It’s always exciting to welcome a new flair competition, so we were beyond excited when Nico, Anna, Tina, Jossu and their crew announced Arctic Flair in Lapland, Finland.
Nico is a true veteran—both as a competitor and organiser—so expectations were immediately high. The cherry on top: thanks to his continuous support for WFA, Arctic Flair became the first Master Level competition of the 2026 WFA World Tour.
The organisers really delivered. With a total prize pool of €5,400, Arctic Flair not only set the tone competitively but also rewarded performance across placements and special categories.
A total of 23 competitors showed up for what quickly proved to be one of the standout events of the year, including many familiar faces. Notably absent was last year’s overall WFA Champion, Micheal Moreni, who is currently recovering from hernia surgery. He is expected to return soon for the upcoming World Tour competitions. It also marked the return of Eric Yu from Taiwan after his military service, adding even more anticipation right from the start.
On the judging panel, we had Finland’s own WFA-certified Timppa Nyyssönen, alongside multiple-time world champion and Romanian star Luca Valentin, and Szabolcs Szoke.
After an exciting Qualification Round, the Top 6 advancing to the final were: Roman Zapata, Deniss Trifanovs, Eric Yu, Kirill Rudak, Ciro Marino, and Stepan Simanek.The Best Female title went to Ayako “Ollie” Kumashiro, who proved that with the right mental preparation, even time away from competition doesn’t stop you from delivering a strong performance.
THE FINAL
6th Place – Ciro Marino (€200)
Ciro’s potential has been evident for years, and last season it started to translate into results. After some early nerves in Working Flair, he found his rhythm, showing a solid level of difficulty with 3T2B and strong pouring control. His Exhibition Flair began with great energy and well-structured sequences. However, with one minute to go, he dropped his shaker with ingredients inside. Instead of recovering immediately, he continued the routine—an understandable but costly decision. A small moment that reinforces a big lesson: train exactly as you perform.
5th Place – Eric Yu (€300)
Eric brings fresh energy to flair bartending. Coming back after a long break, there was no sign of hesitation.His performance stood out for confidence, enjoyment, and connection with the audience. Signature blind tin catches, smooth flow, and high difficulty defined his routine. His “all-in” mentality pushes technical limits, but it also brings risk, which showed in a few drops. With improved consistency and more variety in his pours, Eric has all the tools to climb even higher. Great to see him back—we need competitors like him.
4th Place – Stepan Simanek (€500)
Stepan has become a consistent presence on the international circuit, representing the Czech scene with solid results. He shows a strong understanding of competition fundamentals, combining real bar experience with developing originality—especially through sequences like 2B2T and 3BT. Opening the final is never easy, and a few early drops affected his rhythm. Once settled, he built good momentum. One area to refine is the structure of his Exhibition Flair, where a pause before transitioning into BT slightly disrupted the flow. Overall, clear progression and improving results.
3rd Place – Roman Zapata (€800)
Roman continues to operate at an extreme level of complexity and intensity. His routines are relentless—his 3T3B sequences look like a warm-up. What stands out is his artistic approach. He experiments with music, choreography, and long-term goals, bringing meaning even to simple elements through performance. Despite things not fully going his way, he maintained his level of difficulty until the very end—a mindset we deeply respect. His 4TB closing sequence, including the behind-the-back lampshade, is a bold and fearless statement.
2nd Place – Kirill Rudak (€1,200)
Kirill has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting talents on the circuit. Now training in Prague, his progression is clear: smooth execution, strong structure, and a routine that builds toward a powerful finale. His 2T2B Exhibition Flair double pour stood out, along with his overall stage presence. A few drops in multi-object sequences held him back slightly, but his willingness to push difficulty is exactly what the sport needs. A well-deserved second place and strong momentum going forward.
Kiril also took the prize for Best Cocktail.
1st Place – Deniss Trifanovs (€2,000)
Deniss has built a long and outstanding career, and at this stage the only question is motivation. The answer is clear: stronger than ever. With a disciplined training approach and a constant drive to evolve, he continues to refine his signature elements while developing new ones. Starting flair at such a young age shows in how comfortably he handles complex multi-object sequences—they look effortless. Great composure, smooth execution, and an energetic performance secured a clean and deserved win.
Arctic Flair kicked off the 2026 competition season and the WFA World Tour in style—and it didn’t just deliver on performance level, but also on structure and value for the competitors. Huge credit to the organising team—and even better, we’re already locked in for second editions: March 15, 2027 — this is one you don’t want to miss.
Contribution: Szabolcs Szoke.
