Great performance by Georgian Zviad Gogotchuri for home crowd

Dusseldorf Grand Prix bronze medallist Zviad Gogotchuri was Georgia’s star performer on the final day as he bested Abu Dhabi Grand Prix winner Walter Facente (ITA). While Varlam Liparteliani (GEO) was ruled out with a thigh injury his teammate Gogotchuri stepped up to occasion and held the Italian with yoko-shiho-gatame after throwing him for waza-ari.

In the first semi-final Facente conquered 22-year-old Kamoliddin KHOLMAMATOV (UZB) in a nerve-jangling affair with a place in the final on the line. KHOLMAMATOV, who was already assured of a career-best result, was penalised on three occasions for a false attack, passivity and a second false attack while his opponent only earned one shido in the closing seconds for passivity. In the second semi-final the crowd were gripped by the fascinating duel between three-time senior world medallist Kirill DENISOV (RUS) and home judoka GOGOTCHURI. The Georgian grinded out the victory on shido penalties as both men were more than competent in their defensive work. Denisov received a shido for passivity and a second for the same indiscretion while his rival was only being penalised once and for the same reason.

The first bronze medal was won by DENISOV as he bested four-time Georgian Championships medallist Paata GVINIASHVILI (GEO). DENISOV, who was fighting his third Georgian opponent of the day, was tactically more astute as his opponent failed to remain within the rules as he received four shido penalties for going out of the area to lose out by hansoku-make. The second bronze medal was captured by former Dusseldorf Grand Prix bronze medallist Vadym SYNYAVSKY (UKR) who defeated KHOLMAMATOV with ashi-waza for ippon. 

Gogotchuri was elected as player of the tournament in Tbilisi.