European Nations Own Nine of Ten Top Spots in Greco-Roman

Monday, May 13, 2019 - 14:18 By Eric Olanowski

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (May 1) – United World Wrestling has released their latest point-based Greco-Roman world rankings, and European nations own nine of the ten top spots heading into the final pair of Ranking Series events before the Nur-Sultan World Championships.

Even more impressive, the Russian Federation owns five of Europe’s nine top spots. The five No. 1-ranked Russian wrestlers are Sergey EMELIN (60kg), Stepan MARYANYAN (63kg), Artem SURKOV (67kg), Musa EVLOEV (97kg), and Sergey SEMENOV (130kg).

In addition to the Russian-five, Azerbaijan’s Eldaniz AZIZLI (55kg), Germany’s Frank STAEBLER (72kg), Turkey’s Emrah KUS (82kg), and Ukraine’s Zhan BELENIUK (87kg) also hold the top spot int their respective weight classes.

The lone non-European top-ranked wrestler is Korea’s Olympic champion Hyeonwoo KIM who is ranked No. 1 at 77kg.

Azizli Lock up Top-Two Seed at 55kg
Azerbaijan’s reigning world champion Eldaniz Azizli (76 points) fell in the semifinals of the European Championships but held onto the No. 1 ranking after collecting 16 Ranking Series points with his 8-0 win over Turkey’s Serif KILIC in the bronze-medal bout in Bucharest.

Azizli, who has 76 points, has locked up a top-two seed at the World Championships.

The only wrestler that has a chance to pass Azizli for the top spot at 55kg is Uzbekistan’s Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (46 points). If the Asian champion wins the final two Ranking Series events (in brackets with 20+ entries) and Azizli sits out, Bakhromov will have a six-point advantage over the Azeri with 82 points.

Kyrgyzstan's 2018 world runner-up Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV sits in third with 40 points. Sharshenbekov will receive 36 points if he were to win the final two Ranking Series events, tieing him with Azizli, but the Azeri would hold the first criteria - which is the highest placement at the World Championships, where Azizli defeated Sharshenbekov to win the gold medal last October.

Turkey’s Budapest bronze medalist Ekrem OZTURK is the fourth-ranked wrestler with 37 points.

55kg Potential Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) vs. No. 4 Ekrem OZTURK (TUR)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB) vs. No. 3 Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)

Emelin Remains No. 1 at 60kg Despite Falling in European Finals
Russia's Sergey Eemlin, the reigning 60kg world champion, holds the top-seed despite falling in the European finals. Emelin, with his 78 points, has an 18 and 36 point advantage over No. 2 Victor CIOBANU (MDA) and No. 3 Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO), respectively, and has locked up at least a top-two seed.

The second-ranked wrestler, Ciobanu, avenged his loss from the world finals by dethroning Emelin at the European Championships and became Moldova’s first-ever European champion. The Moldovan will overthrow the Russian for the top seed if he makes it on the podium at the final two Ranking Series events.

The third-ranked wrestler at 60kg is Croatia’s Ivan Lizatovic. The Croatian currently has 42 points and will be tied with Emelin for the No. 1 seed if he wins out in brackets with 20+ wrestlers, but the Russian holds the criteria because of his world-title performance in Budapest.

China’s WALIHAN Sailike sits in the fourth slot with 39 points after his world bronze-medal finish that was worth 25 points and a fifth-place finish at the Asian Championships that was worth 14 points.

60kg Potential Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Sergey EMELIN (RUS) vs. No. 4 WALIHAN Sailike (CHN)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Victor CIOBANU (MDA) vs. No. 3 Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO)

Maryanyan Follows up 63kg World Gold With European Title
The second straight top-ranked Russian comes at 63kg where reigning world and European champion Stepan Maryanyan sits atop of the world rankings.

Maryanyan, who has 80 points, is coming off a continental title-winning performance after bulldozing the competition in Budapest to reach the top of the European Championship podium for the first time in his career. Because Maryanyan has a 52 point lead over the fourth-ranked wrestler, he could sit out of the final two Ranking Series events and still earn a top-three seed in Nur-Sultan.

The second-ranked wrestler at 63kg is world and Asian runner-up Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB). Tasmuradov, who has 56 points after the Asian Championships, had to pull out of the Asian finals in Xi’an, China, after suffering a lower-body injury.

TUO Erbatu (CHN) and Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) round out the top-four respectively at 63kg.

