Battle of the Year

For the 2013 feature film based on this event, see Battle of the Year (film).

Battle of the Year, commonly referred to as BOTY, is an annual international b-boying competition that began in 1990. It has been regarded as the premier b-boying competition in the world and has been referred to as the "World Cup of B-Boying". Regional qualifying tournaments, also known as preliminaries, are held worldwide culminating in the BOTY International, the world finals event which is currently held at Volkswagen Halle in Braunschweig, Germany.

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 eight 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.

Past Battle of the Year results

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
2015	Flooriorz	Keinjuice	U-Taipei / Doble K.O.	Doble K.O.
2014	Predatorz	Fusion MC	Body Carnival / S.I.N.E. Crew	Fusion MC
2013	Fusion MC	The Ruggeds	B-Town All Stars / The Flooriorz	The Flooriorz
2012	Vagabonds	The Flooriorz	Pockémon / Morning of Owl	Vagabonds
2011	Vagabonds	Battle Born	Nine State B-boyz / TPEC	Vagabonds
2010	Jinjo Crew	Mortal Combat	Gamblerz / La Smala	Mortal Combat
2009	Gamblerz	Top 9	All Area Crew / Phase-T	All Area Crew
2008	Top 9	T.I.P. Crew	Formosa / Smokémon	Top 9
2007	Extreme Crew	Turn Phrase Crew	Legiteam Obstruxion / Funk Fellaz	Turn Phrase Crew
2006	Vagabonds	Last For One	Drifterz / B-Town Allstars	Vagabonds

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	Last For One	Ichigeki	Gamblerz	Phase-T	Ichigeki
2004	Gamblerz	Fantastik Armada	Stuttguard	Break the Funk	Break the Funk
2003	Pockémon	Expression Crew	Gamblerz	Fire Works	Fire Works
2002	Expression Crew	Vagabonds	Deep Trip	Top 9	Vagabonds
2001	Wanted	Team Ohh	HaviKoro	Visual Shock	Visual Shock
2000	Flying Steps	Waseda Breakers	Scrambling Feet	South African Allstars	Waseda Breakers
1999	Suicidal Lifestyle	Rock Force	Bag of Trix	The Family	Spartanic Rockers
1998	Rock Force	The Family	Phase 2	Suicidal Lifestyle	Spartanic Japan
1997	Style Elements	South Side Rockers	Black Noise	Suicidal Lifestyle	South Side Rockers
1996	Toys in Effect	Enemy Squad	Wedding B-Boys & Flying Steps	Passo Sul Tempo	None awarded
1995	The Family	Enemy Squad	Out of Control	Flying Steps	None awarded
1994	Vlinke Vuesse	Enemy Squad	Always Rockin Tuff	Crazy Force Crew	None awarded
1993	Always Rockin Tuff	Fresh Force	Enemy Squad	TDB	None awarded
1992	Battle Squad	Second 2 None	Enemy Squad	TDB	None awarded
1991	Battle Squad	TDB	Enemy Squad	Fresh Force	None awarded
1990	TDB	Crazy Force Crew	City Rockers	Robot Force

Past Battle of the Year Solo Champions results

Year	Winner	Crew	Runner-up	Crew
2015	Menno	Hustle Kids/Def Dogs/Mighty Zulu Kingz	Alkolil	Original Breakers Circle
2014	Alkolil	Original Breakers Circle	Kleju	Funky Masons/Polskee Flavour
2013	Menno	Hustle Kids/Def Dogs/Mighty Zulu Kingz	Thesis	Knuckleheads Cali/THEM TEAM/F2D
2012	Niek	The Ruggeds	Hill	Unik Breakers
2011	Niek	The Ruggeds	Vicious Vic	Fleetboyz
2010	Thesis	Knuckleheads Cali/THEM TEAM/F2D	Alkolil	Original Breakers Circle
2009	/ Lilou	Pockemon	Morris	Fallen Kings

