Pires (left) had already won the superheavyweight at last year's Houston Open. Photo: Felipe Pires.
Held yesterday in the US state of Illinois, the Chicago Winter Open was the stage for victories from world champions like Samuel Braga and Rodrigo Comprido.
The big name of the IBJJF tournament, though, is Gracie Barra teacher Gustavo Pires, who teaches in Mission Viejo, California. Pires took the absolute, by beating Davi Ramos (Top Brothers), and the heavyweight division, by getting past Daniel de Almeida (Nova União).
Davi Ramos won the middleweight division, leaving Clark Gracie in second.
In the female division, Lisa De La Rosa took absolute gold.
Learn a position from absolute champ Gustavo Pires below.