Matthias Casse, 2nd in the world, 24, will face Russian Alan Khubetsov, 28, 12th in the IJF rankings, 7th in the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer and 2nd in the Kazan Grand Slam in May.
The Antwerp player is aiming for a second victory in a Grand Slam tournament after his success in Paris last year. He was also at this level bronze medalist in Baku in Azerbaijan and in Dusseldorf in Germany in 2019 after a second place already in Abu Dhabi in 2018.
On Saturday, Matthias Casse, exempted from the first round, beat Canadian Constantin Gabun (IJF 122), 23, in the second, on an ippon 49 seconds from the end of the fight.
In the quarter-finals of the table, the world champion and bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, won against the Ukrainian Sergii Krivchach (IJF 94), also 24, in the golden score, after 3:13 in overtime .
In the semi-finals, Matthias Casse, who is also vice-European champion, also won in the golden score, after 43 seconds in extra time, against Russian Aslan Lappinagov, 18th in the world, 28 years old, who suffered a 3rd penalty, synonymous with elimination.
Jeroen eliminated in the second round
Another Belgian entered on Saturday, Jeroen Casse, 23, 63rd in the world in his category, under 73 kg, passed the first round against the Australian Sam King, 25 (not classified), eliminated on a third penalty 3 seconds from the end of the fight.
But in the second round, Jeroen Casse logically fell against Mongol Tsogtbaatar Tsend-Ochir, 2nd in the world, 25, bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics this summer. The Belgian conceded an ippon 43 seconds from the end of the fight.
Toma Nikiforov, 10th in the world, is still engaged on the tatami mats on Sunday in less than 100kg. On Friday, Mina Libeer (-57kg) and Ellen Salens (-48kg) each took 7th place.
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