Tuo, the Asian champion and world fifth-place finisher is ranked third with 50 points, and European fifth-place finisher Slavik Galstyan is ranked fourth with 28 points.

63kg Potential Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) vs. No. 4 Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) vs. No. 3 TUO Erbatu (CHN)

Surkov the Third Russian No.1-Ranked Wrestler
Artem Surkov, the third top-ranked Russian sits atop the 67kg rankings with 78 Ranking Series points. Surkov, the reigning world champion at 67kg, fell to eventual champion Atakan YUKSEL (TUR) in the European finals and fought back to win the bronze medal - which was worth 18 Ranking Series points. This gives the Russian a 38 point lead over fourth-ranked Davor STEFANEK (SRB), meaning Surkov has locked up at least a third seed heading into Nur-Sultan.

World bronze medalists Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) and Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) leaped over Budapest world runner-up Davor Stefanek and owns the second and third spots respectively.

Entering the European Championships, Gevorg Sahakyan had 25 points and earned 20 points by making it to the finals. Though he fell to Turkey’s Atakan Yuksel, Sahakyan was able to leap to the second spot with his 45 points.

The third-ranked wrestler Meiirzhan Shermakhanbet also fell in the continental finals but still jumped Stefanek. Shermakhanbet dropped his Asian finals bout to Korea’s Hansu RYU and was awarded 18 points, catapulting him to the third spot with 43 points.

Davor Stefanek is ranked fourth at 67kg but hasn’t competed this season.

67kg Potential Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Artem SURKOV (RUS) vs. No. 4 Davor STEFANEK (SRB)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) vs. No. 3 Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)

Staebler Ranked First at 72kg But Moving Down to 67kg
Germany’s three-time world champion Frank Staebler (60 points) holds the top-ranking at 72kg but will forfeit his top seed at the World Championships to European bronze medalist Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) (55 points) because of his decision to move down to the Olympic weight of 67kg.

With Mnatsakanian moving up to the one seed, that’ll also bump up Balint KORPASI (HUN) (40 points), Abuiazid MANTSIGOV (RUS) (40 points), and Tarek BENAISSA (ALG) (38 points) to the second through fourth spots respectively.

72kg Potential Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Frank STAEBLER (GER) vs. No. 4 Abuiazid MANTSIGOV
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Aik MNATSAKANIAN vs. No. 3 Balint KORPASI

Kim Wins Asian Title, Skyrockets to Top Spot at 77kg
Korea’s Olympic champion KIM Hyeonwoo has been one of the most active and consistent wrestlers in the world since his bronze-medal finish at the World Championships. Kim has wrestled in the first two Ranking Series events and the Continental Championships. The Korean wrestler won the Asian Championships, and finished with bronze medals at the Zagreb Open and the Hungarian Grand Prix, giving him the No.1 ranking with 71 Ranking Series points.

Serbia’s world and European bronze medalist Viktor NEMES won the first Greco-Roman Ranking Series event, the Zagreb Open and gained the one-point advantage in the latest rankings over reigning world champion Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (60 points) with his 61 points.

Budapest world bronze medalist Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) slid down to the fourth spot with his 40 points.

77kg Potential Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 KIM Hyeonwoo (KOR) vs. No. 4 Tamas LORINCZ (HUN)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Viktor NEMES (SRB) vs. No. 3 Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS)

Bacsi Reties, Kus Moves into Top Spot at 82kg
Turkey’s world runner-up Emrah KUS, with help from his bronze-medal finish at the European Championships, overthrew Hungary’s reigning world champion Peter BACSI for the No.1 ranking at 82kg.

But, since Bacsi’s won his world title on home soil in Budapest, the Hungarian has retired. With Bacsi going out on a high note, this leaves the second spot open, moving up the third through fifth-ranked wrestlers.

Come Nur-Sultan, Kus will remain in the first spot, but Saeid ABDVALI (IRI) (38 points), Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR) (37 points), and Rajbek BISULTANOV (DEN) (34 points) each receive a bump from Bacsi’s retirement and will be the second through fourth-ranked wrestlers respectively at 82kg.

82kg Potential Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Emrah KUS (TUR) vs. No. 4 Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Peter BACSI (HUN) vs. No. 3 Saeid ABDVALI (IRI)

Beleniuk Bumps out Basar for First Ranking at 87kg
After two-time reigning world champion Metehan BASAR fell to a twelfth-place finish at the European championships and failed to collect any Ranking Series points, Ukraine’s world runner-up Zhan BELENIUK jumped over the Turkish wrestler for the No. 1 spot at 87kg with his European-title performance in Bucharest.

