Marek-Adrian Mäsak Lifts Estonia as Tallinn Closes with Home Joy

Marek-Adrian Mäsak was the standout name on the final day of the Tallinn European Open 2026, delivering the heavyweight gold that home fans had hoped for. The Estonian +100 kg judoka finished the job in Tallinn and helped push the host nation to second place in the overall medal table.

The atmosphere was already building early in the day, and Estonia gave its supporters plenty to celebrate. Home athletes reached at least the repechage in every men’s weight category, and four Estonians made it into the final block. In a tournament setting where pressure can rise with every round, that kind of consistency gave the local crowd real momentum.

Mäsak was right at the center of it. After a difficult first-round defeat at the recent European Championships in Tbilisi, he arrived in Tallinn with a different mindset. He said the loss had taught him that even a short tournament can leave important lessons, and this time he stepped onto the tatami with a more positive approach and a determination to give his maximum.

That mental reset mattered. Mäsak admitted that tension naturally grows from the early rounds into the quarterfinals, semifinals and final, but he tried to turn that pressure into an advantage. The result was the gold medal in the men’s heavyweight category and one of the defining performances of the event.

Tallinn gave Estonia the kind of finish every home crowd dreams about.

There was another important Estonian story too. Junior athlete Kirill Komin reached the final block of a senior tournament for the first time in his career in the -90 kg category. He eventually placed fifth after an intense contest with Segev Ben Haroch of Israel, but the result still marked a significant step forward.

Coach Vladimir Stepanjan had a demanding day, guiding six athletes including Mäsak and Komin. He said managing so many competitors required shifting focus from one weight category to the next, and he was pleased to see three of his athletes reach the final block and stay competitive until the end.

The event also highlighted strong European performances beyond the host team. Latvia produced a brilliant double gold through Anastasija Sokirjanska in the -57 kg category and Maksims Duinovs in the -100 kg category, finishing third in the overall standings alongside Bahrain. Italy topped the medal table with two gold, two silver and three bronze medals, underlining its strength across both days.

France and Poland also had visible moments on day two. France’s Emma Melis reached the bronze medal contest at -57 kg, where Poland’s Julia Bulanda took the bronze. France ended the tournament sixth overall with one gold and three bronze medals, while Poland was 11th with three silver and four bronze medals.

One of the warmest scenes came in the -90 kg bronze medal contest, when Finland’s Artur Kanevets helped his opponent back to his feet immediately after winning. It was a small moment, but one that captured a big part of judo’s spirit.

Tallinn also showed its international pull, with athletes arriving from countries including Canada, the USA, Hong Kong, Bahrain and Lebanon. But on this final day, the loudest emotion belonged to the host nation.

For Estonia, and especially for Marek-Adrian Mäsak, this was more than just a strong result. It felt like proof that lessons from defeat can turn into something much bigger on home tatami.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union