#WrestleBudapest

Chekhirkin to Replace Vlasov at European OG Qualifier

By Eric Olanowski

BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 15) -- Two-time Olympic champion Roman VLASOV (RUS) has been replaced as Russia's 77kg representative at the  European OG Qualifier by Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS). 

Coincidentally, the last time Chekhirkin replaced Vlasov as Russia's guy, was also in Budapest. Vlasov tore his knee less than two weeks before the '18 World Championships, and Chekhirkin stepped in and claimed world gold at 77kg. He won six bouts en route to gold and captured wins over world medalists Viktor NEMES (SRB), Elvin MURSALIYEV (AZE), Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) before edging eventual '19 world champion Tamas LORINCZ (HUN), 3-1, in the finals.

If Chekhirkin does qualify this weekend, there hasn't been any indication of who will receive the nod for Russian when the Tokyo Olympics roll around. That will be determined at a later date.

In addition to Russia's Greco-Roman update at 77kg, they also removed Olympic champion Davit CHAKVETADZE (RUS) and inserted Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS) at 87ikg. And at 130kg, they confirmed that '18 world champion Sergei SEMENOV (RUS) will be their man.

For a full list of updated European OG Qualifier entries, please click HERE.

#WrestleBudapest

#WrestleBudapest Day Three Finals Preview Show

By Eric Olanowski

Wednesday night’s European finals will be highlighted by arguably the greatest European rivalry of the last decade. World and European champions Taha AKGUL ?? and Geno PETRIASHVILI ?? will clash for gold at 125kg. It'll be the sixth time they’ve met at the European championships with Akgul winning their last four meetings.

Tonight's freestyle finals kick off at 18:00 (?? local time) on www.uww.org.

Final Matchups
61kg: Suleyman ATLI ?? vs Arsen HARUTYUNYAN ??
74kg: Frank CHAMIZO ?? vs Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV ??
86kg: Myles AMINE ?? vs Abubakr ABAKAROV ??
92kg: Miriani MAISURADZE ?? vs Osman NURMAGOMEDOV ??
125kg: Taha AKGUL ?? vs Geno PETRIASHVILI ??