In a very tight competition there is always disappointment when really great competitors don’t make the final round. Yesterday 48 of the world’s best bartenders and their countries would have felt that disappointment. From 54 competitors to just 6 in one blow equals a lot of upsets – but the show must go on!
The Top 6 were announced yesterday evening after 2 more rounds of challenges. This means that all the competitors got a chance to perform all the challenges before the judges decided on a top 6. What a difficult decision that must have been. As Spike Marchant himself said yesterday – this has been the most talent they have seen in 7 years of the competition. So a very big well done to all who took part who did not make the final cut, especially our own Dom de Lorenzo who did his colleagues, friends and country proud!
Now to the final 6 and today’s challenge.
The announcement was made and these are the bartenders who will be competing in today’s Pop-up Bar Challenge:
1. Ariel Leizgold of 223 Bar in Israel
2. Ali Reynolds of Hawksmoor in London
3. Vítězslav Cirok (Czech Republic)
4. Michito Kaneko (Japan)
5. Jack Sotti (Australia)
6. Manolis Lykiardopolous (Greece)
Well done to these guys – a very well deserved place in the final showdown.
The Final 6 at World Class 2015
Ali Reynolds of Great Britain competing in the ‘Against the Clock’ challenge.
So, it’s time to decide who you are going to support for the very unique pop-up bar challenge. Bartenders have 24 hours (since the announcement last night) to create their own pop-up bar in a designated area of The Watershed at the V&A Waterfront. The judges will then visit each of the bars in the Pop-up Bar Cape Town Shakedown. The final winner and global champion will be announced tomorrow night at a gala ceremony.
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