Frenchman Kenny Liveze EYOF, European and World Champion

Kenny Liveze became the third ever cadet World Champion for France. In Almaty he captured the title U90kg against Dzhavad Guseinov. Liveze won the world title, the European title and the EYOF and is the most successful male cadet in Europe, and in fact the world.

Russia Dzhavad Guseinov and France Kenny Liveze are two totally different judoka. The Russian is very smart and has really good tactical skills. The french is pure passion and very open moves. These two superb athletes met in the U90kg final. An opposition of style as we said, both being very agile, strong and fast. Guseinov defeated Israel Sivan Roy in the semifinals and that win is to be mentionned since Roy eliminated world number one and favorite to the title, Chinese Taipei Lin Sheng-Kai. As for Liveze, he had a pleasant day scoring ippons before his first really serious test in the semifinals. The french defeated by ippon Japan Todaka Junnosuke and, to win by ippon against a Japanese judoka is always a good sign. Therefore, both went into the tatami full of self-confidence.

They were both cautious, they spent energy by neutralizing each other. But little by little Liveze seemed to get stronger and, thirty seconds away from golden score he scored ippon.

“I was nervous before the match because we have already met, and we ended up in the golden score. I won at that time but it was very hard. So, I knew I had to do something different to surprise him. It is exactly what I did”, Liveze said.

Todaka Junnosuke won the bronze medal by defeating Italy Daniele Accogli in the golden score.

Another two countries were at stake to get their first award. In the second bronze medal contest there was also a golden score. Israel Roy Sivan scored waza-ari and defeated Slovakia Benjamin Mataseje.