-90 kg: Fronckowiak and Parlati Set Up a Blockbuster Final
Quietly confident and seeded number one, Marcelo Fronckowiak (BRA) made his mark today, advancing through each round with authority. He opened with a powerful sode-tsurikomi-goshi to throw Vojin Mandic (SRB) for ippon, then dispatched both Daniel Nieto Trinidad (ESP) and Adam Kopecky (CZE) in similar fashion; three wins, three ippon scores.
In the lower half of the draw, several athletes were capable of reaching the final but Christian Parlati (ITA) proved the most decisive. Alexander Knauf (USA) was the first to fall, after barely a minute, succumbing to a booming o-goshi. Then Alex Barto (SVK) met the same fate from an o-soto-otoshi. In the semi-final, Guilherme Schimidt (BRA) resisted for a time but could not prevent another ippon victory. Both Fronckowiak and Parlati entered the final undefeated, each having won all their contests by ippon, a recipe for fireworks later in the day.
-78 kg: Ikeda and Freitas Emerge as the Strongest Contenders
Top seed Metka Lobnik (SLO) began well, defeating Kaila Issoufi (FRA) with a sode-tsurikomi-goshi for a yuko, but her run ended in the semi-final against Beatriz Freitas (BRA) who imposed her rhythm to win by ippon.
In the other half of the draw, world bronze medallist Kurena Ikeda (JPN) advanced smoothly, first overcoming Coralie Godbout (CAN) with a juji-gatame submission. She then faced Zanet Michaelidou (CYP) who had just delivered one of the shocks of the day by defeating Olympic finalist Inbar Lanir (ISR) with a spectacular yoko-wakare. The Cypriot, however, could not repeat her miracle and Ikeda proved too strong.
The final line-up: Beatriz Freitas (BRA) vs Kurena Ikeda (JPN), two judoka in superb form.
-100 kg: Kotsoiev’s Commanding Return
Leonardo Goncalves (BRA), a silver medallist in Lima, hoped to go one step further this week. Yet his campaign ended in the quarter-final against Enrico Bergamelli (ITA), who edged him in golden score with a well-timed tani-otoshi. Bergamelli advanced to the semi-final, where he was joined by fellow Italian Gennaro Pirelli, who won by immobilisation.
In the lower part of the draw, Olympic champion Zelym Kotsoiev (AZE) was determined to make amends for his fifth place in Lima. He battled through his opening round against Iosif Simin (ISR), then dispatched Martin Bezdek (CZE) in just 86 seconds with koshi-guruma. In the semi-final, he faced the seasoned Kyle Reyes (CAN), 2022 world silver medallist and a veteran of 11 World Judo Tour podia. Kotsoiev, however, needed less than thirty seconds to produce a tsuri-goshi for ippon. It was a commanding statement from the Olympic champion, who returned to the final stage, much to the delight of the Azerbaijani delegation.
+78 kg: Hershko and Vukovic on Collision Course
There was little suspense in the final women’s category of the day. The two favourites, Raz Hershko (ISR) and Helena Vukovic (CRO), confirmed their status by progressing confidently to the final.
Hershko opened with a win over Karen Leon (VEN), scoring twice, first with o-uchi-gari, then with an immobilisation, before defeating Giovanna Santos (BRA) in the semi-final thanks to a seoi-otoshi for waza-ari. Vukovic, meanwhile, executed a de-ashi-barai followed by an armlock for ippon against Anna Atkinson (USA) and then claimed a tactical semi-final victory over Yuli Alma Mishiner (ISR). A heavyweight clash awaited between two powerful, technically gifted judoka.
+100 kg: Krpalek and Kokauri Power into the Final
One of the day’s most anticipated contests came early when double Olympic champion Lukas Krpalek (CZE) faced Rafael Buzacarini (BRA) in a rematch of their Lima final. The result was the same, victory for Krpalek, but the path was far from easy. Buzacarini pushed the Czech legend to his limits, staying upright to avoid the ground, where Krpalek is at his most dangerous. Despite it being an epic contest, experience and endurance prevailed once again.
Krpalek went on to face Martti Puumalainen (FIN) in the semi-final, where he displayed masterful control, forcing three penalties against his opponent to advance. In the lower half of the draw, Ushangi Kokauri (AZE) stormed through his contests, defeating Marvin Gadeau (MON) and Tieman Diaby (FRA) before meeting surprise contender Alex Semenenko (USA). The American’s run ended abruptly as Kokauri launched a lightning-fast okuri-ashi-barai, scoring ippon in just ten seconds.
The final between Lukas Krpalek and Ushangi Kokauri promised a thrilling conclusion to the tournament.
After three action-packed days, Guadalajara has delivered a grand prix filled with technical brilliance, emotion and heart. With every finalist decided, the stage was set perfectly for an unforgettable final block, where power, spirit and precision would determine who leaves Mexico with gold.