Doughy Decimation: Pizza Cup Defending Champs Knocked Out as Competition Opens Up

Doughy Decimation: Pizza Cup Now Anyone's Race as Defending Champs Knocked Out

The Beijingers | Nov 5, 2019 3:00 pm | Add a comment | 467 reads

We knew things would get tough as we inch ever closer to crowning at 2019 Pizza Champion but we did not expect to be two rounds away from the end with just one lone entrant from last year's Final Four in the game. As we've come to expect from these showdowns of cheese, anything can go and this time around is no different.

Most shockingly, we've lost three-time defending champions Gung Ho!, who have been officially knocked out by Great Leap Brewing (last year's #9 seed). Despite initially selling pizza at just one of their outlets in the city, Great Leap Brewing quickly built a robust and loyal following for their classic New York-style offerings. Meanwhile, Neopolitan masters and 2016 champions Bottega (#3) have put an end to Jing-A Brewing's unmatched opening run with their wood-fired pizzas, which have only been available at their new Longfusi location in late August.

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in 2019's Pizza Cup Final Four ballot!

Tex-Mex favorites Q Mex Bar and Grill (#8) has climbed the ranks to oust long-time "bigger means better" pizza proponents Tube Station (#12), likely partly the result of their continued expansion across the city – the latest venue opening in World City near The Place – and their growing number of devotees. Finally, last year's #10 seed Pizza Saporita has ousted last year's runner-up La Pizza in a shocking turn of events for the two Italian traditionalists.

That means Q Mex will now go up against Xinyuanli neighbors Bottega for an epic battle to the crusty end, while Pizza Saporita grapples with no-nonsense Great Leap – making for one of the most exciting and open dashes to the finish line in recent memory.

Additional toppings

As a part of this round, we also grilled respondents on what their favorite cheese on a pizza was. Lo and behold, the vast majority of you like it heavy on the mozzarella, with cheddar and Parmesan in distant second and third spots respectively. You also told us that you believe RMB 60-100 is what you'd consider a reasonable price to eat pizza, with a smaller fraction happy to shell out RMB 100-120 for the luxury.

The rankings so far

With that result, the losers of the Elite Eight then join the other 2019 knockouts for a final tally:

9. Annie's
10. Eatalia
11. The Local
12. Baozza
13. Turkish Feast
14, Pie Squared
15. Oh Yeah! Brewing
16. MIAM MIAM

17. Kro's Nest
18. Pizza Hut
19. Papa John's
20. 3 Little Pigs by Andy's Craft Sausages
21. Pyro Pizza
22. Domino's Pizza
23. Pizza Marzano
24. TIAGO
25. The Rug
26. Paddy O'Shea's
27. Laker's
28. Saizeriya
29. Yummy Box
30. The Cheesecake Factory
31. Green Cow City Cafe
32. Lily's American Diner
33. Plan B
34. Luga's
35. 1st Floor
36. Georgia's Feast
37. Tribe
38. Big Pizza
39. Mao Mao Chong
40. The Veggie Table
41. Pizza Factory
42. Grandma's Kitchen
43. Xian at East, Beijing
44. Mr Pizza
45. Fiume
46. Scott's Family Ristorante Italiano
47. Legend Beer
48. Eudora Station
49. Tavola Italian Dining
50. Lievito Gourmet Pizza and Bar
51. Jazz-Ya
52. NBeer Pub
53. Assaggi
54. Charlie's
55. The Mozza
56. Bocca Della Verita
57. MIO, Four Seasons Hotel
58. Fella's
59. Pizza Now
60. Cafe Ruhe
61. La Cucina
62. Pizza by LMPlus
63. Ponte
64. BUONA BOCCA Italian Bistro
65. Ummm Kitchen
66. Joe's Bar & Kitchen
67. La Mezzaluna
68. QS
69. Peiping Machine
70. Peter Pan
71. Casa Gusto
72. Nine Road Pizzeria
73. Via Roma, Kempinski Hotel
74. Red Rose
75. Unico
76. Dongli Brewery
77. Nasca Cafe
78. Jushi Pizza
79. PIZZA FUOCO
80. CUP ONE
81. MustGuette
82. PBD Pizza Bar
83. Bene
84. Passby Bar
85. Pinvita
86. Flypizza & Hoodadak Chicken
87. Leos Pizza
88. Hisewel Brew-pub
89. Pomona
90. Agrilandi
91. Casalingo
92. Whale's Pizza
93. BLT
94. Byone
95. RADICI
96. Tomcado
97. Atta BJ
98. Four Aces
99. PIZZAgram

Knockout Round Schedule

Final Four: Closes Friday, Nov 8, midday
Championship Round: Opens Friday, Nov 8, 3pm; closes Tuesday, Nov 12, midday
Beijing's Best Pizza crowned: Tuesday, Nov 12, 4pm

So what are you waiting for? Get voting before midday Friday!

Sherpa’s, the official sponsor of the 2019 Beijing Pizza Cup, are offering new users RMB 50 off (min. spend RMB 99) food delivery and RMB 10 off any movie ticket purchased through the Sherpa's App. Simply scan the QR below and follow the instructions.