Hungary’s U23 world champion Erik SZILVASSY finished in third place at the European championships and is ranked No. 3 in the world with 44 points. But, Hungary has a difficult decision to make heading into the World Championships because fifth-ranked Viktor LORINCZ has a pair of wins over Szilvassy and has won the first two Ranking Series events.

Azerbaijan’s European runner-up Islam ABBASOV finds himself sandwiched between both of the Hungarian wrestlers in the fourth spot. Abbasov would benefit from Lorincz getting the starting spot, as he’ll move up to the third seed, with Lorincz coming into the fourth seed.

87kg Potential Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) vs. No. 4 Islam ABBASOV (AZE)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Metehan BASAR (TUR) vs. No. 3 Erik SZILVASSY (HUN)

Evloev Remains No. 1 at 97kg After Adding European Title to Resume
Russia’s Musa Evloev kept his top-ranking after adding a European title to his resume with a win over Kiril MILOV in the European finals. Evloev has come out on the winning end of the world and European gold-medal bouts against Milov and owns the eight-point lead over the Bulgarian wrestler. Evloev has 82 points and Milov has 74 points heading into the final pair of Ranking Series events.

America’s Tracy HANCOCK and Iran’s Mahdi ALIYARIFEIZABADI are ranked third and fourth respectively.

Hancock, the Pan-American runner-up, has a pair of Ranking Series medals on his resume from this year and has 48 points. The American won the Hungarian Grand Prix and finished with a bronze medal at the Zagreb Open and owns a nine-point lead over fourth-ranked Mahdi Aliyarifeizabadi.

Aliyarifeizabadi, the world and Asian bronze medal finisher, has 39 points heading into the final pair of Ranking Series events.

97kg Potential Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Musa EVLOEV (RUS) vs. No. 4 Mahdi ALIYARIFEIZABADI (IRI)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Kiril MILOV (BUL) vs. No. 3 Tracy HANCOCK (USA)

Semenov Sits Atop of Rankings At 130kg
Russia’s reigning world champion Sergey SEMENOV fell in the European semifinals to Georgia’s Iakobi KAJAIA and battled back for a bronze medal – but holds the top ranking with 76 points after the conclusion of the Continental Championships.

Semenov has a 39 point lead over Korea’s fourth-seeded KIM Minseok (37 points) and has locked up at least a top-four seed in Nur-Sultan.

The second-ranked wrestler at 130kg is American Adam COON, who added to his 40-point world silver medal with a Pan-American gold medal. Coon sits 16 points behind Semenov with 60 points.

Estonia’ Heiki NABI and Korea’s Kim Minseok round of the top four of the 130kg ranking with 52 and 37 points respectively.

130kg Potential Semifinals
SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) vs. No. 4 Minseok KIM (KOR)
SEMIFINAL – No. 2 Adam COON (USA) vs. No. 3 Heiki NABI (EST)

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships Day 1: Freestyle Finals Set

Thursday, April 11, 2024 - 04:19 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 11) -- The Asian Championships kick off in Bishkek with five Freestyle weight classes. World champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) will look to defend his 97kg title while a rematch of the Asian Games final at 65kg between Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) and Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) is on the cards.

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Here are the final bouts for the evening session

57kg - Kento YUMIYA (JPN) vs. UDIT (IND)

65kg - Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) vs. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)

70kg - Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) vs. Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN)

74kg - Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) vs. Byambadorj ENKHBAYAR (MGL)

97kg - Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) vs. Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ)

14:41: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) put on a display worthy of a reigning world champion when he forged an 8-2 victory in the 97kg semifinals over two-time former Asian champion Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI). In what could be arguably called the de facto gold-medal match, Tazhudinov scored a double-leg takedown in the first period, then repeated it in the second. Mohammadian used a low single to pick up a leg and gain a stepout, with a caution point tacked on. But Tazhudinov gained a 2-point exposure as he fought off a counter lift on a takedown attempt, then added a counter 2 of his own for the final points.

14:35: 92kg world champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ), who is wrestling at 97kg for the second time in his career, gets a low single over VICKY (IND) for the first takedown and leads 2-0. He exposes Vicky in the danger zone to make it 4-0. A double leg for four before he scores another four using the underhook throw and wins 13-0. Aitmukhan moves into the 97kg final.

