Murad Fatiyev captures first Grand Slam gold

Murad Fatiyev (AZE) gave the home fans more joy on the final day of the Grand Slam in Baku, stopping top seed Krisztian Toth (HUN) in style. The result was extra special for the Azeri as he stood on top of the grand slam podium for the first time. In the final he defeated World number four Toth.

In the final against Toth, Fatiyev tried his best to put Toth away but the experienced Hungarian once again opted for the golden score route. With each athlete getting two warnings, the battle was anybody’s. The second part of the contest was swinging Toth’s way. Four minutes into golden score, a re-energised Fatiyev toppled Toth for a special win.

The bronze medal contest between Ivanov and Morales started with the latter almost executing an ashi-waza for waza-ari but it was reviewed and not given. Ivanov was made to work hard as Morales attacked, penalising the Bulgarian. Against the run of play, Ivanov then surprised Morales and secured a waza-ari. He sealed the deal with a tsuri-goshi that gave him the ippon.

When both athletes attack, it is a pleasure to watch for the fans. That’s what Talibov and Mathieu did in the other bronze medal match but the Azeri youngster was slightly better, as Mathieu was warned twice. In the end, he held on to take the bronze for hosts in golden score after a third shido.

Toth could not have hoped for an easier start to his campaign in Baku. While he did receive two penalties against Umedjon Rajabov (TJK), his opponent was disqualified with three. Marcelo Gomes (BRA) also gifted the Hungarian a win, bowing out to a hansoku-make.

After two disqualifications in golden score helped Toth on his way, the quarter-final saw more of the same as Khusen Khalmurzaev (AIN) made way for him after a golden score finish. The two-time world medallist did however break the curse of the golden scores with a hopping uchi-mata for a full ippon against Alexis Mathieu (FRA) to reach the final.

Fortune favoured second seed Ivan Felipe Silva Morales (CUB) as Mamedaly Achyldyyev (TKM) was shown the door in round two of Pool C. Morales, who is world number 10, stood out with a waza-ari before coming up with an osae-komi to score ippon against Martin Matijass (GER). He went on to the semi-finals after ousting Vugar Talibov (AZE) with an ippon throw but could not keep the momentum up to reach the gold-medal match. It was an error-prone semi-final, as he committed three rule infringements to help Fatiyev set up a final with Toth.

Fatiyev’s contests included wins against Sami Chouchi (BEL), Akai Japaridze (BEL) and Noel van 't End (NED). Against the Dutchman, Fatiyev had a cancelled waza-ari in golden score before the former world champion crashed out with a third penalty.

Ivaylo Ivanov (BUL), seeded fourth, will have an opportunity to fight for bronze after a tough battle against Khalmurzaev. Each athlete had a waza-ari before Ivanov secured the waza-ari-awasete-ippon. A waza-ari helped Talibov get the better of Van 't End in the other repechage contest.