highest scoring crews automatically qualified for the semifinals and four crews competing for the two remaining places against them.[4]
Semi final placers | Semifinals | Finals | |||||||||||
1 | ![]() | W | |||||||||||
3 | ![]() | W | ![]() | L | |||||||||
6 | ![]() | L | ![]() | L | |||||||||
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2 | ![]() | W | |||||||||||
4 | ![]() | L | ![]() | L | |||||||||
5 | ![]() | W | |||||||||||
Crew List for 2012 World Finals
[edit]Crew | Qualification |
---|---|
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Champion, BOTY International 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY Balkans 2012 |
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Winner, BOTY Central Europe 2012 |
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Winner, BOTY Iberica 2012 |
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Winner, BOTY France 2012 |
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Winner, BOTY Japan 2012 |
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Winner, BOTY Israel 2012 |
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Winner, BOTY Belarus 2012 |
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Winner, BOTY North Africa 2012 |
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Winner, BOTY Germany 2012 |
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Winner, BOTY Italy 2012 |
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Winner, BOTY Taiwan 2012 |
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Winner, BOTY SEA 2012 |
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Winner, BOTY Nigeria 2012 |
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Winner, BOTY BeNeLux 2012 |
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Winner, BOTY South Africa 2012 |
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Winner, BOTY West Africa 2012 |
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Winner, BOTY Korea 2012 |
kamikaz crew Algeria
2011 season
[edit]2011 World Finals results
[edit]Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||
1 | ![]() | W | |||||||
4 | ![]() | L | |||||||
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3 | ![]() | W | |||||||
2 | ![]() | L |
Crew List for 2011 World Finals
[edit]Crew | Qualification |
---|---|
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Champions, BOTY International 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY USA 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY Scandinavia 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY France 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY Japan 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY Taiwan 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY Israel 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY Kazakhstan 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY Central America 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY Korea 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY USA 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY Brazil 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY Switzerland 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY North Africa 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY West Africa 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY Germany 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY SEA 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY Benelux 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY Italy 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY Middle East 2011 |
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Winner, BOTY Russia 2011 |
2010 season
[edit]2010 World Finals results
[edit]Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||
1 | ![]() | W | |||||||
4 | ![]() | L | |||||||
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3 | ![]() | W | |||||||
2 | ![]() | L |
Crew List for 2010 World Finals
[edit]Crew | Qualification |
---|---|
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Champion, BOTY International 2009 |
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Winner, BOTY Korea 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY Japan 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY Taiwan 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY France 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY SEA 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY Italy 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY Switzerland 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY Russia 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY Benelux 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY South East Europe 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY Brazil 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY Kazakhstan 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY Balkans 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY Germany 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY Guatemala 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY Israel 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY Algeria 2010 |
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Winner, BOTY Morocco 2010 |
2009 season
[edit]For the first time in the Competition's history, a 1 on 1 Tournament was held for b-boys who weren't competing as a part of a crew. The first 1 on 1 Battle of the Year final saw Lilou of Algeria defeat Morris representing the U.S..
2009 World Finals results
[edit]Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||
1 | ![]() | W | |||||||
4 | ![]() | L | |||||||
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3 | ![]() | L | |||||||
2 | ![]() | W |
Crew List for 2009 World Finals
[edit]Crew | Qualification |
---|---|
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Champion, BOTY International 2008 |
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Winner, BOTY UK 2009 |
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Winner, BOTY France 2009 |
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Winner, BOTY SEE 2009 |
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Winner, BOTY Balkans 2009 |
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Winner, BOTY CIS 2009 |
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Winner, BOTY Benelux 2009 |
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2nd place, BOTY Asia 2009 |
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3rd place, BOTY Asia 2009 |
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Winner, BOTY Asia 2009 |
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Winner, BOTY Caricom 2009 |
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Winner, BOTY Israel 2009 |
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Winner, BOTY Scandinavia 2009 |
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Winner BOTY Italy 2009 |
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Winner BOTY Germany 2009 |
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Winner BOTY Africa 2009 |
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Invited Directly |
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Winner BOTY Switzerland 2009 |
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Winner BOTY Brazil 2009 |
2008 season
[edit]2008 World Finals results
[edit]Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||
1 | ![]() | W | |||||||
4 | ![]() | L | |||||||
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3 | ![]() | W | |||||||
2 | ![]() | L |
Crew List for 2008 World Finals
[edit]This list is in chronological order by date qualified.