14:29: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) rolls to a 6-0 lead over ROHIT (IND) in the 65kg semifinal as he continues to use his underhook to great effect and get a takedown. A stepout is all the action in the second period as Tumur Ochir wins 7-0 to enter the final against Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI).

14:27: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) is looking good in his quest for a three-peat at 65kg, having little trouble putting away Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB) 10-0 in their semifinal clash. The former world champion had a 4-point takedown in the first period and led 9-0 going into second, where he finished off his opponent with a stepout for a 10-0 win at 3:29.

14:19: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) scores a takedown with a slick ankle pick and goes right into a roll to take a 4-0 lead against Magomet EVLOEV (TJK) in their 79kg semifinal. The Iranian pads the lead to 9-0 before the break, but it would not be until there were 45 seconds left that he would finish the match with a takedown off a counter for an 11-0 win.

14:15: Byambadorj ENKHBAYAR (MGL) puts Mongolia in the 79kg final with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Asomiddin KHASANOV (UZB). Enkhbayar led 6-0 after a takedown and two turns. He adds a takedown and turn in the second period to set up the final against Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI)

14:07: Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) continued his quest for gold in his first appearance at the senior Asian Championships with a solid 8-3 victory over Mustafo AKHMEDOV (TJK) in the 70kg semifinals. The two-time world medalist scored two takedowns in the first period, following the first one with a gut wrench. He added another takedown in the second period to all but clinch the victory.

14:00: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) hits a low single on ABHIMANYOU (IND) and elevates for a throw but the Indian doesn't land in danger. Aoyagi goes behind for a takedown and scores turn to lead 4-0. A front headlock exposure to add two more points and a counter takedown to make it 8-0. Aoyagi with a turn to finish 10-0 and win the 70kg semifinal.

13:54: Kento YUMIYA (JPN) hangs on for a nail-biting 4-2 win over Meirambak KARTBAY (KAZ) in the 57kg semifinals. Yumiya, who won Japan's qualifier for the World U23 Championships, scores a low single-leg takedown for the lone points of the first period. He then gives up an activity point, then a stepout with 32 seconds to go, which knots the score but keeps him ahead on criteria. Kartbay gets in on a driving takedown, but Yumiya reaches back to counter and somehow flips out of the situation and lands at the legs of Kartbay, who he then drives out for a stepout. An unsuccessful challenge makes it 4-2.

13:45: In the 57kg semifinal on Mat C, UDIT (IND) with a takedown just before the break to lead 2-1 against Kum Hyok KIM (PRK). The lead extends to 3-1 as Kim is put on the activity clock in the second period. But Kim gets exposure to lead 3-3 on criteria. Udit scores a reversal and takes back the lead 4-3. Kim with some solid attacks in the final minute but Udit hangs on for a win and enters the final.

13:40: Asian Games champion Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) with two passivity points and one stepout in the match to win 3-0 against Hyon Song HAN (PRK) and enter the semifinal against ROHIT (IND) at 65kg.

13:35: Two-time former champion Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) wastes little time in ousting Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL) in the 97kg quarterfinals in a rematch of the 2022 final won by the Iranian. Mohammadian scores a takedown, then rips off four gut wrenches back-and-forth for a 10-0 win in 2:23. Next up is Tazhudinov for a place in the final.

13:30: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) led 5-0 at the break against Seonho YOO (KOR) in the 65kg quarterfinal. He keeps Yoo at a distance in the second period to win 7-0.

13:23: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) begins his 97kg quarterfinal against Hibiki ITO (JPN) with a takedown, then locks up the lower legs and twists him over for 2. A double-leg takedown, then an ankle pick for 2 made it 8-0. Ito, whose mother won an Olympic gold medal in volleyball for Japan, managed to take the match into the second period. But his shot at a takedown was met with a counter lift that ended the match at 3:25

13:13: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) moved closer to a possible showdown with fellow world champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) when he easily disposed of Makhsud VEYSALOV (UZB) 11-0 to advance to the 97kg semifinals.

13:07: In a clash between current and past world bronze medalists, Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) builds up a 6-0 lead, then fends off Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ) and the partisan crowd for a 9-4 victory to advance to the 70kg semifinals.

13:01: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), a bronze medalist in 2023, finishes up an 11-0 victory over Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB) with a pair of front body lock throws to gain a place in the 70kg semifinals.

