#WrestleRome

Kuchmii Crushes Kayaalp's Quest for a Tenth European Title

By Eric Olanowski

ROME, Italy (February 10) --- Mykola KUCHMII (UKR) shocked Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the quarterfinals and halted the Turkish big man’s quest to win a tenth European title.

Kuchmii scored five unanswered points against Kayaalp, the four-time world champion, and handed the Turkish wrestler his first loss at the European Championships since 2009. He’ll wrestle Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) in tonight’s 130kg semifinals.

Alexuc Ciurariu, a two-time European bronze medalist, defeated Zurabi GEDEKHAURI (RUS) and Rio Olympic bronze medalist Sabah SHARIATI (AZE) on his road to the semifinals.

The other 130kg semifinal will feature Arvi Martin SAVOLAINEN (FIN) and Levan ARABULI (GEO).

At 55kg, Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) will battle Vitalii KABALOEV (RUS) in a matchup of the reigning world champion and reigning European champion. Tsurtsumia, the top-ranked wrestler in the world at 55kg, won the pair’s latest meeting, which came at the 2019 World Championships. The Georgian won that quarterfinals match in Nur-Sutlan, 8-3.

On the opposite side of the bracket, 2018 world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) will square off against Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL). Nazaryan, a 2019 cadet world bronze medalist, is making his debut at the senior level. He has one appearance at the U15 level and seven showings at the cadet level but hasn’t appeared at any junior or U23 events.

Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) will wrestle Islam ABBASOV (AZE) for a spot in the 87kg finals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Second-ranked Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) will go toe-to-toe with reigning European silver medalist Islam ABBASOV (AZE) in one of the 87kg semifinals.

Age-group stars Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) and Semen NOVIKOV (UKR) will wrestle in the second 87kg semifinal. Komarov is a four-time age-group world champion, and Novikov, who is replacing top-ranked Zhan BELENIUK (UKR), is the reigning two-time U23 world champion.

Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR) will wrestle the U23 world bronze medalist Maksim NEHODA (BLR) in the first semifinal at 63kg. Berge, a Rio Olympic bronze medalist, is trying to make it to his third consecutive European finals and fourth overall.

Mihai MIHUT (ROU) and Ibragim LABAZANOV (RUS) will tango in the second 63kg semifinal. Mihut is in the hunt to get back to his second European final and first since he won the 2018 title.

If Mihut and Berge win on Monday night, it'll set up a rematch of the 2018 European finals, which the Romanian won, 3-2. 

Zotlan LEVAI (HUN) will wrestle Volodymyr YAKOVLIEV (UKR) in the 77kg semifinals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

At 77kg, Zotlan LEVAI (HUN) defeated 2019 world silver medalist Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) and two-time age-group world champion Islam OPIEV (RUS) on his way to the semifinals. He'll meet Volodymyr YAKOVLIEV (UKR) for a spot in the Tuesday night finals. 

Fifth-ranked Chalyan downed Nicolas Peter CHRISTEN (SUI), Pavel LIAKH (BLR) and 2017 world champion Viktor NEMES (SRB), and will see Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) in the other 77kg semifinal.

The Day One Greco-Roman semifinals kick-off at 16:00 (local time) and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

 SEMIFINAL PAIRINGS
55kg
SEMIFINAL - Vitalii KABALOEV (RUS) vs. Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) 
SEMIFINAL - Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) vs. Edmond Armen NAZARYAN (BUL)

63kg
SEMIFINAL - Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR) vs. Maksim NEHODA (BLR) 
SEMIFINAL - Mihai Radu MIHUT (ROU) vs. Ibragim LABAZANOV (RUS)

77kg 
SEMIFINAL - Karapet CHALYAN (ARM) vs. Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE)
SEMIFINAL - Volodymyr YAKOVLIEV (UKR) vs. Zotlan LEVAI (HUN)

87kg
SEMIFINAL - Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) vs. Islam ABBASOV (AZE) 
SEMIFINAL - Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) vs. Semen NOVIKOV (UKR)

130kg
SEMIFINAL - Arvi Martin SAVOLAINEN (FIN) vs. Levan ARABULI (GEO) 
SEMIFINAL - Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) vs. Mykola KUCHMII (UKR)  

