The IBJJF European Championships are back, this time in Paris. The tournament will attract some of the best grapplers from around the world, including some of the top European athletes looking to defend home turf.

Here are the biggest stars registered to represent the continent.

Sam McNally (Featherweight, Essential BJJ)

The Irish sensation who took bronze in a stacked featherweight division at Euros last year is coming in hot. He’s on a career high after the performance of his life at the recent ADCC, where he outscored division favorite Garry Tonon. We expect dynamic inversions and nasty armbars from the Irishman.

Max Lindblad (Lightweight, Stark Jiu-Jitsu)

Traditionally a middleweight, this Swede is registered for the European Championships at lightweight in 2023. He previously won the competition at a purple belt in 2014, and is now aiming to capture Sweden’s first black belt European title. Lindblad's strongest weapon is his spider guard, with which he’s had success on the European scene.

Tarik Hopstock (Middleweight, Frontline Academy)

The namesake of a popular submission is back at middleweight, where he earned third place last year, falling in the semis to Tainan Dalpra. This year, the Norwegian will take another shot in search of his first major black belt title. Hopstock is known for his Tarikoplata shoulder lock attacks, but is also a dangerous footlocker.

Espen Mathiesen (Middleweight, Kimura BJJ)

The 2022 lightweight champion from Norway is making the jump to middleweight this year, attempting to become a champion in two different weight classes. He is one of the favorites to win the middleweight division, and will likely rely on his loaded arsenal of berimbolos, matrixes, and other crafty backtakes. Here he is after his moment on the podium last year:

Taylor Pearman (Medium Heavyweight, ZR Team UK)

The Englishman earned a reputation in the colored belt ranks with a cryangle victory at Euros in 2018. But his capacity extends far beyond flashy submission. He took the podium at the European Championships at purple and brown belt, and he’s been ascending quickly since earning his black belt in mid 2020.. He’s armed with a fierce footlock and a show stopping triangle.

Bruno Lima (Heavyweight, Alexandre Machado Association)

Lima won a Euros title in 2022 at medium heavyweight, becoming the first-ever Portuguese champion. This year, he’ll look to conquer a second category, where he’ll compete alongside two other reigning Euros champs, Fellipe Andrew and Adam Wardzinski.

Adam Wardzinski (Heavyweight, Checkmat)

The butterfly guard specialist from Poland won his first European gold in 2022 after several near misses. Wardzinski had an incredible last year throughout, finishing the season with a 38-8 record in combined gi and no-gi competition. Listen to his 2022 victory interview here:

Rose-Marie El Sharouni (Light Featherweight, Checkmat)

Having medalled at Euros & Worlds earlier this year, El Sharouni will try to win her first European title in a stacked light-featherweight division. One of Netherland’s top grapplers, El Sharouni has a tricky sleeve guard which could pose problems for her opponents.

Magdalena Loska (Middleweight, Brasa Poland) 

Magdalena Loska won her division in the 2020 European Championships and she will try to repeat this year. The seasoned Polish black belt will be tested in the middleweight division loaded with talent, including Elisabeth Clay, Thalyta Lima, Vanessa Griffin, Rachel Ranschau and more.

Maria Malyjasiak (Medium Heavyweight, Abmar Barbosa Association)

One of the most dominant Polish competitors ever, Maria Malyjasiak is headed to Paris in search of her first black belt European title. In 2022, she looked dominant at one of the premiere events of the year, the IBJJF Pan Championships, where she won in the final via submission. Malyjasiak is something of a kneebar expert, but she’s proven equally dangerous with armlocks.