Wilhelm Rodriguez, owner of Papa’s Pizza, takes first place in Traditional Division of IPC during Pizza Expo 2025

If the 2025 International Pizza Challenge (IPC) is a “royal rumble,” as Wilhelm Rodriguez says, he is king of the Traditional Division after taking home a first-place trophy and a $7,500 prize. Rodriguez, who owns Papa’s Pizza in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, says he spent months planning for the event and achieved “incredible fermentation” when it came time to compete during the 2025 International Pizza Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“Everything went as I planned it,” Rodriguez tells Pizza Today, adding that a win at the IPC “is something I’ve always dreamed of.” Rodriguez is no stranger to the IPC; in 2023, he took first place in the international region for traditional pizzas. (Other regions are limited to the continental United States.)

Winning the top prize in the Traditional Division is especially meaningful, Rodriguez says, “because it is what I do every day.” The IPC Traditional Division is limited to 100 competitors, with preliminary rounds beginning Tuesday during Pizza Expo and the top scorers advancing to the finals held Thursday.

Wilhelm Rodriguez presents his award-winning pie at the 2025 International Pizza Challenge.

“Everyone was happy and ran to hug me and congratulate me,” Rodriguez says of being named division champion. “I’ve received hundreds of messages congratulating me, (and) I’ve been invited to different TV shows.” Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón met with Rodriguez personally to celebrate the win.

Second place in the Traditional Division went to Chris Battiste of Miaava East Coast Pizza in Pahrump, Nevada. Fiodar Huminski of Pizzeria No. 900 in Montreal, Quebec, took home third place. Rodriguez also placed second in the IPC Pizza Maker of the Year category, the contest’s top honor.

Back at Papa’s Pizza, Rodriguez says he is happy with the results. “It was a royal rumble: so many great pizzas and pizza makers in the same place.”