The Men’s Open pre‑judging of the 2025 Mr. Olympia was a fiercely contested session that set the tone for the main event later at the Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas.
Highlights & Key Contenders
- The first call‑out featured the heavy hitters: Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, Samson Dauda, Andrew Jacked and Martin Fitzwater.
- Lunsford’s edge: his flared lats, narrow waist and commanding back poses were repeatedly noted by commentators.
- Choopan impressed with worsening condition as the event unfolded—coming in harder and sharper, making his presence felt on stage.
- Samson Dauda stayed near centre‑stage thanks to his density and presence, though his conditioning wasn’t perfect.
- Andrew Jacked showed marked improvement—especially in lines and separation in his glutes and hamstrings, which caught attention during prejudging.
What Pre‑Judging Revealed
The pre‑judging round revealed that the 2025 Open division is possibly the deepest we’ve seen in decades. With multiple former champions and top‑tier contenders, the smallest details – posing precision, conditioning on the day, stage presence – became deciding factors.
The session underscored the importance of peak timing. Even among elite physiques, those who were sharper, more symmetrical, and who nailed their presentation gained advantages that likely carried into the finals.
Why It Mattered
Pre‑judging is where comparisons happen in real time: side‑by‑side assessments of physique structure, symmetry, conditioning, posing. The decisions made during this phase often map out who is locked in for the final placements. For 2025, the callouts and the bodybuilders who executed best here gave us a preview of the final Sandow outcome.
