Yesterday the seeding was complete for this years British Open, and out from that we like – as always – to speculate on the results. This is a heartless thing to do sometime, because one feel that many of the fighters just are being ignored. But we also know that the favorites get the most attention. Entering the Tatemi really say something about you, in or loose,it is a lot harder than one can imagine. Prediction coming up – prove us wrong, that would be something to write about!

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Men Lightweight -70 kg

Top four fighters here, we think will be a good mix. We do believe that the Russians would have some bigger impact than other nations, that said the category really have many good profiles..

SEMI finals could be like this:

Maxim Krasnov (Russia) vs Anton Adushkevich (Russia)

Spencer Bennett (Wales) vs Daniel Redondo (Spain)

We do think that Bennet would really be at his best if he win against Maxim Krasnov in their second fight, Maxim Krasnov World Champion for cadets in 2013 and more.. A key fight for Daniel Redondo would also be the second fight, that we believe would be against Wesley Jensen (Netherlands) this fight could turn the “top 4” predictions.

Men Middleweight -80 kg

This category is New years eve and Christmas at the same day, paced with top fighters..!

Top four here (and we are almost falling for the temptation to say top 8) could be:

Gábor Rózsa (Hungary) vs Henry Claibourne (USA)

Vytautas Cepla (Lithuania)  vs Jonas Rosin (Sweden)

Rózsa would be naturally to point out, and we think the first really test of the day will come in the quarter final. We believe that it is a good possibility that he will face Justinas Kvietka (Lithuania) But if that, Justinas Kvietka must win against Kelvin Tienstra (Netherlands) that he lost against last year. The reason for that we think Kvietka could make it this time, is that Tienstra also meet Lithuania in the first round.

Claibourne do also have some of the same pattern, and quarter final will be a key. Claibourne do have a very good advantage do, he knows the system of the rules totally, and did also win two very even fights on board breaking last year. We think that he will face a very strong Igor lamot (Poland) in the quarter final, and this would be a real tough one. Lamot will most likely face strong Lithuanian fighter before that, so how much would that cost?

Vytautas Cepla vs home fighter Dawid Ozga in the quarter final – we think, it could might be possible for Ozga to sneak past the Lithuanian favorite, once again better used to the rules with breaking and at home soil. But we believe that Cepla would be the force to reckon with.

Jonas Rosin will move along in the tournament, and his challenge will first be against Zsolt Zsiga (Hungary) This would be a very interesting fight, but we think Rosin will make it his way. That said, we can not count Zsiga out before the fight is over.

Men Heavyweight +80 kg

Once again, many strong fighters, and a factor for those who moves on in the tournament would be how much damage they have to deal with from previous fights.

Eventas Guzauskas (Lithuania) vs Aleksandr Karshigeev (Russia)

Kestutis Radvila (Lithuania) vs Edgard Sečinski (Lithuania)

Guzauskas with his merits and experience “should” make it to the semi finals, there he most probably will face Karshigeev – and then it is war! The Russian fighter we also think would make it to the semi`s thinking of his merits and experience as well. But we do see especially one fighter that is on a collision course – Simon Pålsson (Sweden) not close to the same merits but this is a highly interesting fight!

Radvila hmm he is a really good fighter, but we are really on thin ice picking him out – as we assume he will face Jean-Paul Jacquot (France) in the quarters. But the French fighter, we think, will have a stronger opponent before they meet.

Edgard Sečinski would be a naturally choice, can meet country fellow man in the quarter, but on his way we also have Ivan Demanov (Germany) who have showed really good fighting despite his young age.

Women Lightweight – 60 kg 

This category we feel that the level is wide, and more predictable than other categories. But as always, one can not be sure because there is always factors counting in.

Top 4:

Emma Markwell (GB) vs Teona Gazdeliani (Spain)

Anna Efremova (Russia) vs Lillia Herczeg (Hungary)

Markwell do not have any challenge before the semi final, and we do also think that Gazdeliani (as we predict) will be marked by her first fight against Diana Maciute (Lithuania). This is two top seeded fighters up against each others all ready in the first fight, and the winner will go on marked. Maciute could challenge the Spanish fighter, but we give a little edge to Spain.

Efremova would be the heavy favorite against Herczeg , but we think Russia will make it to the final against Markwell – and after a good long final we believe that Markwell will take the tittle home – once again, Markewll we believe in.

Women heavyweight + 60 kg

The heavyweight category do have several hard fights early on. Lithuania dominating the category with many fighters, and of course this will matter. Top 4 can go in the direction of this:

Sara Hägge (Swe) /Gabija Gudeliauskaite (Lithuania)vs Aneta Meskauskiene (Ireland)

Agata Winiarska (Poland) /Nora Vaznelyte (Lithuania)  vs Brigita Gustaityte (Lithuania)

As you can see top four became “top six” (!)  The level are very even in this category,and small details can make the different in win or loose. We think Hägge could reach top four – but in the quarter she will face Gudeliauskaite most likely. The last one do have the better score from previous fights.. but the spirit of the reign EC champion can not be underestimated. The winner of this will face Meskauskiene we think. Her quarter final will be against winner of Magdelena Gustaityte (Lithuania)
Mette-Marie Nieslen (Sweden)  Gustaityte, runner up last year, but in a lighter category…

Winiarska vs Vaznelyte in the quarter final, is what we see happen… and these two have fought many many hard fights before. Vaznelyte the one who have been the most successful, but Winiarska have stepped up her game for sure since they met last time. The fuse is burning….! Winner of this will face Brigita Gustaityte (Lithuania). Brigita Gustaityte will have a little regrettable first fight against her countrywoman..

Remember: prove us wrong!