Crew | Qualification |
---|---|
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Champion, BOTY International 2007 |
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Winner, BOTY UK 2008 |
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Winner, BOTY Benelux 2008 |
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Winner, BOTY France 2008 |
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Winner, BOTY Balkans 2008 |
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Winner, BOTY South East Europe 2008 |
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Winner, BOTY Russia 2008 |
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Winner, BOTY West Africa 2008 |
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Winner, BOTY Asia 2008 |
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2nd place, BOTY Asia 2008 |
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3rd place, BOTY Asia 2008 |
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Winner, BOTY Canada 2008 |
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Winner, BOTY Israel 2008 |
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Winner, BOTY Switzerland 2008 |
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Winner, BOTY Brazil 2008 |
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Winner, BOTY Germany 2008 |
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Winner, BOTY Scandinavia 2008 |
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Winner, BOTY Iberica 2008 |
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Winner, BOTY USA 2008 |
2007 season
[edit]2007 World Finals results
[edit]Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||
1 | ![]() | L | |||||||
4 | ![]() | W | |||||||
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3 | ![]() | W | |||||||
2 | ![]() | L |
Crew List for 2007 World Finals
[edit]This list is in chronological order by date qualified. Preliminaries that have not occurred yet have a colored background.
2006 season
[edit]2006 World Finals results
[edit]Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||
1 | ![]() | W | |||||||
4 | ![]() | L | |||||||
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3 | ![]() | W | |||||||
2 | ![]() | L |
Crew List for 2006 World Finals
[edit]Crew | Qualification |
---|---|
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Champion, BOTY International 2005 |
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Winner, BOTY Asia 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY Balkans 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY Scandinavia 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY Russia 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY South East Europe 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY Italy 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY North East Europe 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY Japan 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY Iberica 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY Israel 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY China 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY USA 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY South East Asia 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY South Africa 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY Taiwan 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY Germany 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY Switzerland 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY Korea 2006 |
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Winner, BOTY Benelux 2006 |
Series Format
[edit]World Finals Format
[edit]The format comprises firstly a showcase round in which all crews perform a routine of no more than six minutes in length demonstrating their ability in the different styles of breakdance. Judges rank all competing crews by evaluating certain criteria based on the shows.
Following the showcase round, the top four crews are selected to take part in a crew-vs-crew battle playoff. In the semifinals, the top-ranked crew battles the 4th-ranked crew and the 2nd-ranked crew battles the 3rd-ranked crew. The winner of each semifinal then battle each other for the championship.
An award, "Best Show", is also given to the crew that had the best-scoring showcase.
Scoring Criteria
[edit]Judges evaluate the showcase round on two main elements, artistry and technicality, each of which includes several criteria. The artistry element includes theme, music, synchronicity, and choreography, among others. The technicality element includes toprock, uprock, footwork, and power moves, among others.[5]
Qualification and Preliminaries
[edit]The champion of the world finals is always invited directly to the following year's world finals to defend their title. All other crews qualify via preliminary tournaments, although historically there have been a few instances of directly-invited crews (usually when there is no preliminary in that crew's region).
Qualification is moving towards a two-step system consisting of individual country preliminaries followed by regional preliminaries. Historically, each country had an individual preliminary and sent one crew to the world finals; however, countries have become more and more regionalized over the years. For example, starting in 2007, there is a new BOTY Asia regional preliminary that will send the top 3 finishers to the world finals; in 2006 and years prior, Asia region countries such as South Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan had their own preliminaries and sent one crew each to the world finals.
The following is a chart showing the regions and countries in the region, as well as number of crews sent to the world finals, for the 2007 season.