2015 season

2015 World Finals results

First Round

Semifinals

Finals

1

Doble KO

L

4

MB Crew

L

5

Kein Juice

W

5

Kein Juice

W

5

Kein Juice

L

2

The Flooriorz

W

2

The Flooriorz

W

3

U-Taipei

W

3

U-Taipei

L

6

MOS Crew

L

Best Show: Doble KO

2015 International 1 on 1 Battle results

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Menno

W

Rafastil

L

Menno

W

Shigekix

L

Shigekix

W

Lawson

L

Menno

W

Sunni

L

Sunni

W

Kacyo

L

Sunni

W

El Nino

L

El Nino

W

Taower

L

Menno

W

Alkolil

L

Alkolil

W

Akorn

L

Alkolil

W

Victor

L

Victor

W

Lagaet

L

Alkolil

W

Fleau

L

Third Place

Fleau

W

Onel

L

Fleau

W

Poter

L

Poter

W

Dany

L

Menno () earned a bid to the Undisputed World BBoy Series at the end of the 2015 year by winning BOTY Solo.

2014 season

2014 World Finals results

First Round

Semifinals

Finals

1

Fusion MC

W

4

Infamous

L

5

Body Carnival

L

5

Body Carnival

W

1

Fusion MC

L

2

Predatorz

W

2

Predatorz

W

3

Ruggeds

L

6

S.I.N.E. Crew

L

6

S.I.N.E. Crew

W

Best Show: Fusion MC

Crew List for 2014 World Finals

Crew	Qualification
Fusion MC
Black Out Crew
Body Carnival
Last Alive
619 Fellerz
Street Son Crew
Soul Mavericks
Predatorz
Crazy Elements
Infamous
Ten Years in a Moment
Gravedad Zero
S.I.N.E Crew
The Saxonz
The Ruggeds
Unstopabullz

2014 International 1 on 1 Battle results

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Gravity

W

Hugga

L

Gravity

L

Alkolil

W

Alkolil

W

Kacyo

L

Alkolil

W

Kazuki Roc

L

Kazuki Roc

W

Ziprock

L

Kazuki Roc

W

Kid Columbia

L

Kid Columbia

W

Rafastil

L

Alkolil

W

Kleju

L

Noe

L

TRock

W

TRock

L

Benny

W

Benny

W

Onel

L

Benny

L

Kleju

W

Third Place

Kleju

W

Mini Joe

L

Kleju

W

Lil Zoo

L

Lil Zoo

W

Khalil

L

Alkolil () earned a bid to the Undisputed World BBoy Series at the end of the 2014 year by winning BOTY Solo.

2013 season

2013 World Finals results

Like in 2012, Battle of the Year 2013 included an additional semi finals 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 semi finals and four crews competing for the two remaining places against them.

	Semi final placers					(see table below)
	1	Fusion MC	W
	4	Vino Tinto	L
	3	The Ruggeds	W
	2	KGB TC United	L

	Semi finals					Finals
	1	The Floorriorz	L
	4	The Ruggeds	W
						The Ruggeds		L
						Fusion MC		W
	3	Fusion MC	W
	2	B-Town All Stars	L

Best Show: The Floorriorz

Crew List for 2013 World Finals

Crew	Qualification
WaveOmatic	Winner, BOTY Balkans 2013
De Klan	Winner, BOTY Italy 2013
KGB TC Unity	Winner, BOTY Taiwan 2013
The Floorriorz	Winner, BOTY Japan 2013
Unstopabullz	Winner, BOTY Israel 2013
Hunters Crew	Winner, BOTY Belarus 2013
Space Unlimited	Winner, BOTY Nigeria 2013
B-Town Allstars	Winner, BOTY Germany 2013
Soul Mavericks	Winner, BOTY Central Europe 2013
S.I.N.E Crew	Winner, BOTY South Asia 2013
Melting Force	Winner, BOTY France 2013
Knuckle Head Zoo	Winner, BOTY USA 2013
Fusion MC	Winner, BOTY Korea 2013
Vinotinto
The Ruggeds

