Pool A: Baker (JPN)
Baker is not one to use big techniques and his fighting style is neither showy nor flashy. But he did manage to throw Marc Odenthal (GER) for ippon with seoi-otoshi. Baker then countered Aleksandar Kukolj's (SRB) uchimata with kosoto-gari for waza-ari and immediately pinned him for waza-ari-awasatte-ippon. Against Alexandre Iddir (FRA), he used a sticky-foot kosoto-gari for waza-ari followed by a pin for waza-ari-awasatte-ippon.
Pool B: Cheng (CHN)
The first match for Iliadis (GRE) should have been just a formality. Iliadis had pinned Cheng Xunzhao (CHN) for ippon at the 2015 Jeju Grand Prix. But this time, it was Cheng who got the ippon, catching lliadis with osoto-gari from an ippon-seoi grip. Next up was Toth who had thrown Cheng for ippon at the 2016 Dusseldorf Grand Prix. In an identical attack, Cheng slammed Toth for ippon. This brought him up against Marcus Nyman (SWE). And again, he struck with ippon-osoto for ippon. The crowd couldn't believe it. Neither could Nyman. Cheng probably couldn't believe it himself. But, he was through to the semis.
Pool C: Gwak (KOR)
Gwak easily threw Thomas Briceno (CHI) with drop morote-seoi-nage for ippon but had a harder time against Popole Misenga of the Refugee Olympic Team. Gwak wasn't able to throw him but in the end caught him in groundwork with a strangle. That brought him up against Mammadali Mehdiyev (AZE), who had done well to beat Kirill Denisov (RUS) with an osoto-kosoto combo for ippon and Tiago Camilo (BRA) with ura-nage for waza-ari. Against Gwak though, Mehdiyev was outmatched and lost by hansoku-make after accruing four shidos.
Pool D: Liparteliani (GEO)
Liparteliani (GEO) had a tough first fight against Komronshokh Ustopiriyon (TJK) and was unable to throw him. He was, however, able to pin him for ippon. He also Ovini Uera (NRU) for ippon. That brought him up against Otgonbaatar Lkhagvasuren (MGL), who had beaten both Holland's Van T'End and Cuba's Gonzalez, both by ippon. Liparteliani was not able to throw him but won on penalties.
Repecharge
Iddir is a big thrower while Nyman is known for his newaza. When their fight went to the ground, Nyman wasted no time pinning Iddir for ippon. The battle between Mehdiyev and Lkhagvasuren was a fierce one, with both men going all out for the win. The Mongolian prevailed with a side takedown for yuko.
Semi-Final
Baker must have been briefed on Cheng's osoto-gari as he was able to effectively block Cheng's attack. Then Baker was given a shido. This fired him up and he proceeded to throw Cheng with ouchi-gari for yuko followed by a pin for ippon. The other semi-final saw Liparteliani roll Gwak with a makikomi technique for waza-ari. He then followed that up with an uchimata for waza-ari-awasatte-ippon.
Bronze
Like many South Koreans, Gwak can do reverse seoi-nage and he used it to great effect against Nyman, throwing him for ippon with it. Lkhagvasuren was wary of Cheng's osoto-gari technique and gave him no opening for the attack. An opportunity for Cheng to score came when the Mongolian attempted a drop seoi-nage. Cheng countered him for yuko and won himself a bronze
Day 5: Men's -90kg
The men's -90kg division also saw large participation with 35 nations represented. The top players were Mashu Baker (JPN), Krisztian Toth (HUN), Ilias Iliadis (GRE), Gwak Donghan (KOR), Kirill Denisov (RUS), Varlam Liparteliani (GEO), Noel Van T'End (NED) and Asley Gonzalez (CUB). It was a very crowded field full of very capable fighters. This category was arguably the toughest one of all because of the sheer number of top athletes competing in it.