Efraín Reeves, the Chilean freestyler known as "El Menor," was crowned the new champion of the 2026 Red Bull Batalla World Final this Saturday. In front of a sold-out crowd of 13,000 at the Movistar Arena in Santiago, the Coquimbo native secured his victory in the final round against Peru’s Almendrades.
This win marks a historic milestone for the discipline, as it is the first time a local representative has hoisted the international trophy in the three times Chile has hosted the event. Organizers described the final showdown as a clash of "passion, wit, and Latin American pride."
Reflecting on his win, Reeves dedicated the title to the national scene. "I feel like this is the culmination of the work put in by all the previous generations; perhaps this now positions me as the greatest in Chilean history, but this is for Chile," the champion declared after the event.
A Path of Titans to the Title
El Menor’s performance was consistent from his debut in the round of 16, where he defeated Cuba’s Reverse. In the quarterfinals, he delivered one of the most talked-about moments of the night by facing off against Teorema, a duel that concluded with a public embrace between the two icons of the national freestyle scene.
The road to the title was far from easy. While Almendrades pulled off a surprise victory over Spain’s Chuty, Colombia’s Valles-T proved his mettle by eliminating Argentina’s Larrix. El Menor then overcame Valles-T in a hard-fought semifinal, earning his spot in the decisive battle against the Peruvian contender.
The judging panel, featuring renowned figures such as Jota, Trueno, Arkano, Jony Beltrán, and Yartzi, evaluated every round of the night, which was hosted by Cayú and Clipper. The competition also finalized the podium: Colombia’s Valles-T took third place after defeating Argentina’s Exe, thereby securing his spot for the 2027 edition.
Organizers confirmed that the next Red Bull Batalla World Final will be held in Peru. El Menor, Almendrades, and Valles-T have already secured their qualification for that event, having cemented their status as the top three freestylers of the 2026 season.
