PORT OF SPAIN – Helon Francis won the Calypso Monarch crown here on Sunday night defeating preventing Soca superstar Machel Montano from repeating the feat he accomplished last year.
Francis won the $700,000 and a new vehicle as the first prize, while Kurt Allen, the “Badjohn of calypso second with his tune “Your Turn Now” and Yung Bredda (Akhenaton Lewis) third with his song “We Rise.”
Montano, who was among six other former calypso monarchs in the competition placed fifth with his tune “”Bet Meh”.
On Saturday night, Montano added the Chutney Soca title to his collection defeating former winners, Neval Chatelal and Rikki Jai.
Montano, who has won the International Soca Monarch six times and the Road March, 10 times, is in line for this year’s Road March title with his tune “Pardy”.
The Queen of Chutney title went to Reshma “Warrior Princess” Ramlal.
Grenadian Blaka Dan (Wrenroy Ogiste) won the one million dollar first prize in the inaugural Ultimate Soca Champion competition, with his tune “Blessings” defeating Yung Bredda, who took the second prize of $300,000, with an additional $10,000 for being the People’s Champion. He will also receive free bMobile service for a year.
Akeem “Preedy” Chance sang his way to third place to win $150,000 with Blaze Fire.
“I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Ultimate Soca Champion competition for selecting me as the 2025 Ultimate Soca Champion. I was truly honoured to compete against such a talented group of soca artists, and to be officially recognised is an incredible achievement for myself and the team,” said Blaka Dan, adding “the journey this competition has created for me is just about to begin, and I am excited more than ever to embrace it and grow along the way”.
On Saturday night, Republic Bank Exodus ended a 20-year drought by winning the 2025 National Panorama large band conventional title. The Tunapuna-based band won the title after an over 20-year drought.
“This is just fantastic. I was always positive,” said manager Ainsworth Mohammed of the band that played the tune “Too Own Way” totalling 288 points at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
The 2024 joint winners bp Renegades and Massy Trinidad All Stars went separate ways with Renegades placing second with 285 points for its arrangement of Montano’s Bet Meh, with All Stars placing eighth, also playing Bet Meh, with 279 points.
Exodus denied bp Renegades its dream of accomplishing a hat-trick in the competition after having won in 2023 and 2024.
San Fernando’s Heritage Petroleum Skiffle Steel Orchestra received 283 points with its arrangement of Voice’s Retro to place third.
The Carnival activities continue on Monday with the parade of the bands and will climax on Tuesday with the traditional street jump up. (CMC)
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