tamari kekishvili

A Grand Finale to Remember: Closing Day of the GOC 2025 in Stuttgart

Stuttgart, Germany – August 23, 2025 – The final day of the 37th German Open Championships arrived with the excitement at its peak. Tickets were completely sold out, and even with the emotions of last night still fresh, the Beethovensaal and the other halls of the Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Liederhalle were once again packed with fans ready to enjoy a memorable closing day. The program featured a rich variety of competitions across the Junior, Youth, Senior, and U21 categories, culminating in the much-anticipated GrandSlam Latin finals.

WDSF Open Junior I Standard

Ukraine’s Danyil Dronyk and Victoriia Melnyk danced with precision and energy to claim the gold, adding another strong result to their growing résumé. Romania’s Ronin Moldovan and Zsofia Gombos earned silver, while Latvia’s Oskars Vasiljevs and Eva Dmitricenko completed the podium.

Final Rankings

  1. Danyil Dronyk – Victoriia Melnyk (UKR)
  2. Ronin Moldovan – Zsofia Gombos (ROU)
  3. Oskars Vasiljevs – Eva Dmitricenko (LAT)
  4. Markuss Kalnins – Dzesika Morderere (LAT)
  5. Sebastian Davidek – Viktorie Davidkova (CZE)
  6. Sebastian Bier – Elisabeth Wilhelm (GER)

WDSF Open Youth Solo Standard Female

Hong Kong’s Ip Jasmine Yan Tung delivered a commanding performance to capture the gold medal. Moldova’s Meryem-Zeynep Boicu took silver, while Chinese Taipei’s Wang Yi-Shan rounded out the podium with bronze.

Final Rankings

  1. Ip Jasmine Yan Tung (HKG)
  2. Meryem-Zeynep Boicu (MDA)
  3. Wang Yi-Shan (TPE)
  4. Taira Riebesell (DEN)
  5. Arina Berkman (ISR)
  6. Han Peixin (CHN)

WDSF Open Senior I Latin

The home crowd had reason to celebrate as Germany’s Markus Heffner and Marina Scharin-Mehlmann claimed first place with a performance full of strength and flair. Hungary’s Kovacs Mate and Zsila Andrea took second, while Spain’s Gerard Perez and Eva Krejcirova secured third.

Final Rankings

  1. Markus Heffner – Marina Scharin-Mehlmann (GER)
  2. Kovacs Mate – Zsila Andrea (HUN)
  3. Gerard Perez – Eva Krejcirova (ESP)
  4. Georg Rauchhaus – Sonja Stegemann (GER)
  5. Keigo Oshikawa – Tomoyo Wada (JPN)
  6. Fabian Eduardo Alvarez Caceres – Camila Fernanda Escala Lopez (CHI)

WDSF Open Youth Solo Standard & Latin Male

Germany’s Kristian Eisenblatter stood out in the Solo Standard Male Youth, securing a convincing victory on home soil.

In the Solo Latin Male Youth, Italy took center stage as Leonardo Teresi captured the title in style. China’s Xu Junzhi added another strong result with silver, while fellow Italian Federico Montemaggiore earned the bronze.

Final Rankings – Youth Solo Latin Male

  1. Leonardo Teresi (ITA)
  2. Xu Junzhi (CHN)
  3. Federico Montemaggiore (ITA)
  4. Daniel Raphael Reich (GER)
  5. Yannis Schmitz (GER)
  6. Leonardo Wolf (GER)

WDSF Open Youth Solo Latin Female

Italy’s Anna Grazia Agata Messina capped her season with a remarkable victory in Stuttgart. Already bronze medallist at the European Championship in Calvià and silver medallist at the World Championship in Tbilisi earlier this year, she now adds a prestigious WDSF Open victory at German Open to her achievements. Spain’s Chen Zijun secured second place, while China’s Han Peixin took third.

Final Rankings

  1. Anna Grazia Agata Messina (ITA)
  2. Chen Zijun (ESP)
  3. Han Peixin (CHN)
  4. Tudor Ana Erika (ROU)
  5. Ada Belce Tastan (TUR)
  6. Lika Kldiashvili (GEO)

WDSF Open Under 21 Standard – A Special Victory in Stuttgart

The Under 21 Standard competition became one of the day’s highlights. Germany’s Dmytrii Forostianov and Helene Novalee Tilgert took a brilliant victory, their first ever in Stuttgart, capping a fantastic week after also reaching the podium in the Rising Stars Standard earlier in the event.

Turkey’s Batu Sandiraz and Nehir Cam, the reigning European Under 21 Standard Champions from Ankara in April, secured a strong second place, while Lithuania’s Pijus Palskys and Anna Berzina completed the podium in third.

