Chamizo and Gazimagomedov to Collide in Sunday's European Finals

Saturday, February 15, 2020 - 17:49 By Eric Olanowski

ROME, Italy (February 15) --- Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) and Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) will collide in a colossal matchup of two-time world champions on Sunday night for the 74kg European title.

Chamizo, the 2015 and ’17 world champion, started his day off with a 6-5 win over fellow Rio Olympic bronze medalist, Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR). The pair combined to score ten points in the first period, but Chamizo’s three takedowns trumped Demirtas’ two takedowns, as the Italian won, 6-4.

In his second match, Chamizo tossed Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) with a picturesque throw and moved into the quarterfinals with a fall over the young Azeri.

In the quarterfinals, he shutout Valentin BORZIN (MDA), 8-0, setting up a semifinals matchup against Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN). Chamizo blanked the Hungarian, 6-0, and will wrestle in the European finals for the fifth time in his career. He’s 3-1 in his previous four trips to the finals and hasn’t dropped a gold-medal match since losing to Olympic champion Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) in the 2015 European Games finals.

Chamizo will wrestle Gazimagomedov for the second time in their career and first since the 2017 Ali Aliev Tournament, where he won, 11-5.

Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) finishes a shot against Stefanov KIROV (BUL) in the semifinals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Gazimagomedov, the 2015 and ’18 world champion, won three matches on Saturday. His top win came in the quarterfinals when he grabbed the 9-2 victory over 2018 world runner-up Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO). Gazimagomedov’s other Saturday wins came against Jonatan ALVAREZ DIAZ (ESP) and Miroslav Stefanov KIROV (BUL). He defeated his Spanish opponent, 10-0, then downed his Bulgarian foe, 11-0.

Gazimagomedov, who replaced Russia's other two-time world champion Zaubek SIDAKOV (RUS), is wrestling in his second European finals. His lone appearance was in 2015, where he capped off the European Games with a win over Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL).

Myles AMINE (SMR) is the first wrestler from San Marino to wrestle in the European finals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Amine and Scherrer Lock up Finals Berth, Eyeing History
Myles AMINE (SMR) and Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) cemented their spots in the European finals are on the verge of rewriting a page in their nation’s freestyle history books.

Amine became the first wrestler from San Marino to reach the European finals, while Scherrer locked up Switzerland’s first trip to the continental gold-medal match in 74 years.

At 86kg, Myles AMINE (SMR) edged Rasul TSIKHAYEU (BLR), 2-1, in the semifinals, and continued his streak of making history for San Marino. Last year, Amine finished in fifth place at the World Championships – becoming the first athlete from San Marino to qualify for the Olympic Games. He also won a bronze medal at the European Games, which was a first for his country.

Amine will wrestle Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) in a rematch of the bronze-medal bout from last year’s World Championships. Naifonov won that meeting, 6-0.

Naifonov outscored his four Saturday opponents 21-2 and capped off his finals run with a 3-0 win over 2017 world silver medalist Boris MAKOEV (SVK).

Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) became the first Swiss freestyle wrestler to reach the European finals since 1946. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Scherrer shutout Marzpet GALSTYAN (ARM), 6-0, in the semifinals and became the first Swiss wrestler to reach the European finals since Willy LARDON’S (SUI) trip to the 1946 European finals in Stockholm, Sweden.

Scherrer will square off with Turkey’s Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR) for a shot at becoming the first Swiss wrestler to win European gold since Karl HEGGLIN (SUI) won gold at the 1935 European Championships in Brussels, Belgium.

Karadeniz pancaked Irakli MTSITURI (GEO) to his back for the fall while holding a one-point lead with a short time left in the closing period. He’ll wrestle in the European finals for the first time in career.

Aleksandr BOGOMOEV (RUS) celebrates his win over reigning champion Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM). (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Bogomoev Ends Harutyunyan’s Quest to Repeat as European Champion
Aleksandr BOGOMOEV (RUS) scored a dramatic takedown with five seconds left over Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), ending the young Armenian’s quest at repeating as European champion.

Bogomoev hip tossed Harutyunyan in the first period and led 4-0. But the Russian surrendered six unanswered points and trailed by two points with under ten seconds left. Bogomoev fired off a late attack and scored the go-ahead takedown with under five seconds left, stopping the potential rematch between Harutyunyan and Beka LOMTADZE (GEO).