2013 International 1 on 1 Battle results

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Pocket

W

Mat

L

Pocket

L

Issei

W

Issei

W

Hulk

L

Issei

L

Menno

W

Tonio

L

Menno

W

Menno

W

Nori

L

Nori

W

Lil Zoo

L

Menno

W

Thesis

L

Slav

L

Thesis

W

Thesis

W

Wing

L

Wing

W

Bootuz

L

Thesis

W

Lil G

L

Third Place

Lil G

W

Titris

L

Lil G

W

Robin

L

Cherry

L

Robin

W

2012 season

2012 World Finals results

Battle of the Year 2012 included an additional semi finals 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 semi finals and four crews competing for the two remaining places against them.

	Semi final placers					(see table below)
	1	Morning of Owl	W
	4	Formosa	L
	3	De Klan	L
	2	Pockemon Crew	W

	Semi finals					Finals
	1	Morning of Owl	L
	4	Floorriorz	W
						Floorriorz		L
						Vagabond Crew		W
	3	Pockemon Crew	L
	2	Vagabond Crew	W

Best Show: Vagabond Crew

Crew List for 2012 World Finals

Crew	Qualification
Vagabonds	Champion, BOTY International 2011
Dead Prezz	Winner, BOTY Balkans 2012
Prodigy	Winner, Central Eastern Europe 2012
Supremos	Winner, BOTY Iberica 2012
Pockemon	Winner, BOTY France 2012
Flooriorz	Winner, BOTY Japan 2012
Kosher Flava	Winner, BOTY Israel 2012
Hunters Crew	Winner, BOTY Belarus 2012
Upper Underground	Winner, BOTY Africa 2012
Reckless Gang	Winner, BOTY Germany 2012
De Klan	Winner, BOTY Italy 2012
Formosa Crew	Winner, BOTY Taiwan 2012
Radical Force	Winner, BOTY South Asia 2012
Space Unlimited	Winner, BOTY Nigeria 2012
Team Shmetta	Winner, BOTY BeNeLux 2012
Unity Crew	Winner, BOTY South Africa 2012
Lhiba KingZoo	Winner, BOTY 2012
Morning of Owl	Winner, BOTY Korea 2012

kamikaz crew Algeria

2011 season

2011 World Finals results

	Semifinals					Finals
	1	Battle Born	W
	4	Nine States B-boyz	L
						Battle Born		L
						Vagabonds		W
	3	Vagabonds	W
	2	TPEC	L

Best Show: Vagabonds

Crew List for 2011 World Finals

Crew	Qualification
Jinjo Crew	Champions, BOTY International 2010
Battleborn	Winner, BOTY USA 2011
CT Group	Winner, BOTY Vienna 2011
Vagabonds	Winner, BOTY France 2011
Nine States B-Boyz	Winner, BOTY Japan 2011
TPEC	Winner, BOTY Taiwan 2011
Kosher Flava	Winner, BOTY Israel 2011
Simple System	Winner, BOTY Kazakhstan 2011
Guatemaya Crew	Winner, BOTY Central America 2011
Maximum Crew	Winner, BOTY Korea 2011
Battle Born	Winner, BRAUN BOTY USA 2011
Amazon B-Boys	Winner, BOTY Brazil 2011
Ruff'n'X	Winner, BOTY Switzerland 2011
Fusion Crew	Winner, BOTY Algeria 2011
Flavaz Army	Winner, BOTY Tunisia 2011
Reckless Bunch	Winner, BRAUN BOTY Germany 2011
OnePiece UD Town	Winner, BOTY South Asia 2011
Hoochen Crew	Winner, BRAUN BOTY Benelux 2011
De Klan	Winner, BRAUN BOTY Italy 2011
Slam Fam & Over Boys	Winner, BRAUN BOTY Middle East 2011
BMT & Mafia 13	Winner, BOTY Russia 2011

2010 season

2010 World Finals results

	Semifinals					Finals
	1	Jinjo	W
	4	Gamblerz	L
						Jinjo		W
						Mortal Combat		L
	3	Mortal Combat	W
	2	La Smala	L

