Dimitri Peters takes an advance on Frey

Olympic bronze medallist Dimitri PETERS (GER) was undefeated in Zagreb on Sunday as Sofia European Open winner Michael KORREL (NED) tasted defeat in the -100kg final. KORREL, 21, who was contesting his first Grand Prix final, gifted a golden chance to his renowned opponent as he appeared unaware of the imminent danger when his inaction on the ground led to PETERS seizing his arm and a juji-gatame settled it.

In the first semi-final world bronze medallist Ivan REMARENCO (UAE) faced KORREL who overpowered his vastly more experienced opponent on the ground in osaekomi after leading with a waza-ari score. In the second semi-final world number six Dimitri PETERS (GER) reversed the result of his Samsun semi-final against world number three Karl-Richard FREY (GER) to book a place in the gold medal contest. A yuko, the only score of a tight contest, was the difference and the competition between the two for the one spot at Rio 2016 is growing with every event.

The first bronze medal was won by world champion Lukas KRPALEK (CZE) against FREY. KRPALEK, who had suffered a surprise quarter-final defeat to REMARENCO, made sure his final outing in Croatia counted as he planted the German after a split second power struggle as a tani-otoshi set him off balance. FREY, who in the build-up spoke of his desire to face KRPALEK in Zagreb, had to settle for fifth-place while the power illustrated by the Czech champion won a nod of approval from IJF Hall of Famer Robert VAN DE WALLE. The second bronze medal was won by Rome European Open bronze medallist Jorge FONSECA (POR) who convincingly defeated REMARENCO to earn back-to-back Zagreb Grand Prix bronze medals. FONSECA, 22, won the second Grand Prix medal of his career with a waza-ari and yuko going unanswered as the Portuguese fighter scored twice with sode-tsurikomi-goshi and will be counting down the days to next year’s return to Croatia’s capital city.