ADGS Xi'An 2024: Masters open the tournament as champions on the first day

October 18, 2024

The time has come for another chapter of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam World Tour. Starting this Friday, October 18th, and going all the way until Sunday, October 20th, the ADGS Xi'An 2024 will bring the tour's signature action to the Shaanxi Sports Training Center, in China.

Welcoming athletes of all ages and graduations, the event was opened by the Master category, with the most experienced athletes the sport has to offer taking the stage and fighting to reach the top of the podium. Coming as highlights of the tournament's first day, the black belts had their talent on full display as they faced each other and fought to conquer the coveted ADGS gold. Check out how each of the black belt finals played out, and for the full results, click here.

56KG - Haitham Hanawi vs Jose Filho

Entering a round-robin in the 56kg bracket, the Emirati Haitham Hanawi had two challenging matches before reaching the gold. In the first match, Haitham went up against Junyi Wu in a very balanced duel that took up the entirety of the regulated time, scoring last in a 5-5 tie to take the first win of the bracket. After Jose Filho submitted Junyi, Haitham went up against the Brazilian and once again showed how strategic he could be, landing a narrow 2-1 to defeat his opponent and take the title.

62kg - Shanshan Li vs Qiang Wang

A battle of locals in the 62kg final round. Representing Gracie Barra in the competition, the Chinese Shanshan Li went toe-to-toe against his compatriot Qiang Wang, with the match lasting all five minutes of the regulated time. While Qiang had some good moments in the fight, Shanshan was the star here as he scored 6-3 over his opponent and climbed to the top of the podium.

69kg - Boris Komlik vs Yinghan Wang

A Russian black belt under the Method MMA banner, Boris Komlik became the 69kg division champion. Facing the local Yinghan Wang in a very balanced gold round, Boris unleashed his Jiu-Jitsu as he dished out attacks and avoided any dangerous positions. When the clock ran out, a narrow 3-2 score gave Boris the victory and the title.

77kg - Thiago Marques vs Iurii Kuznetsov

A familiar face around the AJP's podium, the Commando Group black belt Thiago Marques added another high-profile title to his collection on Friday. Having won his first match via submission, Thiago advanced to the final round, in which he faced the Russian Iurii Kuznetsov, who had also gotten the three taps to fight for the gold. The match was fierce but brief, as Thiago tapped into his experience to measure up and then submit his opponent with a toe hold around the one-minute mark.

85kg - Artem Kaygarodov vd Ayres Dias

Entering a bracket full of Brazilians in the 85kg division, the Russian Artem Kaygarodov not only held his ground but also emerged victorious with a stellar performance. After defeating two opponents, Artem went up against Ayres Dias in his last match. The duel started in a very balanced fashion, with neither side managing to score a single point against one another, but Artem soon managed to find the upper hand as he swept from the half-guard and quickly attacked with a toe hold to bring another gold to MOD UAE.

94kg - Matheus Xavier vs Pedro Jordão

Also known as "Tá Danado", the Brazilian Matheus Xavier became the 94kg division champion after facing a daunting round-robin in the ADGS Xi'An. In his first match, Matheus showcased his technical know-how and scored 6-0 before ultimately submitting the local Wei Yi Yu to save his spot in the final. His last opponent was Pedro Jordão, a Brazilian black belt who had also submitted Wei Yi Yu in the bracket. The ensuing battle was a challenging one, with both athletes having a hard time to score throughout the match. At the end of it all, a 1-0 score landed Matheus atop the podium.

120kg - Wallace Costa vs Thiago Pessoa

Two MOD UAE teammates put their training to the test and fought for the lead of the heaviest division. On one side, the Brazilian Wallace Costa had reached the gold round after outscoring the local Peng Wang. On the other, Thiago Pessoa got a 3-0 win over the Belgian Paulo Silva in the semifinal. The final round was as technical as you could expect, with both sides trying to attack while also avoiding any positions that might leave them vulnerable to be submitted. When the clock ran out, Wallace Costa took the win and the title with a 2-0 score.

Women's Gi / 62kg - Lina Grosset vs Man Ju

A School of Champs representative hailing from France, Lina Grosset got another ADGS title to her collection. Facing the Chinese Man Ju, from Gracie Barra, in a best-of-three bracket, Lina had a slower start and got her first win via decision. In the second match, however, Lina was much more comfortable and her Jiu-Jitsu showed it, with the French athlete scoring 5-0 before attacking and submitting with a golden armlock.

With the first day of the competition down for the count, the ADGS Xi'An now prepares to welcome the Youth category on its second day. Watch all the action live and exclusively at TX7.com, and follow @ajptour on social media to stay up-to-date on all the greatest tournaments around the world.