The competition attracted 3,000 entries from 66 countries, whittled down to 21 for a six-month competition which put bartenders under the spotlight for skills, commercial and marketing insight and overall ability to entertain.

The final was fought in front of a 1,100-strong crowd and a judging panel headed by lead trainer at the Bols Bartending Academy, Malika Saidi. Cerven wins an eight-day trip around the world to four cocktail cities of his choice, as well as a Platinum Bols Ambassadorship, which includes two all-expenses-paid trips to Amsterdam for intensive training.

The other finalists were Ciro de Giorgio (The Netherlands), Mateusz Szuchnik (Poland), Jimmy Barrat (Dubai), Seongha Lee (South Korea), Tom Richter (USA), Gonzalo Cabado (Argentina), Michie Nishida (Japan), Leszek Stachura (Denmark), Alexandru Tudor (Romania), Luuk Gerritsen (Curacao). Awarded the title of Young Talent was Fanni Lajkó (Hungary), one of five Young Talent finalists selected by scouts from the Bols Bartending Academy from a pool of 500 bartenders aged 21 and under from across the globe.