Traditionally, the reigning champion of 'Death Before Dishonour' is the last of the five sound systems to play in the current contest.

However, on Easter Monday at Pier 1, Montego Bay, it was Bass Odyssey who went last by the luck of the draw, not the 2006 champion Ricky Trooper by right.

Before the clash started, Chin of the event's production team Irish and Chin, explained to the audience that "Trooper gave us a price that is unfair to everyone on the stage. He overpriced himself out of World Clash. No disrespect to Ricky Trooper, but certain tings we cyaan condone in the business. An we naa mek true one man de clash no gwaan. Big up Ricky Trooper anyweh him stan up, but de clash haffi gwaan".

David Rodigan, playing his first round, after dropping 'Traffic Jam' on dub plate and a Junior Reid and Baby Cham combination that rocked Pier 1, said "Trooper. You are the World Champion Trooper. You must defend your title. If you are here, come on stage and defend your title. I respect you as a selector".

In their first round, Bass Odyssey's selector Worm said to the audience "Trooper, him no rate oonu. Tell him fi shim mumma", before dropping a Mavado dub plate that Odyssey "kill dem pon de war side" that ripped up the house.

In their second round, Mighty Crown said "last year we give it to Ricky Trooper. Where is f......g Trooper", before dropping Tarrus Riley on dub plate with an adjustment to his remake of Stay With You, singing "las' year them give Ricky Trooper/him no deh ya dis year ya/he don't care for you/Mighty Crown will play for you". It was not their final dig at the missing champion, as two dubs later Beenie Man demanded "why Ricky Trooper run from de war?/how Black Reaction get inna de war?"

And Squingy, when he came out for Bass Odyssey's second round, said "hey Ricky Trooper, go syu mumma. Yu no waan defen' yu trophy, 'cause yu know Squingy would step inna yu face".