SZOMBATHELY, Hungary (March 7-8) – World champion Peter BACSI (HUN) shrugged off a loss at last month’s World Cup and led three compatriots to titles at the Hungarian Grand Prix of Greco-Roman wrestling.

Bacsi, who dropped a 6-7 decision to world silver medalist Evgeny SALEEV (RUS) two weeks ago in Tehran, forged three solid victories at 80kg before turning away European bronze medalist Giorgi TSIREKIDZE (GEO) in the championship final.

Joining Bacsi on the top step of the medals podium for Hungary were World Cup teammate Balint KORPASI (71kg), 2013 world bronze medalist Balasz KISS (98kg) and freestyle wrestler Daniel LIGETI (130kg).

Korpasi, who notched a pair of wins in Hungary’s march to fifth place in the World Cup, defeated Takhti Cup winner Ramin TAHERISARTANG (IRI), 3-1, on his way to the 71kg crown.

Kiss, last year’s Golden Grand Prix Final winner, edged Alin ALEXUC-CIURARIU (ROU), 2-1, in the semifinals and Daigoro TIMONCINI (ITA), 1-0, in the 98kg final. Alexcu-Ciurariu finished fifth in last year’s world meet in Tashkent while Timoncini was third last year in Szombathely.

Freestyle wrestler Ligeti, who has dabbled in Greco-Roman in recent years, won in a walk-over over Balint LAM (HUN) in the 130kg final when the university world champion was unable to appear due to an injury suffered in the semifinals.

Ligeti, meanwhile, defeated two-time former world champion Heiki NABI (EST), 1-0, in the semifinals on his side of the bracket for his first international triumph in the classic style.

In other finals, Zagreb Open bronze medalist Viktor NEMES (SRB) defeated local favorite Laszlo SZABO (HUN) at 75kg, while Danijel JANECIC (CRO) rolled over Zagreb Open winner Dominik ETLINGER (CRO), 8-2, in an all-Croatia final at 66kg.

Schultz Memorial winner Jordan HOLM (USA) won his first title in Europe with 4-2 victory at 85kg over Kristoffer JOHANSSON (SWE) while Copa Brasil winner Shinobu OTA (JPN) romped to a 9-0 technical fall over Spenser MANGO (USA) at 59kg for his second international title in a row.

Medal Match Results

59kg (33 entries)
Gold – Shinobu OTA (JPN) df. Spenser MANGO (USA) by TF, 9-0
Bronze – Stig Andre BERGE (NOR) df. Zhanserik SARSENBAEV (KAZ), 8-2
Bronze – Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) df. Mihai MIHUT (ROU), 13-13

66kg (42 entries)
Gold – Danijel JANECIC (CRO) df. Dominik ETLINGER (CRO), 8-2
Bronze – Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) df. Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) by DQ
Bronze – Revaz LASHKHI (GEO) df. Mate NEMES (SRB), 5-1

71kg (19 entries)
Gold – Balint KORPASI (HUN) df. Ilie COJOCARI (ROU), 5-0
Bronze – Nurzhan NADYROV (KAZ) df. Nicolas CHRISTEN (SUI) by TF, 8-0
Bronze – Ramin TAHERISARTANG (IRJ) df. Mindia TSULUKIDZE (GEO), 3-2

75kg (37 entries)
Gold – Viktor NEMES (SRB) df. Laszlo SZABO (HUN), 5-4
Bronze – Payam BOUYERI (IRI) df.  Valdemaras VENCKAITIS (LTU) by FF, 0:00
Bronze – Mykola DARAGAN (UKR) df. Manuchar TSKHADAIA (GEO) by TF, 8-0

80kg (23 entries)
Gold – Peter BACSI (HUN) df. Giorgi TSIREKIDZE (GEO), 2-0
Bronze – Andrey BIELYKH (UKR) df. Ashkat DILMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ), 2-0
Bronze – Joe RAU (USA) df. Ali ZINATIREFAH (IRI) by TF, 10-2

85kg (31 entries)
Gold – Jordan HOLM (USA) df. Kristofer JOHANSSON (SWE), 4-2
Bronze – Mate SOPADZE (GEO) df. Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ), 4-2
Bronze – Vasyl RACHYBA (UKR) df. Rasmus TJORSTAD (NOR), 2-0

98kg (27 entries)
Gold – Balasz KISS (HUN) df. Daigoro TIMONCINI (ITA), 1-0
Bronze – Alin ALEXUC-CIURARIU (RUO) df. Ivan NEMETH (HUN), 5-0
Bronze – Timofei DEYNICHENKO (BLR) df. Zsolt TOROK (HUN), 4-0 

130kg (18 entries)
Gold – Daniel LIGETI (HUN) df. Balint LAM (HUN) by FF, 0:00
Bronze – Kiril GRISHCHENKO (BLR) df. Mindaugas MIZGAITIS (LTU), 2-0
Bronze – Heiki NABI (EST) df. Tiberiu BARBAZAN (ROU) by TF, 9-0