SCHEDULE 
Monday (February 10)
18:00 - Semifinal GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg

Tuesday (February 11)
8:30 - Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
8:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-72-82-97kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
11:30 - Repechage GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
15:30 - Technical conference – all WW teams
15:30 -Draw WW – All weight categories
16:45 - Semi Final GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
18: 00 - Finals GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
18:00 - Award ceremonies

Wednesday (February 12)
8:30 - Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
8:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
11:30 - Repechage GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg 
16:45 - Semi Final WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
18:00 - Finals GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
18:00 - Award ceremonies

Thursday (February 13)
8:30 - Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
8:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
11:30 - Repechage WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
14:00 - Technical conference – all FS teams
14:00 - Draw FS – All weight categories
16:45 - page4image515539072Semi Final WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
18:00 - Finals WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
18:00 - Award ceremonies

Friday (February 14)
8:30 - Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
8:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
11:30 - Repechage WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
16:45 - Semi Final FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg 
18:00 - Finals WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
18:00 - Award ceremonies 

Saturday (February 15)
8:30 - Weigh-in FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg 
8:45 - Medical Examination & Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg 
11:30 - Repechage FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg 
16:45 - Semi Final FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
18:00 - Finals FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
18:00 -Award ceremonies 

Sunday (February 16)
8:30 - Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
16:00 - Repechage FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg 
18:00 - Finals FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
18:00 -Award ceremonies
21:30 - Final banquet

#WrestleBelgrade

World Championships WW 50kg, 57kg, 65kg, 76kg semis set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 19) -- The World Championships will see the first women's wrestling Olympic weight classes in action with 50kg, 57kg and 76kg. A non-Olympic weight is also in action -- 65kg. Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), Helen MAROULIS (USA), Adeline GRAY (USA), Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) are some names in action.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | SADULAEV UPDATE

14:54: Literally seconds apart, Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) and Helen MAROULIS (USA) set up a rematch of last year's final at 57kg, this time in the semifinals. Sakurai, aiming for her third straight world title and second in a row at 57kg, disposed of 2022 bronze medalist Anhelina LYSAK (POL), scoring three takedowns in a 7-0 victory. On the adjacent mat, Maroulis had one blip against European silver medalist Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), getting stuffed on a gut-wrench attempt to give up 2, but otherwise was in control in an 8-3 victory. Sakurai beat Maroulis 3-0 in last year's final.

14:50: A 1-1 criteria victory for Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) over Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) in the 57kg. Kamaloglu held on to her passivity lead if her life depended on it.

14:45: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) gets Odunayo ADEKUROYE (NGR) in an arm trap and turns her until the referee blows the whistle. Nichita, who pinned Adekuroye in the Tokyo Olympics after being 8-0 down, has looked extremely dominant so far.

14:40: Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL), the losing finalist last year to Susaki, manhandles two-time European bronze medalist Kseniya STANKEVICH (AIN) 12-1 to advance to the 50kg semifinals. She will face Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), a wrestler the Mongolian beat in the semis a year ago. The American has since avenged that loss with a technical superiority win in the Budapest Ranking Series.

14:40: Marquee match-up on Mat D. Four-time Olympic medalist Mariya STADNIK (AZE) is wrestling Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA). The two exchange takedowns with Hildebrandt leading 4-3. But Stadnik feels the heat and gives up easy takedowns and Hildebrandt builds a 12-3 lead before a lace to finish 12-3.

14:33: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) a fall over Emilia VUC (ROU) and she moves to the 50kg semifinals. On a different level.

14:30: Another one of the sport's titans has fallen! Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) scores a takedown in each period and never gives six-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) an opening to win 4-1 for the biggest victory of her young career. Gray's lone point comes on the activity clock.

14:27: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) was looking for a fall over Milaimys MARIN (CUB) but the Cuban survives but Alpeyeyeva holds a 2-2 lead. But Marin with a buzzer-beater to win and book a spot in the 76kg semifinal 

14:23: Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) with a high lift and feet to back to get the fall over Samar HAMZA (EGY). Egypt challenged the call for a stepout but it was continuous action and Renteria won.

