South African Breaking Champions Baatjis and Paul Head to World Finals in Toronto

B-Boy Toufeeq and B-Girl Courtnaé have won the titles of South African national champions in Red Bull BC One. They will now travel to Toronto to compete for the world championship title.

The breaking season in South Africa has crowned its winners. Toufeeq and Courtnaé triumphed at the Red Bull BC One National Final in South Africa, which took place at Thibault Square in Cape Town on Saturday, September 5th. This victory secured two spots for the country at the World Finals, which will be held in Toronto in November.

The National Final gathered the best participants from the 2026 qualification round across South Africa. Among them were B-Boy Bashi and B-Girl Baylie from Johannesburg, Ranks from East London, as well as Shady and Keshia representing Cape Town. They all competed for two slots on the world stage, and ultimately, the titles went to Toufeeq and Courtnaé.

For those unfamiliar with the format, Red Bull BC One is considered the most prestigious one-on-one competitive discipline in the world of breaking. The competition does not have a predetermined playlist or choreographed routines; it is simply two dancers in a circle who improvise to music in real time, and they are judged on criteria such as technique, originality, creativity, musicality, and artistry.

The event at Thibault Square was organized to match the significance of the occasion. DJ Ready D served as the DJ, while Priddy Ugly and Younsta CPT performed between rounds. Furthermore, the Red Bull BC One All Stars held a demonstration battle that allowed the public to witness the depth of South African breaking talent. By the time the final matches began, the energy in the square had been building up all day.

For Toufeeq, this is his fifth national title, and his fourth in a row. He shared his feelings, saying: 'I feel amazing, five-time champion, four times in a row. I just try to give my absolute best, the highest level I can, and also try to open this door for the next South Africans so they can go through it.'

Courtnaé won her fourth title, emphasizing that this particular one held special meaning for her. She stated: 'It's an incredible feeling. For me, it was very personal; I have been through a lot in life, and I needed to do this. I needed to do it, first and foremost, for myself.'

Both champions will now focus their attention on the Red Bull BC One World Finals in Toronto, Canada, which will take place on Sunday, November 29, 2026. There, they will face the best breakers in the world for the title of global champion.