The seventh edition of the Red Bull BC One Cypher India was held in Mumbai on June 4, preceded by Red Bull BC One Camp, a three-day celebration of hip hop featuring workshops, panels, battles, and more. This year, 16 b-boys and 8 B-girls battled in separate categories for the title of Red Bull BC One Champions and the chance to represent India at the Last Chance Cypher during the Red Bull BC One World Final later this year.
In the b-boys category, B-Boy Flying Machine took the win, making this his fourth title in seven appearances at the competition. In the B-girls category, B-Girl Bar-B took her maiden win, while defending champion B-Girl Jo lost out.
During the event, it was also announced that Eshwar Tiwari, aka B-Boy Wildchild, from Mumbai has been selected to represent India as a wildcard at the Red Bull BC One World Final in New York on November 12. This makes him one of only 14 b-boys from around the world to receive wildcards this year – the rest are yet to be announced. The remaining two spots in the World Final top 16 line-up are determined at the Last Chance Cypher.
B-Boy Wildchild becomes only the second Indian to ever represent the country on the World Final stage, with B-Boy Flying Machine being the first at the Red Bull BC One World Final in Mumbai in 2019.
He says, “Ever since I started breaking, it has been my dream to perform on the stage of Red Bull BC One World Final. I couldn’t believe it when I received the invitation. I told my mother first and she was over the moon. She has now told all my family members and relatives, and everyone is really happy for me. I want to give back to our community of breakers by placing India on the global map.”
As a result, this year three Indian breakers will travel to New York to compete, with Wildchild a direct entrant to the top 16 on the World Final stage, and B-Boy Flying Machine and B Girl Bar-B competing in the Last Chance Cypher for a spot in their respective top 16 categories.
Says B Girl Bar-B, “I didn’t expect to win, I was shocked and surprised. I have always dreamed of competing at Red Bull BC One and winning it, and my dream has come true. I want to do my best and represent India well at the Last Chance Cypher. It will be very competitive, but I’m going to give it my 100 percent.”
Says B-Boy Flying Machine, “I had readied myself to win again. I applied a different strategy this time around and it worked – I was elated when I won! I now have set my heart to win the Last Chance Cypher as well. I plan to stay calm, and I want to make my country proud.”
Red Bull BC One is the biggest and most prestigious one-on-one breaking competition in the world. Every year, thousands of breakers compete for a chance to represent at the World Final.
With 18 World Finals hosted in major cities around the world since 2004, Red Bull BC One has over 60 events and programs in over 30 markets. For countries without an event, the Red Bull BC One E-Battle gives anyone with an internet connection, anywhere in the world, a fighting chance to become their next country champion.
Red Bull BC One is also home to one of the most competitive breaking crews in the world, the Red Bull BC One All-Stars.
