Preview Men U100kg: The unpredictable U100kg predicted

A sensational five days with new stories with written everyday so far. What will day six bring as the U100kg weight category has become very appealing and perhaps the most competitive of all categories. Maybe not in quantity but in quality. Since the 2016 Olympic Games this division has grown in interest and it is full with judo super stars.

Let’s see who can stand the pressure and become 2018 World Champion.

Will the title stay in Japan for the third time in a row or will the Azeri play a role like in 2013 when Elkhan Mammadov did the impossible for Azerbaijan in Rio. Time to analyse the draw with world number one Varlam Liparteliani at the first spot. In his pool Elmar Gasimov, former world number one who developed so well after the Games but one of them has to leave the tournament quickly and the other will probably reach the semi final.

The spectacular fighter Jorge Fonseca is a pearl for the eye, can he express it into a semi final position? He has an excellent draw to do it this time. Daniel Mukete (BLR) is an outsider for a stunt. On the other side of that pool is Tbilis winner and European bronze medallist Peter Paltchik.

Dutchman and former world number one Michael Korrel is back on track and let’s hope a break was good for him to get back strongly. He showed us last year he can win major tournaments but there are always a few guys who are nasty for the Dutchman and some are in his pool. Frenchman Cyrille Maret swops from heavyweight to this Olympic U100kg category. He is experienced, won major titles but the world championships and Maret is not a great marriage. His best position since 2011 is fifth in 2015. It’s time for the Frechman to hit the podium, but he will have to deal with Zlatko Kumric and Cho Guham of Korea, those are two guys who could both bring it further in the tournament.

Pool D includes five time World Championships medallist Kirill Denisov of Russia. Exactly the man who will likely meet with 2017 World Champion Aaron Wolf who just got back in time after a severe shoulder injury. What a clash for both. Not even mentioning 2015 runner-up Karl Richard Frey in the pool of death. It happens on that side. On the other side we see Niyaz Ilyasov as the major favourite to reach the quarter final or more. However some talented guys like Mikita Sviryd of Belarus. He showed it before, was a bit unlucky last months, but is ready to face the challenge.

There are so many good judoka that any prediction will be ridiculous. Just because we are JudoInside we still give you the names that feel best in Baku: Varlam Liparteliani, Canadian Kyle Reyes, Jorge Fonseca, Peter Paltchik. But we think the winner will come from pool C or D. Michael Korrel if he can stand Zelym Kotsoiev. Cho Guham, Cyrille Maret, Aaron Wolf, Niyaz Ilyasov.