11 British Judoka Ready for Senior World Championships
October 03, 2026
The 2026 Senior World Championships begin tomorrow, with a 11-strong British squad set to take on the world’s best in Baku, Azerbaijan from 4–9 October.
Charlie Ayre (Tees Valley JC) gets the team underway tomorrow, taking to the tatami in the -60kg division for his Senior World Championships debut.
It has been a breakthrough senior season for Ayre, who has claimed his first IJF World Tour medal with silver at the Qingdao Grand Prix, as well as Commonwealth Games bronze on his debut and silver at the Sofia European Open. He also made his Senior European Championships debut this year, continuing his seamless transition from the junior ranks to the senior level.
He will take on Jorre Verstraeten (BEL) in the Round of 32.
Monday will see three British judoka in action.
Charlie Young (Ryecroft JC) will enter the -66kg division, returning to the World Championships for the first time since 2023.
Young has recorded two seventh-place finishes so far this year, at the Lima Grand Prix and Lima Panamerican Open.
He will look to build on those performances in Baku, beginning his campaign against Bence Pongracz (HUN) in the Round of 64.
Michael Fryer (Rush Judo) will join Young in the -66kg division, making his Senior World Championships debut.
Fryer heads to Baku having already enjoyed a successful 2026, earning his first Commonwealth Games selection before going on to claim bronze in Glasgow. Earlier in the year, he also secured seventh place at the Paris Grand Slam against a strong international field.
He will take on Miguel Nery Gago (POR) in the Round of 64.
Tuesday sees a further three British judoka take to the tatami.
Acelya Toprak (Camberley JC) goes into Baku as one of Great Britain’s most consistent performers, competing at her third Senior World Championships in the -57kg division.
Toprak has enjoyed another strong year, claiming Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow and recording fifth-place finishes at the Tbilisi Grand Slam, Senior European Championships and, most recently, the Lima Grand Prix. She will look to carry that form into Azerbaijan.
Toprak begins her campaign in the Round of 64, where she will face Mariah Holguin (USA).
Ethan Nairne (Bradley Stoke JC) enters the -73kg division on his Senior World Championships debut after an impressive 2026 season.
Nairne has claimed his maiden IJF World Tour medal with gold at the Grand Prix Upper Austria, as well as Commonwealth Games gold on his debut in Glasgow. He also finished seventh at the Senior European Championships and claimed silver at the Sofia European Open.
Nairne gets his campaign underway in the Round of 64 against Elbek Tojiev (UZB).
Ben Levy (Budokwai) joins Nairne in the -73kg field, making his Senior World Championships debut after a standout year on the IJF World Tour.
Levy started the year with an impressive bronze medal at the Paris Grand Slam before adding silver at the Commonwealth Games on his debut at the event.
He now steps up for his first Senior World Championships, with his campaign beginning against Ibrahim Demirel (TUR) in the Round of 64.
There will be no British fighters in action on Wednesday, with two judoka getting the team back underway on Thursday.
Kelly Petersen-Pollard (Hardy Spicer 83) is one of the team’s most experienced competitors, making her fifth Senior World Championships appearance in the -70kg division.
Petersen-Pollard has already enjoyed success in 2026, claiming Commonwealth Games gold and finishing seventh at the Grand Prix Upper Austria.
She will begin her campaign in the Round of 32, and will face either Irene Pedrotti (ITA) or Aleksandra Kowalewska (POL).
Lachlan Moorhead (Penistone JC) is the team’s latest addition, earning selection in his new -90kg weight category.
Moorhead secured his place in the squad following a career-best bronze medal at the Hungary Grand Slam, an impressive result during his transition to the new division. This will be his fourth Senior World Championships appearance.
He will take on Remi Feuillet (MRI) in the Round of 64.
Three British judoka will close out the 2026 Senior World Championships on Friday.
Emma Reid (Redbridge JC) enters the -78kg division as the squad’s only former Senior World Championships medallist, having claimed bronze at the 2024 edition of the competition.
She heads to Baku in strong form after a series of impressive results in 2026, including Commonwealth Games gold, Senior European Championships silver and fifth-place finishes at the Tbilisi Grand Slam and Qingdao Grand Prix.
Reid will begin her World Championships campaign against Audrey Tcheumeo (FRA) in the Round of 32.
Ollie Barratt (Dragons Academy) enters the -100kg division for his second Senior World Championships appearance.
Barratt comes to Baku off the back of a fifth-place finish at the Commonwealth Games and will look to produce a strong performance in a highly competitive division.
He will first face Ernazar Sarsenbaev (UZB) in the Round of 64.
Max Gregory (Drake JC) closes out the British squad in the -100kg division.
Gregory has already enjoyed success on the international stage this year, claiming silver on his Commonwealth Games debut and finishing seventh at the Dushanbe Grand Slam.
He is drawn against Tanou Mamadou Keita (GUI) in the Round of 64.
Good luck to the whole team in Baku!