Region | Crews Sent | Member Countries |
---|---|---|
BOTY Asia | 3 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
BOTY Balkans | 1 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
BOTY Benelux | 1 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
BOTY Iberica | 1 | ![]() ![]() |
BOTY North East Europe* | 0 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
BOTY Scandinavia | 1 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
BOTY South East Europe | 1 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
* Winner of BOTY India will participate in BOTY Asia from 2011
* BOTY North East Europe regional preliminary was canceled. On July 10, 2007, it was announced that BOTY North East Europe member countries would be allowed to enter BOTY Scandinavia.[6]
** On September 7, 2007, the BOTY USA 2007 qualifier was announced;[7] however, it was canceled less than one month later.
World Finals Format History
[edit]Prior to 2006, the current championship playoff system was not used. Instead, there were only two battles: two crews would compete for first place, while two other crews would compete for third place. While a "Best Show" award was still granted based on showcase performance, the judges would also rank the crews as to who they thought should participate in the championship battle. This resulted in frequently-occurring situations where the crew that received the "Best Show" award was not even able to compete for the championship, as they were picked for the third place battle instead of the championship battle. Examples include three "Best Show" winners in the final five years under the old format: Break the Funk (2004), Fire Works (2003), and Visual Shock (2001).[8] The change to the playoff system also brought the world finals format into line with some of the qualifier formats, such as the BOTY Korea Preliminary, which has been using the four-crew playoff system for years.
Starting in 2004, a strict 6-minute time limit per crew on the showcase was enforced for the world finals, with scoring penalties assessed for going over time. This was enacted so that the world finals event would finish in a shorter time period. The 6-minute limit was quickly adopted at preliminaries.[9]
In 1990, when the event was known as the International Breakdance Cup,[10] there were only shows and no battles. From 1991-1996, there were battles resulting in a crowned champion, but no "Best Show" award was given.
Media
[edit]An official DVD documenting the event is usually released a few months after the tournament. It is a perennial best seller on breaking and hip-hop media retail web sites.
Several documentaries have been produced based on the competition, including the 2007 feature-length documentary Planet B-Boy. The film premiered at the 2007 TriBeCa Film Festival[11] and was released on DVD on November 11, 2008.
A movie based on this competition, called Battle of the Year, was released on September 20, 2013. The film was directed by Benson Lee, who produced Planet B-Boy, and featured famous artist Chris Brown in the primary role.[12]
On occasion with the annual competition, a CD/LP titled "The Official Battle Of The Year Motion Soundtrack" is released since 1998.[13] It features some of the leading B-Boy Funk artists such as Mr. Confuse, Cosmic EFI, DJ Nas'D, Esone, Def Cut, Cutmaster GB, and DJ Phantom. The cover artwork is drawn by Graffiti artist Mode 2.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ Hong 10: B-Boy Champion Archived November 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved August 21, 2007
- ^ Planet B-Boy Plot Summary, Retrieved August 21, 2007
- ^ Chang, Jeff. "It's a Hip-Hop World". Foreign Policy (November/December 2007): 58–65. "Hip-hop events such as the Battle of the Year create spaces for a globalization from the bottom, bringing people together across the barriers of geography, language, and race."
- ^ "Battle of the Year 2012 World Finals - Judges announced, new battle format introduced - All Street Dance". Archived from the original on 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
- ^ Judge POEONE (Stylelements) Post on Scoring Criteria on BBoyWorld.com forums Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved August 21, 2007
- ^ Battle of the Year Official Site - News, Retrieved August 22, 2007
- ^ BOTY USA 2007 Announcement Archived November 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, BBoyWorld.Com, Retrieved September 12, 2007
- ^ BOTY Official Website: Past Events Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved August 21, 2007
- ^ Breakdance battle Archived September 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved August 21, 2007
- ^ DJ Junk. "Junk's breaking- a history of John (Junk) from Second To None and the Second To None Crew". DJ Junk. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
- ^ Planet B-Boy (Tribeca Film Festival Official Website), Retrieved August 21, 2007
- ^ "Battle of the Year". IMDb.
- ^ "Battle of the year Musik | Discogs". Discogs.
- ^ "Drawings".
External links
[edit]- Battle of the Year official website
- Battle of the Year TV special at MixeryRawDeluxe.TV