WDSF Breaking for Gold World Series: Shanghai 2024 – Day 2 Recap

The second day of the WDSF Breaking for Gold World Series in Shanghai left a lasting impression on the nearly 2,000 spectators who gathered at the city's West Bund to witness high-level Breaking from some of the world's best international athletes.

B-Girls Showdown:

jilou vs daying Following the excitement of the first day, the anticipation for Day 2 was palpable, beginning with the Top 16 of the B-Girls. The first battle saw Brazil's Toquinha face off against veteran Ayumi (JPN), who secured a clear victory and advanced to the next round. Ayumi then squared off against Small (CHN), who had narrowly won her battle against Alessandrina after a third-round tiebreaker in favor of the Chinese athlete. In the same bracket, Royal (CHN) defeated Starry (KOR) and moved on to face Jilou (GER), who had bested Daying (CHN).

On the opposite side of the draw, B-Girl India (NED) faced Ayane (JPN) in the quarterfinals after respective victories over Jia Li (TPE) and Luofan (CHN). Nanoha (JPN) and Anti (ITA) completed the quarterfinal matchups, having won their earlier battles against Spidergirl (ITA) and Melina (GER), in thrilling matches that captivated the audience.

Ayumi vs Small

The quarterfinals showcased more intense battles. Ayumi, showing once again her experience, overcame Small, one of the two remaining local contenders, to advance to the semifinals. She then faced Royal, whose victory over Jilou had won her strong support from the home crowd. In their semi-final battle, both athletes from Asia delivered world-class performances that had the crowd in awe. In the end, Royal edged out a 2-1 victory, sending the audience into celebration as their local representative would now compete for the gold in the final. Even seasoned athletes like Jilou were left stunned by the result. “It finally happened,” Jilou reflected, still absorbing the intensity of the battle she had witnessed alongside her young compatriot Melina. The respect the Breaking community holds for a seasoned athlete like Ayumi is universal. While the emerging generation of talent brings undeniable skill and drive, it’s always a surprise when a competitor of Ayumi’s stature—an Olympic-level athlete and a consistent favorite on any stage—fails to make it to the final.

On the other side of the bracket, reigning European games Breaking champion India claimed her semifinal spot after a win against Ayane, while Anti (ITA) ended Japan’s hopes of taking home a medal by defeating Nanoha in another fiercely contested match. In their semifinal, India’s technique and dynamic moves overcame a valiant effort by Anti, earning her the final spot in the gold medal match.

Anti vs India

In the third-place battle, Ayumi and Anti, long-time rivals, treated the audience to another exceptional duel. Ayumi ultimately secured the win, taking home the bronze medal. After the match, Anti expressed pride in her performance, stating that despite missing out on a podium finish, she gave her best effort and was satisfied with her level. In the final, Royal and India delivered a spectacular showdown, with Royal's acrobatic movements thrilling the local crowd. However, the judges ultimately sided with India, who celebrated her victory with joy and grace.

Podium BfG WS Shanghai 2024

B-Boys Face Off:

On the B-Boy side, the Top 16 kicked off with Olympic star Shigekix (JPN) defeating Poter (ISR) to set up a match against Jw Fresh (CHN), who had beaten fellow countryman Shihao (CHN). After their battles, X-Rain (CHN) claimed victory over Tsukki (JPN), while Quake (TPE) overcame Killian (FRA), setting up a Top 8 clash between X-Rain and Quake.

shigekix bfg ws shanghai

In the other half of the bracket, Lithe-ing (CHN) advanced by defeating Quicksilver (CHN) and moved on to face Monkey Z (CHN), who had beaten Luan San (BRA). The local crowd faced mixed emotions as many of their athletes had to battle against each other early on, but it also added excitement as the familiar competitors pushed each other to deliver original and innovative performances. The last matchup of the Top 16 saw Rato (BRA) defeating Crazy C (CHN), and Issin (JPN) winning over Onnurb Dirty Dog (BRA).

In the Top 8, Shigekix and Quake lived up to their Olympic-level reputation by defeating Jw Fresh and X-Rain, respectively. On the other side, Lithe-ing showed why he is the number one in his B-Boys national team by dominating Monkey Z, while Issin took down Rato to secure the final spot in the semifinals.

lithe-ing vs monkey z

In the semifinals, the atmosphere in the venue reached new heights as Shigekix and Quake faced off. Their knowledge of each other’s moves led to an intense battle that had the crowd fully engaged. Quake’s technical footwork and humorous touches added flair, but Shigekix responded with breathtaking air flares and headspins, finishing with an impressive one-handed freeze that electrified the crowd. Quake, however, was ready, matching Shigekix's freeze at the exact same time, creating a moment of synchronized brilliance that will be remembered as one of the year’s top Breaking highlights. In the end, Shigekix secured the win, advancing to the final.

Shigekix and Quake freeze

In the second semifinal, Lithe-ing and Issin showcased their technical mastery, thrilling both the live audience and the millions watching the finals on Eurosport. Lithe-ing delivered one of the most electrifying moments of the event with a series of four backflips on his head to close his first round, while Issin captivated the crowd with air flares seamlessly connected to an impressive freeze in the second round. However, the highlight came when Lithe-ing executed one of his signature moves—blindfolding himself with his shirt and landing a backward somersault that ended with a dramatic fall on his back. This sent the Shanghai crowd into an uproar. Despite Issin's remarkable performance, it was Lithe-ing who secured the final spot in the showdown.

lithe ing vs shigekix In the battle for third place, Quake faced Issin, and after a spectacular contest, Quake secured the bronze medal. Meanwhile, in the final, Shigekix and Lithe-ing met once again after their previous clash in Paris 2024, which took place in the highly competitive "group of death" during the Top 16 Round Robin of the B-Boys, featuring other world-class stars such as Victor (USA) and Hiro10 (JPN) on that Olympic event. The two athletes delivered a performance worthy of any major final, and with a narrow decision, Shigekix claimed the gold medal. He celebrated alongside his compatriots, further demonstrating the strong unity of Japan's athletes and their dominance in the Breaking scene.

Final Results for B-Girls and B-Boys:

Gold: India (NED)
Silver: Royal (CHN)
Bronze: Ayumi (JPN)

Gold: Shigekix (JPN)
Silver: Lithe-ing (CHN)
Bronze: Quake (TPE)

"The level of talent and athleticism we have witnessed over these two days in Shanghai has been nothing short of extraordinary. Observing seasoned athletes perform alongside the incredible young talent rising through the ranks is what makes Breaking so captivating. This event marks another important milestone as we continue our journey toward The World Games 2025."
Shawn Tay, WDSF President

Acknowledgments

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Chinese DanceSport Federation (CDSF) and the FISE organization for their exceptional collaboration in making this event possible.

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Published on 20 October 2024