Scottish Open was held Saturday 25th February, and the results are well known by now. The tournament have been getting a popular hype, and February are well timed for fighters and Dojos that want to get a early start in the new year. More or less has the tournament been quite predictable, thinking of which countries attending, and the outcome of that. A little twist this year would be the Norwegian massive support, and a little adjustment regarding the rules.

Scottish Open, three categories men, two for women. Competitors from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Sweden, The Netherlands and Norway. Previous years fighters from Denmark and Poland also attended.

This year Norway came into the tournament with some of their best fighters. The top fighters of Nkko with Nærland, and the Orstad brothers in the lead made a strong impact at the tournament, also up and coming lightweight fighter Hans Kristian Havreberg made a statement. Sweden also in the tournament, this time with a mix of new blood and known faces. Favorites with heavy records as Aneta Meskauskiene, Samantha Williams and  Zita Zatyko made the women`s category tough.

Heavyweight +80 kg with fighters at the line, tournament day There had been several drop outs in the last minutes, so the category was slimmed down from the original number. The draw had a key fight in the opening round, with Nærland vs Swedish fighter Fredrik Johansson. Many assumed the winner of this fight would be the one to climb in to the final later on. The fight was a close one from start to the end. But it was in this case a adjustment of the rules most of us are used to. After only one extension there would be a decision! The weight was not a issue in this tournament, so when the first and only extension was done, 2-2, and all was waiting for the main judge used his time to think – and 3-2 to Nærland. This was as said a close, close call, and using this adjustment was not in favor of the lighter fighter. Anyway Nærland was this winner, and went through the tournament with only a couple of “speed bumps” before the tittle was a fact! Reign champion, Dave King / IFK Ireland, did not have the tools to meet this challenge.

Looking back at the British Open 2016, where they meet same competitor Artur Tilov, Russia. Nærland went to extra rounds, wile King was floored twice in under a minute. This describes in fact the difference between them level vice.

The middleweight had four fighters that was pointed out ahead of the rest. ⇐Kelvin Tienstra IFK Netherlands, Rasmus and Bjørn Eirik Orstad, Nkko Norway and Sami Mehio England. Tienstra meet Mehio in a early bout, and after a hard fight Tiestra went further on in the tournament. Third fight for Tiestra was against Bjørn Eirik Orstad. This was an even fight, both good skilled and conditioned. Orstad driving hard forward, Tienstra dangerous with knees, specially with to the head. Tienstra winning at last, but it did not come easy. In to the final, Rasmus Orstad  vs Tiestra. Previews fights for Orstad could bring him to the limit, and fighting safe in the final made it very hard for Tienstra to use his knees.

Orstad patient in his style, using heel kicks aka Dimittrov style. But worth to mention Tienstra dangerously close with a front kick to the head in the first second of the fight, almost caught Orstad in his way in. Going in to the extension, the same pattern shows, and in the lat second Orstad manage to sneak in a kick to the liver, end wins the fight with a Waza-ari!

Lightweight was the category that was the smallest, and on top of that the class also had some drop outs in the last minutes. Four fighters met at the day, Wales, Scotland, England and Norway. As mention this category did also go the “northern way” Havreberg stood as the winner after two fights. Non of the other fighters in the division could keep the pace. High pace and movement was the trademark of the Norwegian fighter. A thought would be that the best trained fighter won this clear.

In the women`s divisions both categories had eight fighters, but Aneta Meskauskiene was attending in both. Meskauskiene won the lightweight category, as many predicted.  Being the stronger one and more experienced she went through the fights. First victory over a tough Mette-Marit Nielsen, Sweden⇒ beating for the second time (1st time British Open 2015) Norwegian Irene J Skjelfjord, before she took on Sanne Larsson from Sweden. Larsson had powered through her opponents, showing hard aggressive fighting. Johannesen from Norway in the first fight, and then Hegerland – also from Norway. Both defending well against ruthless attacks from the  Swedish fighter.

The final was a very hard and technical fight, no doubt that both fighters was top of their division. The fight had all the variation one could ask for, and not to forget the spirit! At the end Meskauskiene was given the victory, but Larsson was close to end the fight with a high knee earlier. Real crowd pleaser – lightweight final.

The heavyweight had some very strong merited fighters in the line up, Samantha Williams, World Champion KWU 2013, Zita Zatyko Scotland (Hungary) World Cup winner, Aneta  Meskauskiene, KWU World champion runner up 2013, to name some of them.

Zita Zatyko winning this Scottish Open, beating Aneta  Meskauskiene in the first fight in the category, then takes on Kirsten Galtius Smith and then the final against ⇐Samantha Williams – also taking that fight on decision. Williams, on her side starts with Gregusson from Norway, a tactical fight where Williams takes it after on extension, being challenged several times with dangerous headkicks from the Norwegian fighter. Next fight against Swedish newcomer, Amanda Skytt, a hard fight with a very strong pressure from the Swedish fighter, and also this fight goes to the extension. Williams shows strength, and taking the fight at the end.

The final between Williams vs Zatyko, becomes a almost impossible task for Williams, taking the “non weight difference” rule in consideration. Standing toe to toe with Zatyko,  which is considerably larger and stronger, was not a way to go, so Williams shoot in combinations – and tried to move away before an aggressive Zatyko counterattacked. Zatyko on her side, following up and working to catch Williams in the corners and out over the line. Doing so with heavy punches and knees. Catching Williams more and more and tear her down, Zatyko takes the decision and can ad another tittle to her enormous collection.

Scottish Open has been a tournament that have grown greatly the last years. This year the level was in some categories better than before, and all over the divisions was filled up more or less. Many has mention the problem with drop outs, we agree – we can only hope it will be fewer.  The level from top to bottom are being noticeably, so next years tournament will show us if its even out – ore the gap is getting bigger.