14:14: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), deprived of a chance to defend her 62kg title when she lost out at the Japan trials, moved closer to the consolation prize of a 65kg gold by moving into the semifinals with a one-sided 9-0 victory over Kadriye AKSOY (TUR). Ozaki showed she could handle the extra weight of three powerful takedowns in the first period. She scores a stepout the second, then spends the rest of the period locked up with Aksoy, who gets underhooks and futilely attempts back trips. Ozaki thwarts a desperation lateral drop at the end for her final 2 points.

14:00: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) holds on to a 6-4 lead over SARITA (IND) in the 57kg 1/8 final and moves to the quarterfinals in which she will face Anastasia NICHITA (MDA).

13:34: Helen MAROULIS (USA) remains laser-focused in her mission to regain the 57kg title, making short work of Graciela SANCHEZ DIAZ (ESP) in a 10-0 victory in 2:13 to advance to the quarterfinals, where European silver medalist Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) awaits.

13:30: NEELAM (UWW) stops Oksana LIVACH (UKR) in the 50kg 1/8 finals with a 4-2 win. She will however have Ziqi FENG (CHN) in the quarterfinal

13:06: A dream match has been set up in the 50kg quarterfinals, where ageless Mariya STADNIK (AZE) and Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) will square off after victories by technical superiority. Stadnik finds various ways to score in beating Polinia LUKINA (AIN) 12-1, and Hildebrandt follows with a takedown-lace lock 10-0 win over Miseon KWON (KOR).

12:57: Returning 76kg bronze medalist Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) scores a takedown while on the activity clock, then adds two more in a 6-0 win over Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN). Her reward? A shot at Adeline GRAY (USA) in the quarterfinals.

12:50: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) gave up a point but then punished Alisson CARDOZO (COL) with a lace and won her first bout at 50kg 12-1.

12:35: Adeline GRAY (USA) with an 11-0 technical superiority over returning bronze medalist Epp MAE (EST). Gray is returning to international competition after two years and looking to become a seven-time world champion which will make her the most successful wrestler from the United States

12:19: Helen MAROULIS (USA) gets her bid for a fourth world title at 57kg off to a rousing start, scoring 4 with nifty fireman's carry against Nes RODRIGUEZ (PUR). She builds up a 10-point lead as she stacks up her opponent and ends the match with a fall.

12:14: Olympic silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) snatches a victory from the jaws of defeat at 57kg in an ill-tempered clash between neutral athletes. She had just given up a takedown to fall behind 4-0 against Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (AIN) when she went to a cradle off a takedown and secured a fall at 4:10.

12:05: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), who became Moldova's first-ever female world champion when she won the 59kg gold last year, got off to a good start at the Olympic weight of 57kg by whipping Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL). Nichita charged to an 8-0 lead, then threw Nikolova to her back for a fall in just over two minutes.

11:52: In a freestyle 97kg repechage match, three-time champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) bounces back from his stunning quarterfinal loss to Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) by defeating Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) 10-6 to advance to the bronze-medal match later today. Snyder gave up a 4-point counter lift, but had a 4-point cradle of his own to put away the two-time Asian champion.

11:34: Anna LUKASIAK (POL), a bronze medalist a year ago at 50kg, gives up a pair of stepouts and that proves the difference in a 2-1 loss to European silver medalist Oksana LIVICH (UKR)

11:25: Returning bronze medalist Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) starts with a pin over Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) at 76kg. She lost to Yasemin ADAR (TUR) last year but Adar is not wrestling this year.

11:07: Two years away from the world stage to get married and have twins, and six-time champion Adeline GRAY (USA) spends just 31 seconds in her opening match at women's 76kg. A takedown to lace lock, four spins and that's it for Jimin BAEK (KOR). The unseeded Gray will next face longtime foe Epp MAE (EST) in a rematch of the 2021 world final.

11:05: A takedown to a lace lock and 2021 world bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) finishes off an 11-0 rout of Catalina AXENTE (ROU) at women's 76kg.

11:00: Macey KILTY (USA) channels the Greco wrestlers when she hits a 4-point back suplex to cap a 10-0 win over Valeriia DONDUPOVA SUVOROVA (AIN) in the qualification round at women's 65kg

10:30: Welcome to day four of the World Championships. A big breaking news to start the day as Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) has forfeited his repechage bout which means that Japan will remain without an Olympic quota here.