12:50: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) hangs to defeat Khidir SAIPUDNINOV (BRN) 5-4 to advance to the 79kg semifinals. Nokhodi put it into cruise control with a 5-0 lead, only to give up a pair of late takedowns and have to spend the final seconds fighting off a gut wrench attempt.

12:47: Kum Hyok PAK (PRK), an Asian cadet champion back in 2015, looks very sharp in ousting 2022 world bronze medalist Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) at 57kg, winning 5-0 to set up a semifinal with UDIT (IND)

12:45: Kento YUMIYA (JPN), making his senior UWW debut, enters the semifinal at 57kg with a 10-1 win over Changjun PARK (KOR). He will wrestle Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) for a place in the final.

12:40: Almaz SHAMBEKOV (KGZ), who was aiming to improve on his silver medal from a year ago at 57kg, will now have to settle for bronze at best. He led 4-0 more than halfway through the second period of his quarterfinal against UDIT (IND), only to give up a pair of takedowns to fall behind on criteria, then completely fall apart in being dealt a 6-4 loss.

12:31: The quarterfinals have begun on Mat B, where Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) prevails 3-0 over Nodirbek JUMANAZAROV (UZB) at 57kg. The top-seeded Kartbay gets an activity point in the first period and a spin-behind takedown in the second to book a place in the semifinals.

12:30: Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB) had to dig deep to get his 4-2 win over Muhammad ABDULLAH (PAK). The Pakistan wrestler was leading 2-2 on criteria but Rakhmanov pushed him out of the zone to take a 3-2 lead with 2 minutes remaining. Abdullah got a front headlock exposure in the last second but a review showed that the time was over before he could finish the move.

12:05: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ), the world champion at 92kg who has moved up to 97kg and is attempting to capture a third straight Asian gold, gets a takedown in each period en route to a 6-0 victory over Andrei ARONOV (KGZ).

11:51: Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ) got a bit creative in his victory over Shijian ZHOU (CHN) at 79kg. Getting in on a double, he had his head between the Chinese's legs. No matter, he managed to stand up, then hit a roll at the edge for 4. He went on to win 11-3. His reward is a quarterfinal meeting with world bronze medalist Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI).

11:39: Ryunosuke KAMIYA (JPN), the 2022 world U20 silver medalist, ekes out a 3-0 victory at 79kg over Parvinder SINGH (IND) to book a spot in the quarterfinals

11:35: In a 79kg thriller on Mat A, Adilet MARATBAEV (KGZ) is trailing 4-3 when he pulls off a desperate front body lift to turn Magomet EVLOEV (TJK). But Evloev went with the flow and got behind at the buzzer for 1, putting him ahead 5-5 on criteria. A Kyrgyz challenge is lost, making Evloev a 6-5 winner.

11:28: The 79kg wrestlers are on the mat, and Khadir SAIPUNDINOV (BRN) overwhelms Gurbanmyrat OVEZBERDIYEV TKM) 11-0 to earn a quarterfinal clash with top-seed and world bronze medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI).

11:28: A rematch of the U20 Asian Championships from last year between UDIT (IND) and Ebrahim KHARI (IRI) with the Indian again breaking the Iranian wrestler in the second period. Khari raced to a 6-1 lead but Udit scored two takedowns and got a point for caution. Khari stormed back with another takedown to lead 8-6 but Udit with a double-leg attack and exposure to hang on for a 10-8 win at 57kg.

11: 21: Kum Hyok (PRK), the first wrestler from the DPR Korea to take the mat as the nation returns to the Asian Championships for the first time since 2019, scores two second-period takedowns in a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over Aiaal BELOLYUBSKII (TJK) at 57kg.

11:19: Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL), a 2022 world bronze medalist, builds up a 6-0 lead in his qualification match at 57kg against Muhammad BILAL (PAK), then gives up a nice single-leg takedown. Zandanbud scores a takedown to go into the break up 8-2. That's how it ends and Zandanbud is into the quarterfinals.

11:10: World U20 bronze medalist Nodirbek JUMANAZAROV (UZB) starts the action on Mat A with a one-sided victory over Kabe MATJANOV (TKM). He will next face top seed Meiranbek KARTBAY (KAZ).

11:00: Welcome to a very sunny day in Bishkek for the Asian Championships. Wrestlers in 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg will be on the mat for the day.

European Nations Own Nine of Ten Top Spots in Greco-Roman

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Asian Championships Day 1: Freestyle Finals Set