Final Rankings

  1. Dmytrii Forostianov – Helene Novalee Tilgert (GER)
  2. Batu Sandiraz – Nehir Cam (TUR)
  3. Pijus Palskys – Anna Berzina (LTU)
  4. Mateusz Stawowy – Sara Silva (POL)
  5. Ivan Ignatenko – Estere Anna Sileniece (LAT)
  6. David Parsegian – Anna Elchaninova (ARM)
podium open U21 std stuttgart kirklys

WDSF GrandSlam Latin – A Finale of Pure Emotion

The magic once again filled the Beethovensaal, where the final rounds of the GrandSlam Latin brought an atmosphere charged with emotion and unforgettable surprises. From the very beginning, the standard of dancing was extraordinary, with couples giving everything under the lights of Stuttgart’s most iconic stage. The love of the audience was palpable, radiating onto the floor and inspiring athletes to return that affection through every step, every gesture, every expression — the essence of DanceSport at its finest.

Unfortunately, the day also brought sadness with the injury of Diandra-Aniela Illes. A painful twist during the Samba in the second round left her struggling with her knee, and by the semifinals she and Guillem Pascual were forced to withdraw. The couple, who consistently rank among the best in the world, shared with heavy hearts that they had been feeling wonderful on the Stuttgart floor, but injuries are part of sport. From WDSF, we wish Diandra a speedy and full recovery.

Their absence opened the door for other couples to seize the moment in a dramatic semifinal. With couples like Jakub Lipowski – Tereza Kucerova, Tam Winson – Anastasia Novikova, and Artur Balandin – Anna Salita battling for a coveted spot, it was Artur and Anna who stepped forward, proudly representing Germany in the Stuttgart final. Taking the floor after last participation of Marius and Khrystyna in 2023, their joy at carrying the German flag into a home GrandSlam final was more than evident.

The final itself was nothing short of magical. The crowd gave its heart to every couple, creating a connection that turned each dance into a spectacle. But while the night was filled with artistry, it remained a competition — and the scores reflected the intensity. Yan Bangbang and Du Yujun (CHN) and Malthe Brinch Rohde and Sandra Sorensen (DEN) fought an incredible battle, trading second and third positions in the Samba, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, and Paso Doble. In the end, it was the Chinese couple who edged ahead in the Jive, claiming a historic silver — People’s Republic of China’s best ever GrandSlam Latin result in Stuttgart.

At the top of the podium stood the favorites who did not disappoint: Charles-Guillaume Schmitt and Elena Salikhova (FRA). Their victory marked their second GrandSlam Stuttgart title, and as the Marseillaise rang through the Beethovensaal, the couple beamed with pride. In their post-event interview with WDSF, they spoke about the special significance of this triumph, their plans for upcoming competitions, and dedicated their win to the audience whose support made the atmosphere so magical. The full interview is available now on WDSF social media.

Final Rankings

  1. Charles-Guillaume Schmitt – Elena Salikhova (FRA)
  2. Yan Bangbang – Du Yujun (CHN)
  3. Malthe Brinch Rohde – Sandra Sorensen (DEN)
  4. Miculescu Ionut Alexandru – Pacurar Andra (ROU)
  5. Konstantin Gorodilov – Polina Figurenko (EST)
  6. Artur Balandin – Anna Salita (GER)
podium GS lat stuttgart 2025 kirklys

Stories Beyond Competition

DanceSport is more than scores and medals — it is passion, respect, friendship, and the will to overcome challenges. Among the many inspiring stories of the week, one in particular touched the hearts of thousands. Damien Hemaizia and Tamari Kekishvili, competing in the GrandSlam Latin, brought something unique to Stuttgart. Damien, due to a childhood medical condition, suffered nerve damage in his right arm, which limited its development.

Despite all those who once told him he could never dance, he chose to prove that the impossible only remains impossible until someone breaks through it. With determination and talent, Damien and Tamari took the floor as equals, showing the world that DanceSport embraces diversity, inclusivity and resilience. WDSF proudly shared their journey through an interview that has already reached over 140,000 people on social media, spreading a message of hope and inspiration.

Gratitude

The WDSF extends heartfelt thanks to the Deutscher Tanzsportverband (DTV) and the Local Organising Committee, who once again delivered a formidable event on this 20th anniversary of the GOC in Stuttgart, and the 37th edition overall. Appreciation also goes to BD Dance, official sponsor of the GrandSlam Series, to Casa musica, proud Gold Partner of WDSF providing the perfect soundtrack to our competitions, and to the Olympic Channel, whose global coverage continues to highlight the beauty and magnitude of DanceSport.

Message from the President

“What we have lived here in Stuttgart is nothing short of extraordinary. Each year, the GOC sets new standards of excellence, thanks to the tireless work of the organisers, the dedication of more than 600 volunteers, the unwavering support of our partners, the passion of our athletes, and the love of our audiences. Together, you have made the 2025 edition of the German Open Championships truly historic.” – Shawn Tay, WDSF President

Stay Connected

Relive the magic of GOC 2025 with exclusive interviews, highlights, and behind-the-scenes content available on all WDSF channels:

Photos by Kirklys Dance Media.

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latin stuttgart germany grandslam elena salikhova charles-guillaume schmitt GOC2025 German Open damien hemaizia tamari kekishvili dmytrii forostianov helene novalee tilgert
Casa Musica
BD Dance