#BudaWrestle2018

Chakaev Knocks Off 2 World Champs to Reach Semifinals

By Andrew Hipps

BUDAPEST, Hungry (October 21) – Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) knocked off two world champions en route to reaching the semifinals at 65kg on Sunday at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

Chakaev, a 2016 world bronze medalist, opened with a 7-5 victory over 2016 world champion Logan STIEBER (USA). After a picking up an 8-3 victory over Sirojiddin KHASANOV (UZB), the Russian squared off against Olympic and world champion Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO). 

Chakaev dominated Khinchegashvili, picking up a 10-0 technical fall in the quarterfinals. He used two takedowns to go up 4-0 and then broke the match open late in the first period off a four-point takedown. He will now face past cadet world champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), who also won by technical fall in the quarterfinals. 

On the bottom side of the bracket at 65kg, returning world bronze medalist Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB) topped three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE).

Valdes Tobier, who pinned Aliyev at the Freestyle World Cup, used a first-period takedown to notch a 2-0 victory over Aliyev on Sunday at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. The Cuban carried the momentum in his next two matches, two technical fall victories to earn a spot in tonight's semifinals at 65kg. He will face Bajrang BAJRANG (IND).

The two returning world finalists at 57kg, Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) and Thomas GILMAN (USA), reached the semifinals. 

The returning world champion Takahashi was pushed in his quarterfinal match, but prevailed 4-1 over Uladzislau ANDREYEU (BLR). The victory sets him up for a semifinal matchup against Zavur UGUEV (RUS), who shut out U-23 world champion Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB) 6-0. 

Gilman, a silver medalist in Paris, blanked Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) 4-0. His opponent in tonight's semifinals is Asian champion Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ). 

At 92kg, Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI), a 2015 world bronze medalist, shut out 2012 Olympic champion Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) in the quarterfinals, and followed it up with a 12-1 technical fall in the quarterfinals over past cadet world champion Batyrbek TCAKULOV (RUS). In the semifinals he faces Olympic and world bronze medalist J'Den COX (USA).

Ivan YANKOUSKI (BLR) was unscored upon in two matches to reach the semifinals in the top side of the bracket at 92kg. He now faces Atsushi MATSUMOTO (JPN), a 3-2 winner over Atsushi MATSUMOTO (JPN).

Competing in his first World Championships, Kyle DAKE (USA) showcased strong par terre in the quarterfinals at 79kg as he dominated 2011 world bronze medalist Davit KHUTSISHVILI (GEO) 11-0. The victory pits him against European champion Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS), who shut out Unurbat PUREVJAV (MGL) 6-0 in the quarterfinals. 

Olympic bronze medalist Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) advanced to the semifinals at 79kg with a 6-0 win over returning world bronze medalist Ali SHABANAU (BLR).

The semifinals are set to take place at 5:45 p.m. local time. 

Semifinal Matchups 

57kg 
Zavur UGUEV (RUS) vs. Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN)
Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) vs. Thomas GILMAN (USA)

65kg 
Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) vs. Takuto OTOGURO (JPN)
Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB) vs. Bajrang BAJRANG (IND)

79kg 
Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) vs. Kyle DAKE (USA)
Ezzatollah AKBARIZARINKOLAEI (IRI) vs. Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE)

92kg 
Atsushi MATSUMOTO (JPN) vs. Ivan YANKOUSKI (BLR)
Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) vs. J'Den COX (USA)

#BudaWrestle2018

Staebler Comes Back to Defeat Zhadrayev in 2017 World Finals Rematch

By Andrew Hipps

BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 25) -- Two-time world champion Frank STAEBLER (GER) came from behind late to defeat Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) in the quarterfinals at 72kg in a rematch from last year's world finals match at 71kg in Paris. It was one of the highlight matches in Thursday's opening session of Greco-Roman at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

Zhadrayev led 6-0 in the second period, but Staebler worked his way back into the match. He used a four-point throw with just over a minute left to take the lead and help complete the comeback.

Staebler will now face 2015 world champion Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE), a 6-4 winner over Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) in the quarterfinals.

Another world champion at 72kg, Balint KORPASI (HUN), a local favorite, was impressive in Thursday's opening session, picking up two technical falls without surrendering a point. In the quarterfinals he defeated Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA) 8-0. He meets Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) in the semifinals. 

Returning world bronze medalist Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) made quick work of Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) in the quarterfinals at 63kg, picking up an 8-0 technical fall midway through the first period. Maryanyan now faces Hassan MOHAMED (EGY).

Olympic bronze medalist Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) cruised into the semifinals at 63kg with a 9-0 technical fall over Donior ISLAMOV (MDA). His opponent in the semifinals will be 2010 junior world bronze medalist. Lenur TEMIROV (UKR).

At 82kg, a pair of world champions advanced to the semifinals at 82kg, Saeid ABDVALI (IRI) and Peter BACSI (HUN), while another Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM) fell in the quarterfinals. 

2013 world bronze medalist Emrah KUS (TUR) edged the returning champion Manukyan 2-1. 

Abdavali, a 2011 world champion and returning world bronze medalist, shut out Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) 3-0 in the quarterfinals. Bacsi held on to defeat Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ) 2-1. Yerezhepov cut the deficit to one point late in the match but was unable to score again. 

Abdavali will face Kus in the semifinals, while Bacsi will meet Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ).

Nineteen-year-old Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), a junior world finalist in 2017, shined in the opening session at 55kg, picking up two technical falls without surrendering a point to reach the semifinals. He will meet top-seeded Ekrem OZTURK (TUR), a world university champion who had fall and 7-0 victory. 

On the bottom side of the bracket at 55kg, two-time junior world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) rolled to the semifinals with three dominant victories. He will face multiple-time junior world medalist Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) in the semifinals. Tsurtsumia was pushed in his second match by VasilII TOPOEV (RUS) but prevailed 11-9. 

The semifinals are scheduled to begin at 4:45 p.m. local time.

Semifinal Matchups

Greco-Roman 

55kg
Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) vs. Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) vs. Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) 

63kg
Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) vs. Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) 
Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) vs. Hassan MOHAMED (EGY) 

72kg
Balint KORPASI (HUN) vs. Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) 
Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) vs. Frank STAEBLER (GER)

82kg
Saeid Morad ABDVALI (IRI) vs. Emrah KUS (TUR
Peter BACSI (HUN) vs. Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ)