The biggest event in chocolate took place in France at the end of October. The World Chocolate Masters competition gathers 18 chocolate artists from around the world to showcase talented individuals across gastronomy, patisserie, and chocolaterie.

The competition consisted of five bespoke assignments, with the artists being challenged to, as the World Chocolate Masters organisers said in a press release, “break with the past and focus on the #TMRW of the chocolate industry by using technology and science to design a new definition of ‘artisan’.”

After this initial round of competing, the 10 remaining chocolatiers completed two final challenges to determine who would walk away with the prestigious title of World Chocolate Master.

The winner of the competition was announced on 31 October. Spain’s Lluc Crusellas took out the title, winning the honour of being able to call himself the world’s finest chocolate craftsman for the next three years, along with an exclusive co-creation with chocolate chefs from London’s world-renowned Harrods luxury department.

“It feels incredible to win the title of World Chocolate Master, after months and months of training – not just for me but for the full team who have been behind me along the way. I’ve absolutely dreamed about winning the title, but I never expected it, and to be able to take the award home feels amazing. This is not just a prize for me, but for the whole professional sector in in my country,” Lluc said of his win.

Antoine Carréric from France claimed the silver medal, while Greece’s Nicolas Nikolakopoulos took home the bronze.

Not only did Lluc win over the jury of chocolate masters, headed by world-renowned Amaury Guichon, he also won the audience-voted #WOW award for an incredible two-sided sculpture of an elephant, created to highlight the two possible futures of a world in danger.

Amaury Guichon said of the competition, “The World Chocolate Masters have always been about pushing the boundaries of chocolate craftsmanship to new heights, and during this year’s competition Crusellas set a whole new standard for innovation and creativity.”

“Amid fierce competition, the title of World Chocolate Master that Crusellas will be taking home is a tribute to the skill, ingenuity and vision he has shown throughout the final. With the limited time, taking the risks he took were adventurous, but it set him apart from the competition,” he continued.