Bogomoev will go toe-to-toe with the Georgian reigning world champion, Lomtadze, for the 61kg gold medal.

Lomtadze earned his finals berth with a close 2-1 victory over Intigam VALIZADA (AZE). He fell behind 1-0 but scored two second-period points and claimed the one-point win. Lomtadze returns to the European finals for the fourth time in his career but is 0-3 in those appearances.

Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) smirks after reaching the 125kg European finals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Petriashvili Moves into European Finals for the Fourth Time
Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) handled Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR), 6-2, in the semifinals, and locked up his fourth trip to the European finals. Petriashvili is 1-2 in his three trips to the European finals, and despite being the reigning three-time world champion, he hasn't won European gold since 2016.

He'll wrestle Poland’s Robert BARAN in the 125kg finals. Their Sunday matchup will be a rematch of the 2016 European finals, which was won by Petriashvili.

Baran blasted Levan BERIANIDZE (ARM), 9-0, in their semifinals meeting and will wrestle for European gold for the second time in his career.

The final session of wrestling at the European Championships begins at 18:00 (local time) and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

RESULTS
61kg
GOLD - Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) vs. Aleksandr BOGOMOEV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) df. Intigam VALIZADA (AZE), 5-1
SEMIFINAL - Aleksandr BOGOMOEV (RUS) df. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 6-4

74kg
GOLD - Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) vs. Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA)
SEMIFINAL - Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Miroslav KIROV (BUL), 11-0
SEMIFINAL - Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) df. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 6-0

86kg
GOLD - Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) vs. Myles AMINE (SMR)
SEMIFINAL - Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) df. Boris MAKOEV (SVK), 3-0
SEMIFINAL - Myles Nazem AMINE (SMR) df. Rasul TSIKHAYEU (BLR), 2-1

92kg
GOLD - Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) vs. Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) df. Marzpet GALSTYAN (ARM), 6-0
SEMIFINAL - Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR) df. Irakli MTSITURI (GEO), via fall

125kg
GOLD - Robert BARAN (POL) vs. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)
SEMIFINAL - Robert BARAN (POL) df. Levan BERIANIDZE (ARM), 9-0
SEMIFINAL - Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df. Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR), 7-2

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Duke stuns Diakomihalis to make U.S. team for World Championships

Sunday, June 15, 2025 - 09:00 By United World Wrestling Press

NEWARK, United States (June 14) -- United States determined its Freestyle team in nine weight classes for the World Championships after the Final X which was held Saturday in Newark, New Jersey.

One spot -- 61kg -- will be determined on a later date as Vitali ARUJAU (USA) was allowed a delay in his playoff against Jaxen FORREST (USA) due to an injury.

Despite the 61kg playoff not scheduled for Saturday, there was no lack of surprises at the Final X, a tournament designated to select the final 10 wrestlers for the U.S. team.

The biggest surprised came at 70kg as high school sensation Peter DUKE defeated former world silver medalist John DIAKOMIHALIS in a best-of-three series and make his first senior World Championships team.

The win for Duke came in dramatic fashion as he pinned Diakomihalis the third and final bout of the series. Diakomihalis opened with a big 10-0 technical superiority win over Duke in the first bout. However, Duke bounced back with a big 17-10 win in the second bout. Diakomihalis led 9-2 but Duke hit a pair of four-point moves, followed by turns in par terre to win and force the third bout.

In the third bout, Diakomihalis and Duke were in a scramble and the former tried a split-leg defense but was pushed on his back on the mat and Duke kept him there for the fall.

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"That first match, [I] didn't wrestle my best," Duke said. "It's a feel match. Didn't doubt myself once."

Duke later revealed that he saw an interview in which Diakomihalis said he would "try to mangle" Duke.

"I took that personal," Duke said. "I'm not going to let that slide. He's a good mentor to me, but I work my butt too hard to be mangled."

Apart from Diakomihalis, Kyle DAKE was fell short in his bid to make the team at 86kg, a big jump from 74kg, in which he won bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.

