European Open season opened in Lisbon and Sofia

Two European Opens this weekend in Sofia, Bulgaria, and close to Lisbon in Odivelas in Portugal. The two events are the European kick-off of the European Open, where many athletes will experience the new rules for the first time in a contest situation. The Portuguese however won't have their two eyecatchers Celio DIas and Jorge Fonseca.

220 Men will be at the start of the European Open in Lisbon. The category U73kg is the toughest field with 38 medal candidates, but also U66 and U81kg both have 37 participants, which is quite a lot for an event in a post Olympic year. For Lisbon it's even a record, in 2010 205 athletes were fighting, but second best is 140 athletes in 2015, so quite an extraordinary number.
At the start 28 Portuguese and 26 athletes from France. Obviously also a large team from Spain (26), Georgia (17) and Russia (16). U60kg Eric Takabatake (BRA) is first seeded, separated from Vincent Limare, but it has a strong field. U66kg Aussie Nathan Katz is first seeded, but for sure the French will take part in the final stage. U73kg Guillaume Chaine is a successful medal catcher at European Opens, he is first seeded, Nuno Saraiva is the eyecatcher for the Portuguese home crowd.
On Sunday the category U81 will show former #1 of the World Victor Penalber (BRA) first seeded, another Panamerican Emmanuel Lucenti is the highest seed in pool C. Strong Portuguese with Carlos Luz and Anri Egutidze but also medal candidates from Germany, France, Croatia, Russia and ofcourse Penalber from Brazil.
Axel Clerget is leading the men U90kg separated from Alexandre Iddir. Without Portuguese Celio Dias but with a nice opposition from Max Stewart, Ushangi Margiani in his ' new' weight U90kg, but for sure the French will stand out.
U100kg Luciano Correa keeps on going and is first seeded but will face a hugely strong Niyaz Ilyasov if he wins his first bout. Rafael Buzacarini is the other strong man from Brazil. Some new kids on the block in this division, but big man Jorge Fonseca is missing. In the heavyweights Daniel Allerstorfer is first seed in Lisbon, this division can deliver any judoka as the level is nog super tough but quite tight.
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