A tough road await the Australian Fighters at the World Tournament this year, while the New Zealanders have a slightly smoother path… read on for more details….
Australian fighters, Luke Leonard and Balan Balasubramaniam have drawn 2 of the seeded fighters at the 9th World Tournament, Arthur Hovhannisyan and Ewerton Teixeira.
Pictured here at 2007 Ichigeki Brazil (Teixeira winning in that match up).
With 2 of the Australian fighters facing top 8 seeds in the first round it looks like the best placed fighters for Australia are Mark Claridge and Nathan Goodin. They have a bye in the first round and can meet top 8 seeds in the fourth fight.
New Zealand on the other hand has been given a great draw. For some reason, 5 out of their 8 fighters have been give a bye in the first round. Also none of their fighters face a top 8 seed, although Kepiera Peita will face a tough first round against Andrey Stepin.
Australia
Group A
#2 Balan Balasubramania vs #1 Ewerton Teixeira (188cm, 105kg, 25yo, 2nd Dan, Brazil)
#43 Shaune O’Farell vs #43 Tatsuya Murata (172cm, 82kg, 25yo, 1st Dan, Japan)
Block B
#53 Anthony Meola vs #54 Daniel Opazo (175cm, 81kg, 28yo, 1st Dan, Chile)
#88 Mark Claridge has by first round
Block C
#106 Nathan Goodin has bye first round
#140 John Whitford vs #139 Yoshiki Yumiba (178cm, 98kg, 29yo,1stDan, Japan)
Block D
#146 Luke Leonard vs #145 Arthur Hovhannisyan (185cm, 100kg, 32yo, 3rd Dan, Armenia)
#187 Steven Cujic vs #188 Freddy Dubois (178cm, 75kg, 27yo, 1sy Kyu, Seychelles)
New Zealand
Block A
#9 Jack Tuhega has bye first round
#33 Mikaere Peita has bye first round
Block B
#63 Scott Johnson has bye first round
Block C
#118 Kevin Mamber has a bye first round
#128 Troy Freeman vs #127 Eder de Gama (175cm, 83kg, 25yo, 2nd Kyu, Brazil)
Block D
#149 Warren Gabb vs #150 Julio Nascimento (178cm, 83kg, 34yo, 1st Dan, Brazil)
#170 Kepiera Peita vs #169 Andrey Stepin (183cm, 102kg, 25yo, 2nd Dan, Russia)
#178 Eddie Ta Ahu has bye first round