The Champions League of judo brought 16 of the continent’s top club teams to the Dojo de Paris on October 24, 2026, for a high-stakes day of team competition supported by the Île-de-France region, according to coverage from L’Esprit du Judo. Returning to France two years after Montpellier, the tournament showcased world-class athletes, Olympic medalists, and world champions handling the tactical demands of a collective team format.
PSG Judo advances after tense rematch against Teltsidou
Defending champions PSG Judo secured their spot in the semifinals following a dramatic encounter that hinged on a decisive tie-breaking match. Tied at three victories apiece against their opponents, Paris relied on Manon Deketer in the -70kg division. Facing Greece’s Elisavet Teltsidou—widely regarded as one of the most physical competitors on the circuit—Deketer dictated the pace of the bout before executing a forceful ura-nage to earn an ippon, sealing the team victory as reported by L’Esprit du Judo.
The decisive showdown became necessary after a back-and-forth team battle. PSG picked up wins from Brazilian lightweight Nascimento on the ground, recent world medalist Dayyan Boulemtafes, and Romane Dicko, who secured a makikomi followed by effective ne-waza work. Those triumphs helped offset earlier defeats suffered by Kevin Nzuzi Diasivi against Russia’s Bashaev and Tckaev against Fatiyev, leaving the score level at 3-3 before the extra match settled the tie.
Sainte-Geneviève Sports overcomes world champion to reach semifinals
Sainte-Geneviève Sports carved out a hard-fought path to the semifinals by defeating international opposition in a tightly contested matchup L’Esprit du Judo detailed. British recruit Acelya Toprak delivered a standout technical display by subduing 2025 world champion Eteri Liparteliani on the ground. Teammates David Iurcovschi and heavyweight Léa Fontaine then mounted crucial comebacks, with Fontaine ultimately dominating Aida Toishibekova to level the match at 3-3 before securing the decisive final point.
AC Boulogne-Billancourt falls short in sudden-death elimination
AC Boulogne-Billancourt exited the tournament in heartbreaking fashion during a sudden-death playoff. After opening the day with a 4-0 victory over the RSC Montreuil in the earlier rounds alongside OJ Nice, the Pro League finalists found themselves deadlocked at 3-3 in the knockout phase. Olympic champion Kotsoiev initially opened proceedings for ACBB with a win over Anton Savytskiy, and teammate Eliot Prévé added an ippon via o-soto-gari.
However, consecutive losses—including a tough tactical battle for Alexis Mathieu against cadet world champion and senior world medalist Rutovic—forced a tie-break in the -90kg division. In the sudden-death overtime period, Mathieu was countered for a yuko, ending ACBB’s championship run just short of the semifinals.
Champions League of judo evolves from European Club Championships
Formerly known as the European Club Championships and later the Golden League between 2014 and 2017, the Champions League of judo stands as a premier fixture on the continental calendar Île-de-France noted. The event format shifts the traditional individual focus of judo into a strategic team battle, demanding depth across multiple weight classes from clubs representing nations across Europe.
Where and how the Champions League 2026 operated?
Where was the Champions League 2026 held?
The tournament took place at the Dojo de Paris located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, France, on October 24, 2026.
How many clubs competed in the tournament?
Sixteen top European club teams participated in the competition, featuring a strong contingent of French clubs alongside international qualifiers.
What team format is used in the Champions League of judo?
Teams compete across multiple weight categories in a head-to-head collective format, with tied team scores leading to a randomly drawn golden-score tie-breaker match.
Keep reading
