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    • Finalists


    Beginning in August, more than 8,000 Friday’s® bartenders from 60 countries compete in local, regional and then divisional World Bartender Championship competitions in hopes of landing one of the ten finalists spots in the ultimate event: T.G.I. Friday's® World Bartender Championship. The 2011 World Bartender Championship will be held in Dallas on February 26, 2012.
    		    

    THE 2010 Champion Is Crowned!

    The 2010 WBC champion, Attila Farmasi from Budapest, Hungary, joins 2009 champ Brian Zachau, and thousands of others around the globe, in the quest to find a global home for the sport of bartending. After beating out nine other finalist hopefuls at the 20th anniversary of Friday's World Bartender Championship, Farmasi was crowned the 2010 World's Greatest Bartender and awarded a prize of $10,000. In addition, Friday's hosted its first "Favorite Bartender" online voting competition, naming Bradley Kaplan from Colorado as this year's Fan Favorite with more than 100,000 consumer votes.

    MEET OUR 2011 WBC FINALISTS and vote for your favorite bartender! 

    Cast your vote each day for your Favorite Bartender below from January 11, 2012 until February 22, 2012 and cheer them on as they gear up for the finals on February 26, 2012.  Read the Official Rules and Regulations.   

     

      • Paul Gil

        Latin America

        Bio

        Store: Santiago, Dominican Republic

        Years with T.G.I. Friday’s: Three years.

        Best tip for someone turning 21: Welcome to the grownup world! Experience life at its best with your own bills, problems and worries. But forget that and BUY ME A DRINK!

        Advice to fellow team members? Nobody’s perfect but we’re sure having fun!

        If you were a drink what drink would you be and why? Cosmopolitan because the ladies like it!

      • Charlie ‘Chuck’ Bailey

        UK

        Bio

        Store: Covent Garden, London, UK

        Years with T.G.I. Friday’s: Two years.

        What would winning this competition mean to you? It would mean everything to me, as well as my Friday’s family in Covent Garden and the UK as a whole.

        Describe your bartending style: Entertaining, efficient, friendly and generally ROCKING THE BAR!

        If you were a drink what drink would you be and why? A White Russian because I’m strong, classy and an all-around dude.

      • Lisa Montero

        USA - Northeast

        Bio

        Store: Virginia Beach, VA
        Years with T.G.I. Friday’s: 12 years

        Years as a Bartender: Eight years

        Describe your bartending style: Fun, fast, efficient with a hint of sarcasm.

        Best tip for someone turning 21: Water is your friend.

        Advice to fellow team members: Rookies practice until they get it right, professionals practice until they can’t get it wrong.

      • David Kringlund

        EU

        Bio

        Store: Stureplan, Sweden
        Years with T.G.I. Friday’s: Two years.

        Favorite drink to drink: Whiskey Sour with a “David Twist”

        Describe your bartending style: Smooth and full of love

        If you were a drink what drink would you be and why? Cosmopolitan; strong like vodka, sweet like Cointreau and the ladies love it because it’s good looking.

      • Sir Raminad 'Ram' Ong

        Asia

        Bio

        Store: Robinson’s Place, Manila, Philippines

        Years with T.G.I. Friday’s: Four years.

        Best tip for someone turning 21: Don’t dwell on the past, thinking what you could have done or should have done. Look ahead, the only time to look behind is in the mirror of your car.

        What would winning this competition mean to you? Being able to showcase my skills to the world through this wonderful competition is more than winning.

        If you were a drink what drink would you be? Gold Medalist

      • World Bartender Champion

        Dallas, TX
        February 26, 2012

      • Kristian Mihailin

        USA - Las Vegas

        Bio

        Store: Orleans, Las Vegas
        Years with T.G.I. Friday’s: 11 years and 28 different stores.

        Fun training technique: Flair with shoes on.

        Funniest thing that happened to you on a shift? Someone fell asleep and their face went into their plate of food, woke up and continued to eat.

        Theme song: “Two Step” by Dave Matthews Band

      • Jason Ochoa

        USA - Central

        Bio

        Store: Glenview, IL
        Years with T.G.I. Friday’s: Five years

        What would winning this competition mean to you? Everything, I’ve been trying for this title for the last five years and have been competing for 12!

        Favorite drink to mix? Hollywood Nights Martini

        If you were a drink what drink would you be? Blast on the Beach

        Theme Song: “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey

      • Brad Kaplan

        USA - West

        Bio

        Store: Thornton, Colorado
        Years with T.G.I. Friday’s: Six years

        What are your future plans? Win a pumpkin chucking contest!

        What would winning this competition mean to you? It would mean that when I stop competing it’s because I have made it to the top.

        If you were a drink what drink would you be and why? A Buttery Nipple, because I have layers

        Theme Song: “I Want to be a Billionaire” by Travis McCoy with Bruno Mars

      • Santiago Emeric

        USA - Southeast

        Bio

        Store: Sea World Orlando
        Years with T.G.I. Friday’s: Three years and third year representing the Southeast at WBC!

        If I were a drink I would be: a Horny ‘Rita – My girlfriend told me to write this.

        Favorite flair technique? The elbow pour…my way. If you haven’t seen it, you will!

        Advice to fellow team members: Work hard and anything is possible.