Martyna TRAJDOS (GER), who won the European Games in Baku in 2015, beat Maylin DEL TORO CARVAJAL (CUB) to own pool B. Seeded judoka Andreja LESKI (SLO) was beaten by the Cuban in round three by a waza-ari score.
Olympic champion and world silver medallist Tina TRSTENJAK (SLO) controlled pool C with three wins and looked to have saved plenty in reserve for the final block.
Double world bronze medallist TASHIRO Miku (JPN), who was overlooked for the 2017 Worlds, won her three contests by ippon to move from pool D into the last semi-final spot.
Semi-Finals
TRAJDOS, Martyna (GER) v AGBEGNENOU, Clarisse (FRA) TASHIRO, Miku (JPN) v TRSTENJAK, Tina (SLO)
MEN -81kg: World number one Saeid MOLLAEI (IRI) breezed through into the last four as he dominated pool A. The 2017 world bronze medallist won three of his four contests by ippon with a win by a waza-ari over Junior world champion Matthias CASSE (BEL) in the quarter-final.
Asian Games bronze medallist OTGONBAATAR Uuganbaatar (MGL), the top seed in pool B, lost out to Eduardo Yudy SANTOS (BRA) by a waza-ari score. Alexander WIECZERZAK (GER) then conquered the Brazilian by ippon before himself falling to Vedat ALBAYRAK (TUR) who will represent the second pool in the semi-finals.
World number two Frank De WIT (NED) was expected to mount a title challenge but fell in his first contest in one of the biggest upsets of the competition. The Dutchman was thrown by Medickson DEL ORBE CORTORREAL (DOM) for ippon with an incredible o-soto-gari. Seeded Paris Grand Slam winner FUJIWARA Sotaro (JPN) came through to claim pool C with four wins.
Down in pool D, Olympic champion Khasan KHALMURZAEV (RUS) was humbled by Zagreb Grand Prix gold medallist Dominic RESSEL (GER) by a waza-ari score. The German made sure that his country would once again have title contender at -81kg as he secured the last spot in the semi-finals.
Semi-Finals
RESSEL, Dominic (GER) v FUJIWARA, Sotaro (JPN) MOLLAEI, Saeid (IRI) V ALBAYRAK, Vedat (TUR)
Watch the final block live from 16.00 on the IJF website.