First day of the tournament is over, and there have been good performances. It must also be said that the favorites have mostly fulfilled in relation to expectations. There has been great difference in level, and this has meant that we have had some hard knock outs. Day 2 will give us answer who fighter that is going to enter the podium – and who are ready for day 2?

Howlett/GB vs Skjelfjord/Norway / Photo by Shinkyokushin Norway / Bennæs

As previously said, and expected, most favorites got through day 1 Fortunately there are also some surprises, or less predictable results. This is important, because if everything is totally given in advance, we lose the excitement of tournament.

/ Photo by Shinkyokushin Norway / Bennæs

Left Alexey Mezheztov (Ifk Russia)

Right Robin Junge Shinkyokushin Norway

Day two:

Mens Lightweight -70 kg Quarter Finals:

• Alan Shnawa (ifk GB) vs Evgenii Mamro (ifk Russia)
• Anthony Senechal (ifk France) vs Darren Stringer (ifk GB)
• Artur Krymov (ifk Russia) vs Mladen Venev (ifk Bulgaria)
• Vladyslav Oleksenko (ifk Ukraine) vs Spencer Bennett (ifk GB)

Good fighters are ready for day two, and we believe that Mamro/Russia, Stringer/GB, Krymov/Russia and Bennet/GB will advance. But this are close race, and the day today will certainly add up. Hard fights, Hikiwake and damage done…

Mens Middleweight -80 kg:

• Artem Nazaretyan (ifk Russia) vs Darren Chan (ifk GB)
• Sergej Braun (Germany kyokushinkan) vs Robert Broeders (ifk Netherlands)
• Sergei Chmunevich (ifk Russia) vs Zsolt Zsiga (ibk Hungary)
• Claibourne Henry (USA kenshinkai) vs Daniel Sanchez (Ibk Spain)

A real thriller awaits us in the fight Nazaretyan/Russia vs Chan/GB. Two very strong and ll round fighters. Braun/Germany maybe ahead against Broeders/Netherlands, and a fireworks between Chmunevich/Russia vs Zsiga/Hungay, and we think Sanchez will win against Henry/USA

Mens Heavyweight +80 kg:

• Alexey Gorokhov (ifk Russia) vs Simon Pålsson (Sweden Shinkyokushin)
• Peter de Raedt (Belgium Shinkyokushin) vs Roel Noordman (ifk Netherlands)
• Alexey Mezheztov (ifk Russia) vs Victor Mozzyerhin (Kazakhstan Ifk)
• Enrico Rogge (Germany wibk) vs Jonatan Tineo (Rengokai Spain)

Raising strong Pålsson/Sweden will size and power outcome the routine that Gorokhov/Russia has?! Pålsson, the dark horse in the line up, and giving us new face to look out for. Close race again : de Raedt/Belgium vs Noordman/Netherlands,hard fight comming up : Mezheztov/Russia vs Victor Mozzyerhin/Kaz. We think that Mezheztov will be the winner. And a great set up between Rogge vs Tieno, last name a edge ahead, we think.

Female Lightweight -60 kg Quarter Finals:

• Elena Constantin (seido Italy) vs Svetlana Berezova (ifk Russia)
• Teona Gazdeliani (Rengokai Spain) vs Priscilla Lambregtse (ifk Netherlands)
• Maria Lepina (ifk Russia) vs Cecillia Wallin (Sweden Shinkyokushin)
• Stephanie Van de Rijt (Netherlands Sokyokushin) vs Emma Markwell (Ifk GB)

Last eight fighters in this category, and there are fighters from several countries. We expect a tough fight between Constantin/Italy vs Berezova/Russia. Constantin have before this tournament fought out from Romania Shinkyokushin, and have good record. But Berezova have also good record, and seems to have a little edge in experience. Last British Open winner, Lambregtse /Netherlands is to be expected favorite in this fight against Gazdeliani /Spain. Third fight Lepina /Russia, the veteran vs Wallin /Sweden. we notice a fight that will require the extension to be decided, but we think Lepina will be hard to beat with all her experience. Van de Rijt/Netherland vs Markwell /GB the home favorite have the edge fighting with the home crowd behind her, but Van de Rijt have some great knock out power in her aggressive style. Hard call, but if the fight goes with hikiwake, we believe that Markwell will be stronger longer the fight goes.

Female Heavyweight:

• Irina Kriazheva (ifk Russia) vs Lia Howlett (ifk GB)
• Kelly Balmer (ifk GB) vs Agata Kaliciak (Poland Shinkyokushin)
• Svetlana Tuchkova (ifk Russia) vs Toyah Dyas (ifk GB)
• Anita Bucher (ifk Switzerland) vs Samantha Williams (ifk GB)

Kriazheva /Russia against homefighter veteran Howlett/ GB.  Kriazheva have to show superiority to take this,Howlett on her side used to fight long fights and also have the edge fighting on home soil. Balmer /GB vs Kaliciak/ Poland. Like the fight before, this can be a long fight, and the home soil will give a good support from the crowd for Balmer, but  Kaliciak do have the tools to give the homefighter a good fight. We think this can go to Balmer if the fight goes longer and through hikiwake. Tuchkova/Russia, we think will win against Dyas. Dyas came in 2nd place World Cup 2005, but  Tuchkova have been more active in the past. Bucher /Switzerland will get a hard fight against Williams/GB. Williams won the British 2012, and are comfortable with to fight here. Bucher have to be very convincing to pull this off, so we believe Williams will have the edge.