Battle of the Year
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
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 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.
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 |
| 2019 |  Last Squad |  Artistreet |  Body Carnival /  Team Vinotinto | Artistreet |
| 2018 | Jinjo Crew | Foundnation |  Top Coalition / Vagabonds | Jinjo Crew |
| 2017 | Flooriorz | Vagabonds |  Kienjuice / Mortal Combat | Flooriorz |
| 2016 | Flooriorz | Melting Force | Body Carnival / Kienjuice | Melting Force |
| 2015 | Flooriorz | Kienjuice | 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 / Flooriorz | Flooriorz |
| 2012 | Vagabonds | 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
2016 season
2016 World Finals results
Best Show: Melting Force2016 International 1 on 1 Battle results
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
2015 World Finals results
Best Show: Doble KO2015 International 1 on 1 Battle results
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
Best Show: Fusion MCCrew List for 2014 World Finals
2014 International 1 on 1 Battle results
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 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.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
2012 season
2012 World Finals results
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.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
Best Show: VagabondsCrew List for 2011 World Finals
2010 season
2010 World Finals results
Best Show: Mortal CombatCrew 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 | Winner, BOTY SEA 2010 |
| De Klan | Winner, BOTY Italy 2010 |
| 2DR Squad | Winner, BOTY Switzerland 2010 |
 :ru:Predatorz Crew|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
Best Show: All AreaCrew 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
Best Show: Top 9Crew 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
Best Show: Turn Phrase CrewCrew 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 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 | Champion, BOTY International 2006 |
| Last Minute Crew | Winner, BOTY South Africa 2007 |
2006 season
2006 World Finals results
Best Show: VagabondsCrew List for 2006 World Finals
Series Format
World Finals Format
The format comprises firstly a 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.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 | ,,, ; also, BOTY North East Europe member countries are invited to participate* |
| 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.
** 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, Fire Works, and Visual Shock. 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 since 1998. 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.