Best Show: Mortal Combat

Crew List for 2010 World Finals

Crew	Qualification
Gamblerz	Champion, BOTY International 2009
Jinjo	Winner, BOTY Korea 2010
Mortal Combat	Winner, BOTY Japan 2010
Top Coalition	Winner, BOTY Taiwan 2010
La Smala	Winner, BOTY France 2010
Big Toe (S.I.N.E)	Winner, BOTY SEA 2010
De Klan	Winner, BOTY Italy 2010
2DR Squad	Winner, BOTY Switzerland 2010
Predatorz	Winner, BOTY Russia 2010
/ Team Shmetta	Winner, BOTY Benelux 2010
PRODIGY	Winner, BOTY South East Europe 2010
Bio All Stars	Winner, BOTY Brazil 2010
Simple System	Winner, BOTY Kazakhstan 2010
Dead Prezz	Winner, BOTY Balkans 2010
Flowjob	Winner, BOTY Germany 2010
Chapin Crew	Winner, BOTY Guatemala 2010
Unstopabullz	Winner, BOTY Israel 2010
Kamikaz Crew	Winner, BOTY Algeria 2010
La Halla King Zoo	Winner, BOTY Morocco 2010

2009 season

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

	Semifinals					Finals
	1	Gamblerz	W
	4	Phase-T	L
						Gamblerz		W
						Top 9		L
	3	All Area	L
	2	Top 9	W

Best Show: All Area

Crew List for 2009 World Finals

Crew	Qualification
Gamblerz	Champion, BOTY Asia 2009
Soul Mavericks	Winner, BOTY UK 2009
Phase T	Winner, BOTY France 2009
Prodigy Crew	Winner, BOTY SEE 2009
Breakers Without Fear	Winner, BOTY Balkans 2009
Belarusian B-Boys	Winner, BOTY CIS 2009
Team Shmetta	Winner, BOTY Benelux 2009
Top-9	2nd place, BOTY International 2008
Formosa	3rd place, BOTY Asia 2009
All Area	Winner, BOTY Asia 2009
Myztikal	Winner, BOTY Caricom 2009
Unstopabulls	Winner, BOTY Israel 2009
Octagon	Winner, BOTY Scandinavia 2009
De Klan	Winner BOTY Italy 2009
Funk Fellaz	Winner BOTY Germany 2009
Ubuntu B Boyz	Winner BOTY Africa 2009
Knuckle Head Zoo	Invited Directly
Ghost Rockz	Winner BOTY Switzerland 2009
Amazon B Boyz	Winner BOTY Brazil 2009

2008 season

2008 World Finals results

	Semifinals					Finals
	1	T.I.P.	W
	4	Formosa	L
						T.I.P.		L
						Top 9		W
	3	Top 9	W
	2	Smokémon	L

Best Show: Top 9

Crew List for 2008 World Finals

This list is in chronological order by date qualified.

Crew	Qualification
Extreme Crew	Champion, BOTY International 2007
Bad Taste Cru	Winner, BOTY UK 2008
Groove Kingz	Winner, BOTY Benelux 2008
Smokemon	Winner, BOTY France 2008
Dead Prezz	Winner, BOTY Balkans 2008
Crazy Twisting Tribal Team	Winner, BOTY South East Europe 2008
Top 9	Winner, BOTY Russia 2008
La Halla King Zoo	Winner, BOTY West Africa 2008
T.I.P.	Winner, BOTY Asia 2008
Formosa	2nd place, BOTY Asia 2008
Kaiten Ninja	3rd place, BOTY Asia 2008
Now or Never	Winner, BOTY Canada 2008
Unstopabulls	Winner, BOTY Israel 2008
Ghost Rockz	Winner, BOTY Switzerland 2008
Tsunami Allstars	Winner, BOTY Brazil 2008
TNT Crew	Winner, BOTY Germany 2008
Octagon	Winner, BOTY Scandinavia 2008
Fallen Angels Crew	Winner, BOTY Iberica 2008
Furious Soldiers	Winner, BOTY USA 2008

2007 season

2007 World Finals results

	Semifinals					Finals
	1	Legiteam Obstruktion	L
	4	Extreme Crew	W
						Extreme Crew		W
						Turn Phrase Crew		L
	3	Turn Phrase Crew	W
	2	Funk Fellaz	L

Best Show: Turn Phrase Crew

Crew List for 2007 World Finals

This list is in chronological order by date qualified. Preliminaries that have not occurred yet have a colored background.