Dake fell to Zahid VALENCIA who won two straight matches to make the team. After winning his first bout 5-3, Valencia scored a takedown and leg-lace turn for a 4-0 lead in the first period, and went on to win 4-1. Valencia is a bronze medalist from 2023 World Championships at 92kg.

Paris Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE made his first-ever World Championships team two-match sweep over world U20 champion Luke LILLEDAHL at 57kg. Lee won the second match 6-0, scoring all of his points in the first period with a takedown, a leg lace and an exposure from the feet. Lee won the first match 7-2, with a key takedown and two gut wrenches in the first period.

At 74kg, age David CARR defeated Mitchell MESSENBRINK in two straight matches. Carr won the first bout 4-3, scoring two takedowns in the second period. He completed the series win with another comeback. Trailing 4-2 in the second period, Carr scored a clutch takedown to tie the match at 4-4 to win by criteria.

Former world U23 champion Wyatt HENDRICKSON the 125kg series in two straight matches over Trent HILLGER. After a 10-0 technical superiority win in the fist bout, Hendrickson was tested in the second but he eventually won 20-14 to wrap up the series over Hillger. Hendrickson made global headlines in March when he won an NCAA title beating 2020 Olympic champion Gable STEVESON in the final.

Trent HIDLAY needed just two bouts at 92kg to defeat Joshua BARR and earn a spot on the team. Hidlay won the first bout 6-1 but the second win proved much difficult to come. All five points were stepout points with Hidlay winning 3-2.

At 65kg, Real WOODS denied Joseph MCKENNA a spot on the world team after posting two straight wins. Both matches had a key four-point move by Woods that made the difference. In the second match, Woods opened the match with a four-pointer, which held up when the match ended 4-4, giving Woods criteria. McKenna challenged, seeking a point on a singlet pull, which was denied, making in 5-4.

Levi HAINES swept his 79kg series in two straight over Evan WICK. In the second match, Haines scored a 6-1 win, with a key takedown and an exposure in the second period for the margin of victory. In the first match, Haines scored an impressive 10-0 first-period technical fall.

Past world and Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER made his 11th straight world/Olympic team for the U.S. after he defeated Hayden ZILLMER. In the deciding second match, Snyder broke a 2-2 tie with two takedowns and a turn in the second period for an 8-2 win.

The 61kg playoff to decide the winner between Arujau and Forrest will be held Monday, July 14 at the Fargodome in Fargo.

RESULTS (Best of three)

57kg
Spencer LEE df. Luke LILLEDAHL, 2-0

Bout 1: Lee df. Lilledahl, 7-2
Bout 2: Lee df. Lilledahl, 6-0

65kg
Real WOODS df. Joseph MCKENNA, 2-0

Bout 1: Woods df. McKenna, 7-3
Bout 2: Woods df. McKenna, 5-4

70kg
Peter DUKE df. John DIAKOMIHALIS, 2-1

Bout 1: Diakomihalis df. Duke, 10-0
Bout 2: Duke df. Diakomihalis, 17-10
Bout 3: Duke df. Diakomihalis, via fall

74kg
David CARR df. Mitchell MESENBRINK, 2-0

Bout 1: Carr df. Mesenbrink, 4-3
Bout 2: Carr df. Mesenbrink, 4-4

79kg
Levi HAINES df. Evan WICK, 2-0

Bout 1: Haines df. Wick, 10-0
Bout 2: Haines df. Wick, 6-1

86kg
Zahid VALENCIA df. Kyle DAKE, 2-0

Bout 1: Valencia df. Dake, 5-3
Bout 2: Valencia df. Dake, 4-1

92kg
Trent HIDLAY df. Joshua BARR, 2-0

Bout 1: Hidlay df. Barr, 6-1
Bout 2: Hidlay df. Barr, 3-2

97kg
Kyle SNYDER df. Hayden ZILLMER, 2-0

Bout 1: Snyder df. Zillmer, 8-0
Bout 2: Snyder df. Zillmer, 8-2

125kg
Wyatt HENDRICKSON df. Trent HILLGER, 2-0

Bout 1: Hendrickson df. Hillger, 10-0
Bout 2: Hendrickson df. Hillger, 20-14

Chamizo and Gazimagomedov to Collide in Sunday's European Finals

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Duke stuns Diakomihalis to make U.S. team for World Championships