Ascend

ASCEND: OPEN FLAIR CHAMPIONSHIP

SOAR TO GREATNESS

Ascend: Open Flair Championship – Rise to the Challenge!

Are you ready to take your flair skills to new heights? Ascend: Open Flair Championship is calling the world’s top bartenders and rising stars to Las Vegas for an electrifying three-day showdown on August 18-20, 2025 at the Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino.

This competition is designed for all levels to compete against one another in one open division, from up-and-coming talent to seasoned professionals. Whether you’re here to compete, learn, or network with the best in the industry, this is your stage to shine!

What to Expect:

Elite Competition – Go head-to-head with flair bartenders from around the world.

High-Energy Atmosphere – A stunning stage in the heart of Las Vegas.

Exclusive Workshops & Networking – Learn from the industry’s best and connect with fellow bartenders.

Massive Prizes & Recognition – Earn your place among the greats!

Do you have what it takes to Ascend? Secure your spot now and be part of flair bartending history.

Enter in either the Flair Bartending Competition and/or the Flairco Freestyle Battle!

REGISTRATION LINK CLICK HERE!

UPDATED OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES CLICK HERE!

Competitors

Flair Bartending Competition

1. Jean Manuel Griman Linares (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

2. Oscar Antonio Maquera Suica (Lima, Peru)
3. Hector Rangel (Cancun, MX)
4. Anthony Nguyen (Las Vegas, NV)
5. Wu Liang Chen (Taiwan, East Asia)
6. Kyrylo Filipushko (New York, NY)
7. Mariano Gil (Brownsville, TX)
8. Görkem Harp (Frankfurt, Germany)
9. Roman Zapata (Rosario, Argentina)
10. Lorenzo Garcia (Brownsville, TX)
11. Pietro Fumarola (Bari, Italy)
12. Francisco Bastardo (Hartford, CT)
13. Akim Dagdzhyiev (Las Vegas, NV)
14. Harry Rivera (Las Vegas, NV)
15. Orlando Lomeli (Las Vegas, NV)
16. Troy Perez (Las Vegas, NV)
17. Geoffrey Anderson (Portland, OR)
18. Kristof Vandenabeele (Antwerp, Belgium)
19. Tigran Sharoyan (Los Ángeles, Chile)
20. Arturo Plasencia (Las Vegas, NV)

Flairco Freestyle Battle
1. Hector Rangel (Cancun, MX)
2. Anthony Nguyen (Las Vegas, NV)
3. Wu Liang Chen (Taiwan, East Asia)
4. Kyrylo Filipushko (New York, NY)
5. Görkem Harp (Frankfurt, Germany)
6. Roman Zapata (Rosario, Argentina)
7. Pietro Fumarola (Bari, Italy)
8. Gene Ruotolo (Miami, FL)
9. Francisco Bastardo (Hartford, CT)
10. Akim Dagdzhyiev (Las Vegas, NV)
11. Geoffrey Anderson (Portland, OR)
12. Kristof Vandenabeele (Antwerp, Belgium)
13. Arturo Plasencia (Las Vegas, NV)

UPDATED PRIZES
FLAIR FINALS
1st Place: $5,000 + Trophy
2nd Place: $2,500 + Trophy
3rd Place: $1,250 + Trophy
4th Place: $1,000 + Trophy
5th Place: $500 + Trophy
6th Place: $400 + Trophy
7th Place: $300 + Trophy
8th Place: $200 + Trophy
9th Place: $100 + Trophy
10th Place: $100 + Trophy

FLAIRCO FREESTYLE
1st Place: $1,000 + Trophy
2nd Place: $500 + Trophy
3rd Place: $250 + Trophy
4th Place: $125 + Trophy
FINEST CALL STALL: $100 + TROPHY

BEST JACK DANIEL’S TENNESSEE BLACKBERRY MIXOLOGY SCORE: $300 + TROPHY
(Only open to those that use Jack Daniels Tennessee BlackBerry in their Specialty Cocktail)
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: $100 + TROPHY
BEST OVERALL FEMALE COMPETITOR: $300 + TROPHY
MOST ACCURATE BARTENDER: $100 + TROPHY
(Competition separate from on stage & open to anybody on site that wants to compete)
SPILL-STOP CHALLENGE WINNER: $250 + TROPHY
(Competition from the competitors that accurately poured the correct Spill-Stop Challenge pour during their Qualifying round)
BEST 30 SECOND SPILL-STOP #285-50 & FINEST CALL COMPETITOR COMMERCIAL
1st Place: $500 + Trophy ( please post with #FriendsofCNL )

Itinerary at The Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino

Itinerary Monday August 18th, 2025:
3pm: Pool Party
8pm: Competitor Meet & Greet
9pm: Competitor Meeting (First ones to complete their paperwork and have everything submitted gets to pick what spot they compete in on Tuesday so show up on time!)

Itinerary Tuesday August 19th, 2025:
11am: Judges Meeting
Noon: Qualifying Rounds
After Party: Fuel Bar

Itinerary Wednesday August 20th, 2025:
5pm: Flair Finals start followed by the Flairco Freestyle Battle Top 8
After Party: Fuel Bar

JUDGES & STAFF

✨ The Stage is Set. The Legends Are Here. ✨

The ASCEND: Open Flair Championship is almost here — Aug 18–20 at the Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino — and we’re turning up the heat with our epic lineup of judges and staff!

This is FBA Tour Level 10x action — the world’s best flair bartenders bringing their skills, speed, and showmanship to the big stage, and the all-star crew making it happen behind the scenes.

Expect impossible pours, jaw-dropping tricks, and moments you’ll be telling your friends about for years. This isn’t just a competition — it’s flair history in the making.

Be there in person at the Downtown Grand to cheer on your favorites — feel the energy, hear the roars, and witness the magic LIVE.
Or tune in from anywhere on Cocktail Network Live ➡️ cocktailnetworklive.com/live

Who’s ready to ASCEND? Let us know in the comments which bartender you’re rooting for!

Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino
206 N 3rd St
Las Vegas, NV 89101
United States

Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino Competitor updated room rates and booking procedure posted below which is available until August 4th or rooms are sold out whichever comes first… Don’t wait, Book Now!

Plus 13% lodging tax and $19.95 resort fee

Please click reservation link below or call 855-384-7263 to make room reservations and mention the “ASCEND Competition Competitor Rate”.

https://be.synxis.com/?Hotel=10443&Chain=12211&group=8372308&arrive=08/16/2025

Please forward link to all attendees
Click Link
Click check-in date (8/16/2025)
Click check-out date (8/22/2025)
Click search
Click book now
Click continue to book

Any competition questions from registered competitors can be emailed to contact@bartendbetternow.com and the question and answer will be posted in the ASCEND Q&A FBA Group in the members section of the FBA website at www.barflair.org

It is the competitor’s responsibility to check the ASCEND Q&A FBA Group daily for any updates or information.

Play the video below for a step by step tutorial on how to access the FBA Groups once you registered for your FREE FBA account at www.barflair.org.