Crew	Qualification
Hoochen	Winner, BOTY Benelux 2007
Sick 7	Winner, BOTY South East Europe 2007
Plastic Def Squad	Winner, BOTY Balkans 2007
Legiteam Obstruktion	Winner, BOTY France 2007
Rapid Soul Moves	Winner, BOTY Italy 2007
Fallen Angels Crew	Winner, BOTY Iberica 2007
Extreme (Obo Wang) Crew	Winner, BOTY Asia 2007
Turn Phrase Crew	2nd place, BOTY Asia 2007
Ground Scatter Crew	3rd place, BOTY Asia 2007
Breakerholics	Winner, BOTY Israel 2007
Ultimate Desperados	Winner, BOTY Scandinavia 2007
Funk Fellaz	Winner, BOTY Germany 2007
Ruff'n'X Crew	Winner, BOTY Switzerland 2007
DF Zulu Breakers	Winner, BOTY Brazil 2007
Vagabonds (withdrew)	Champion, BOTY International 2006
Last Minute Crew (withdrew)	Winner, BOTY South Africa 2007

2006 season

2006 World Finals results

	Semifinals					Finals
	1	Vagabonds	W
	4	Drifterz	L
						Vagabonds		W
						Last For One		L
	3	Last For One	W
	2	B-Town Allstars	L

Best Show: Vagabonds

Crew List for 2006 World Finals

Crew	Qualification
Last For One	Champion, BOTY International 2005
Vagabonds	Winner, BOTY France 2006
Electric Force Crew	Winner, BOTY Balkans 2006
Octagon	Winner, BOTY Scandinavia 2006
Top 9	Winner, BOTY Russia 2006
Moving Shadows	Winner, BOTY South East Europe 2006
Ormus Force	Winner, BOTY Italy 2006
Camelot	Winner, BOTY North East Europe 2006
Ichigeki	Winner, BOTY Japan 2006
Fallen Angels	Winner, BOTY Iberica 2006
Lions of Zion	Winner, BOTY Israel 2006
STO	Winner, BOTY China 2006
Knuckle Head Zoo	Winner, BOTY USA 2006
Ground Scatter Crew	Winner, BOTY South East Asia 2006
Ubuntu	Winner, BOTY South Africa 2006
HRC	Winner, BOTY Taiwan 2006
B-Town Allstars	Winner, BOTY Germany 2006
Ruff'n'X Crew	Winner, BOTY Switzerland 2006
Drifterz Crew	Winner, BOTY Korea 2006
Floor Burning	Winner, BOTY Benelux 2006

Series Format

World Finals Format

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

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.

Qualification and Preliminaries

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	China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam,India*
BOTY Balkans	1	Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Turkey
BOTY Benelux	1	Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands
BOTY Iberica	1	Portugal, Spain
BOTY North East Europe*	0	Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,
BOTY Scandinavia	1	Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden; also, BOTY North East Europe member countries are invited to participate*
BOTY South East Europe	1	Austria, Bosnia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia

* 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.
** On September 7, 2007, the BOTY USA 2007 qualifier was announced; however, it was canceled less than one month later.

World Finals Format History

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). 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.

In 1990, when the event was known as the International Breakdance Cup, 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

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 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.

On occasion with the annual competition, a CD/LP titled "The Official Battle Of The Year Motion Soundtrack" is released. It features some of the leading B-Boy Funk artists such as DJ Nas'D, Def Cut, Cutmaster GB, and DJ Phantom.

External links

• Battle of the Year official website
• Battle of the Year TV special at MixeryRawDeluxe.TV