Two Scores Decide Budapest Heavyweight Final for Endovitskii

Valerii Endovitskii claimed the +100 kg title in Budapest after a controlled Judo final against Estonia’s Marek-Adrian Masak. The Russian heavyweight used two scoring attacks to secure gold, while Masak left with the first grand slam medal of his career.

Masak arrived with strong recent form despite being only 19. The Tallinn European Open winner had collected three junior European Cup titles in 2026 and took bronze at the Junior European Championships in Podgorica just a week before this event.

Across the tatami stood Endovitskii, 26, whose experience at senior level proved decisive. Ranked ninth in the world, he had already won the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in 2024 and added a European bronze medal in 2026.

The final took a different route from both bronze medal contests, which were settled by Ippon. Endovitskii instead built a clear lead with two Yuko scores. His first came from Sode-tsuri-komi-goshi, followed by O-uchi-gari to seal the result.

Endovitskii’s two Yuko scores gave him a composed route to heavyweight gold.

After the medal ceremony, Endovitskii described Budapest as a place where he feels confident competing. He also credited Masak’s physical qualities, while noting that the Estonian is still gaining senior international experience after their previous training-camp sparring sessions.

Masak’s silver is nevertheless a significant breakthrough. His run in Budapest added a grand slam medal to an already productive 2026, and Endovitskii said the young Estonian has a bright future with more international training.

The bronze medal contests delivered quicker finishes. Germany’s Losseni Koné defeated Poland’s Jakub Sordyl after scoring Waza-ari with Ura-nage before countering with O-soto-gaeshi for Ippon. In the other contest, Azerbaijan’s Dzhamal Gamzatkhanov beat Ukraine’s Yakiv Khammo by Ippon.

Koné and Gamzatkhanov shared the bronze medals, with Sordyl and Khammo finishing fifth. Slovakia’s Marius Fizel and Ukraine’s Yevheniy Balyevskyy placed seventh in the final +100 kg standings.

For Endovitskii, Budapest added another high-level result to his record. For Masak and the European medal winners, the heavyweight contest also offered a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift when experience and explosive scoring meet on the biggest stage.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation