Shocks were not as forthcoming in the women’s competition as three of the four top seeds safely negotiated their safe passage into the semi-finals.
Only Irina DOLGOVA (RUS) was unable to make it into the last four as she lost out to Olympic champion Paula PARETO (ARG).
Defending world champion TONAKI Funa (JPN) held down Julia FIGUEROA (ESP) with a kami-shiho-gatame to advance to the -48kg semi-finals.
Wonderkid Daria BILODID (UKR) stands two wins away from history but faces PARETO (below - white judogi) next in a mouthwatering contest to decide who will progress to the gold medal contest.
Semi-Finals TONAKI, Funa (JPN) v MUNKHBAT, Urantsetseg (MGL) PARETO, Paula (ARG) v BILODID, Daria (UKR)
MEN -60kg: World number 51 Karamat HUSEYNOV (AZE) produced the upset of the morning session as he conquered Olympic champion Beslan MUDRANOV (RUS). The Azeri countered for ippon to send the crowd wild in Baku. Two-time World Judo Masters bronze medallist Sharafuddin LUTFILLAEV (UZB) was surprisingly humbled by a waza-ari score against Otar BESTAEV (KGZ). Amiran PAPINASHVILI (GEO) silenced the home crowd by beating 2017 world silver medallist Orkhan SAFAROV (AZE) by ippon at -60kg with a te-waza movement. Japan's defending world champion TAKATO Naohisa (below - white judogi) sailed through to the last four and is in line to potentially retain his crown.
Semi-Finals MSHVIDOBADZE, Robert (RUS) v PAPINASHVILI, Amiran (GEO) TAKATO, Naohisa (JPN) v NAGAYAMA, Ryuju (JPN)
Watch the final block live from 16.00 on the IJF website.