Robert Mshvidobadze wins first World Judo Masters title

World silver medallist Robert Mshvidobadze (RUS) won Masters gold with a pulsating victory over Abu Dhabi Grand Slam winner Amiran Papinashvili (GEO). World number three Papinashvili, who won bronze at the Masters in 2013, lost to Russia’s world number four after going all out for the win in golden score with a bold pick up attempt that was swiftly countered with ashi-waza for a match-winning waza-ari score.

In the first semi-final Papinashvili defeated former world silver medallist Dashdavaa Amartuvshin (MGL) by ippon to advance to the men’s -60kg final. In the second semi-final Mshvidobadze bested former world champion Yeldos Smetov (KAZ) who was disqualified after picking up this third shido for being passive.

The first bronze medal contest was won by Smetov against European champion Islam Yashuev (RUS). The Kazakh held down his Russian rival in osaekomi and Yashuev tapped out to concede the contest and gift a first World Judo Masters medal to the popular Smetov who acknowledged his supporters in the crowd after the contest with a wave.       

The second bronze medal contest saw Dashdavaa catch Düsseldorf Grand Slam bronze medallist Eric Takabatake (BRA) with a buzzer-beating waza-ari score from a ouchi-gari. The contest looked destined for golden score but Dashdavaa had other ideas and produced the only score in the very last second to win his third World Judo Masters bronze medal.