The IBJJF returned to the Windy City for the Chicago Spring Open on May 14th and 15th. The gi and no-gi event was held at the Odeum Expo Center and brought out not only many of the Midwest’s best jiu-jitsu athletes, but also those looking to earn ranking points for the upcoming World Championships.

CheckMat brought some of their best competitors to Chicago, namely Jansen Gomes, Adam Wardzinski, Vedha Toscano, Gabriel Almeida, and Ariel Magalhaes. Jansen Gomes took double gold, winning the medium-heavy division and later taking the open class. Jansen displayed beautiful passing and transitions, securing multiple submissions on his way to double gold.

In the super-heavy division, butterfly guard expert Adam Wardzinski won gold. Adam defeated Renan Cruz in the final to take home gold. He also went on to place second in the open class. At heavyweight, Gabriel Almeida had two fights and scored two submissions. He hit a perfectly timed transition to an arm bar in his semi-final match and then locked on a triangle in the finals to secure the gold. Ariel Magalhaes won gold at featherweight in his black belt debut, winning three matches to take the top spot on the podium.

Vedha Toscano won double gold for team CheckMat in the female adult division. She won two matches at heavyweight and another match in the open to take home two gold medals.

TAC Team BJJ won gi and no-gi titles for the weekend.

2022 Chicago Spring International Open team results:

1.   TAC Team BJJ

2.   Carlson Gracie Team

3.   Brasa CTA

2022 Chicago Spring International No-Gi Open team results:

1. TAC Team BJJ
2. Train Hard, Be Kind - Pica Pau
3. Carlson Gracie Team