Denis Iartcev starts his year with convincing victory in Dusseldorf

Russian fox Denis Iartcev ruled the U73kg category in Dusseldorf as he defeated Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medallist and London 2012 Olympic champion Lasha Shavdatuashvili of Georgia in the final. Former World Judo Masters winner Iartcev, who was trying to avenge a Rio 2016 repechage defeat to the Georgian, went ahead with a waza-ari from a nice piece of ashi-waza and concluded a fine outing by ippon from a ko-soto-gake.

In the first semi-final Shavdatuashvili defeated Paris Grand Slam bronze medallist Tohar Butbul (ISR) after the Israeli received three shidos and hansoku-make. In the second semi-final Abu Dhabi Grand Slam winner Tommy Macias (SWE) was thrown with a beautiful osoto-makikomi by Iartcev (RUS) for ippon after one minute of action.

The first bronze medal contest saw Macias return to winning ways at the expense of home judoka and Havana Grand Prix bronze medallist Igor Wandtke (GER). The Swede’s sutemi-waza earned a waza-ari score and that was the difference at the end of the four minute contest.

The second bronze medal went to former Tyumen Grand Slam silver medallist Guillaume Chaine (FRA) who prevailed against rising contender Butbul. Chaine won his first Grand Prix medal by throwing with his ippon seoi-nage for a waza-ari as France continued their climb up the medal table on day two.