The Frenchman, who claimed the over 100 kilograms title at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games, is a former winner at the event, having triumphed on home soil in Levallois-Perret in 2008.

The man whom he beat in the final that year, Russia’s Alexander Mikhaylin, is also in line to compete at the two-day event at the Moroccan city’s Palais des Congrès.

Athens 2004 Olympic champion and three-time world champion Ilias Iliadis of Greece is set to make a  return to action in Marrakesh, while Georgia will field four judoka in search of their first openweight world title.

Over 100kg European champion Guram Tushishvili is joined by Varlem Liparteliani, Adam Okruashvili and Levani Matiashvili on the Georgian team.

In the women’s event, Cuba’s Idalys Ortiz and Japan’s Asahina Sarah are among the leading names, along with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Larisa Ceric and world bronze medallist Iryna Kindzerska of Azerbaijan.

A total of 56 judoka will be vying for success at this weekend’s event, which Olympic gold medallist and Openweight World Championships winner Yamashita Yasuhiro believes will be an exciting spectacle.

"The 'Musabetsu' (Openweight) category has a long tradition in judo," the 60-year-old Japanese, who is widely regarded as the greatest judoka of all time, said.

"This year, judoka from all categories will gather in Marrakech to compete for this prestigious title.

"Although the smaller judoka may have a smaller chance of glory, it will be very exciting to watch who will be crowned as the strongest judoka amongst all categories."

Yasuhiro, who is now the President of the All Japan Judo Federation and an IJF development director, will be in attendance in Morocco.

"I hope these Championships to be the opportunity where athletes show their daily efforts regardless of their weight differences," he added.

The IJF Openweight World Championships return to the calendar after a six-year hiatus with Tyumen in Russia having played host to the most recent edition in 2011. 

A record amount of prize money, €500,000 (£441,000/$584,000) will be on offer at the event thanks to what the IJF describes as its "ability to attract new sponsors and partners at a time when the sports market is saturated and more competitive than ever".

Gold medallists will earn a record €100,000 (£88,000/$117,000) with silver medallists scooping €50,000 (£44,000/$58,000) and bronze medallists taking home €25,000 (£22,000/$29,000).

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