In one week Poland will hos the EC Open-Weight Championship. Especially in the women division the tension will be high – since this is the “Road to the World Championship 2023”
A quick look at the history takes us ten year back – same country, same tournament. In 2012, Poland brought back the EC Open-Weight back into the schedule. This after a ten years break. At that time, the EC Open-weight was held together with the U-categories. Recently we witness a great success with a European Championship for U-categories – the level of the athletes, the support and the organizing shows how great the development has been. And how right it has been to give the U-categories the time and focus to grow.
Men Division
The European Championship Open-weight have a high status, and the support shows that one really must have something extra to climb all the way. In the men’s division there are 23 fighters. That is a reduction by 50% compared to 2018. (The Open-Weight in 2021 was organized by EFKO) -but of course, we have also not long ago had the World Championship in weight categories.
Poland (6 fighters) Lithuania (5 fighters) and Hungary (5 fighters) are dominating the line up, and we could like to see a little more with in the line up – 7 nations represented is somewhat thin compared to what you might expect. Maciej Mazur / Poland, Edgard Sečinski / Lithuania, Paulius Žimantas / Lithuania, highly merited fighters – but non of them have the EC Open-Weight tittle in their collection…yet! List of fighters
In other word: we will have a “new” Open-Weight champions after this tournament, and who that will turn out to be – one week and we know. Also Hungary have a strong team, they are not unfamiliar with the podium at all, and can mix into the top
Lighter fighters are also represented by several fighters. And as always there is a question about the weight difference in an open-weight tournament. We think that in this tournament with such a large line up, and with the possibility for long, long fights – one must have a sharp tactical game besides the skills of pure fighting.
High pace movable fighting? Hard style, with every technique meant for knock out? Low pace with a wining last 30? And not to forget how the judges will evaluate what they see on the tatami. We are not surprised if we see fast decisions.
Women Division
In the women division you must count in a longer day at work this time, with 35 fighters in the line up, if you want to go all the way to the top. Top 8 will be qualified to the World Championship next year. Eleven nations in the line up – Lithuania and Poland, both with large teams,which makes up half of the entire division. List of fighters
Marta Lubos / Poland
A strong line up as well, with fighters as Marta Lubos / Poland, Brigita Gustaitytė / Lithuania, Lili Mezo / Hungary, Ivanka Popova / Bulgaria, Csenge Tóth / Hungary – just the top of the iceberg. Lily Mezo won the EC Open Weigh in 2019 / Prague.(Mezo did also win the EFKO Open-Weight in 2021) Ivanka Popova secured a very strong tournament victory in 2018 / Budapest. ⇓ Photo by Pi-photo.pl
But – the draw will as always matter, but in this case we got some more factors to take in consideration. Weight and size difference will matter a great deal – and especially when the division got so many fighters as in this case. Fighting across the weight-categories will also make the pace a stronger factor than usual. And will some fall back a tad if they know that they have made the qualifying?
Photo by Pi-photo.pl Lily Mezo / Hungary
The qualifying system (the right to participate in the World Championships) in the women division has, and will still be discussed. It is quite many factors to go trough, but to keep it simple: if one want something/someone to grow, then it has to be arranged for that. As an minimum, every nation should have the possibility to enter a World Championship in both divisions women and men. To expand it further the qualifying will be a tool – as we have i the men’s division.
It is stated that the last qualifying tournament for women will be held 2-3 month after the European Championship (in weight categories) 1.st April ,Sweden. It is only a speculation, but the EC U-categories are dated in June (24th) – and it can be quite possible to see same setting as in 2019 in Prague – EC U-categories and the Women qualifying Open-Weight..
Organizer Facebook site Fighters draw and live update
