Filipino TGIFridays Bartender Roniel Lopez named World Bartending Champion in Florida, USA
Filipino talent shone on the world stage when Roniel Lopez of TGI Fridays Philippines was crowned 2026 Grand Champion at the recent World Bartending Championship held in Orlando, Florida, besting seven top bartenders from the USA, Greece, Trinidad and Tobago, Peru, the UK, Japan, and Taiwan. Chantry Coffman of the USA was named 1st runner-up, while Aleksandro Naksi of Greece was adjudged 2nd runner-up. The victory was sealed after an exceptional performance across both key stages of the competition. The first was the Compulsory Round, where he displayed technical knowledge, recipe accuracy, and precise pour mechanics under strict speed and standard guidelines. The second was the Freestyle Competition, where he wowed the crowd and judges with high-energy, captivating flair, executing complex bottle flips, throws, and catches paired with a magnetic stage presence. Filipino TGIFridays Bartender Roniel Lopez From Empty Bottles to the World Stage Lopez’s bartend...