Johnny Di Francesco, who works at 400 Gradi pizzeria in Melbourne, Australia, won the title with his take on the famous Naples pizza, Il Sole 24 Ore reported.
While some may be shocked to discover the Neapolitan pizza crown awarded outside of Italy, Di Francesco’s family originally hailed from Naples and the pizza chef was trained in the city.
Marco Fuso, from the London pizzeria chain Franco Manca, also beat off stiff competition to come third place in the category, while second place went to a pizza chef from Italy’s southern Campania region.
But despite excellence abroad, the title for the world’s best classic pizza stayed in Italy.
Giulio Scialpi, from the Barsentum di Putignano pizzeria in Bari, south-east Italy, won with his delicious creation complete with mozzarella and caciocavallo cheeses, aubergine and bread crumbs.
“I have tried to win since 2000. I dedicate my victory to my wife and children,” Scialpi was quoted in Il Sole as saying. He was closely followed by pizza chefs from Rocca d'Asolo in Treviso and pizzeria Sant'Ampelio in Bordighera.
The annual competition sees more than 600 hopefuls compete in front of an international panel of judges, with over 3,000 pizzas made during the championship, Il Sole said.
Watch a video of the 2013 championship (complete with pizza dances):
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