The female purple belts took the mats at day 3 of the IBJJF European Championships, and the home crowd was out in full effect. Four of today’s weight class champions were European nationals, and two of them made it to the open class final.

The UK’s Nia Blackman of Checkmat was the star of the show today, winning gold in both the heavyweight and absolute division. Blackman, who made her purple belt debut today — also her debut in the adult divisions — won all of her weight class matches via submission, and had a couple of thrillers in the open weight category.

Blackman defeated the middleweight champion Selma Vik of Norway in a heart-stopper of a match. Blackman scored nine points early, but Vik clawed her way back, scoring six points in the closing moments and nearly submitting her opponent.

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Earlier in the day, Vik ran through the middleweight division, submitting each of her four opponents. 

Other Euro-born champions included Finland's Salla Samola at medium heavyweight, and Poland's Adriana Wojarska, who took the featherweight division.

Art Of Jiu-Jitsu’s Shelby Murphey captured the roosterweight division with an impressive passing style.

And after four attempts at Euros, Brigida Cavalho secured gold in the lightweight division, scoring 41 unanswered points in four matches.

Laura Silva Reis won gold at super heavyweight, and Scout Pereira took the light featherweight title.

The male brown belts take the mats tomorrow, and the female brown belts will compete on Saturday. The black belt divisions will take place on Saturday and Sunday.