#BudaWrestle2018

Evloev Leads Russian Trio to Finals, Lorincz Defeats Kim in London Finals Rematch

By Andrew Hipps

BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 27) -- Musa EVLOEV (RUS) knocked off Olympic champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) on Saturday in the semifinals at 97kg to lead a Russian trio to the Greco-Roman finals at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

Russia's other two semifinal winners on Saturday were Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (77kg) and Sergey SEMENOV (130kg).

Evloev, a returning world silver medalist, scored first off a passivity before lifting Aleksanyan and scoring two points off a correct throw. The Armenian had a chance to get back in the match after scoring a point off a passivity, but was unable to score from par terre and Evloev held on for the victory. He will meet Kiril MILOV (BUL) in the gold-medal match at 97kg.

Milov shut out Mihail KAJALA (SRB) 3-0 in the other semifinal match at 97kg. It looked to be a fast start for Kajala as he was awarded a takedown and two-point gut wrench turn. However, the takedown was challenged and overturned, keeping the match scoreless. Milov scored first off a passivity before adding a takedown to lead 3-0 at the break. A scoreless second period gave Milov a three-point victory.

Chekhirkin rolled to the gold-medal match at 77kg with an 11-0 first-period technical fall over Alex KESSIDIS (SWE). The Russian was dominant from the start, scoring with a step out then a passivity to go up 2-0. Chekhirkin scored a takedown with 30 seconds left in the first period, then added another one a short time later, which he followed up with an exposure to close out the technical fall. Awaiting him in the gold-medal match at 77kg is a crowd favorite, returning world medalist Tamas LORINCZ (HUN). 

Lorincz topped 2012 Olympic champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) 3-1 in a rematch of the 2012 Olympic gold-medal match. Lorincz led 1-0 at the break after scoring off a passivity. Kim took the lead in the second period on criteria, scoring a point off a passivity. But Lorincz was able to score a late point and another off a failed challenge to win by two.

Semenov became the third Russian to reach the gold-medal match as he topped two-time world champion Heiki NABI (EST) 2-0 at 130kg, scoring both of his points off passivity calls. Nabi had a win earlier in the day over three-time world champion Riza KAYAALP (Turk). He will meet Adam COON (USA) in the gold-medal match.

Coon has been on a roll in his first World Championship appearance, picking up four falls to reach the finals. The American faced Minseok KIM (KOR) in the semifinals. After taking a 3-0 lead, Coon used a body lock to throw Kim to his back and secure his fourth fall. 

Semifinal Results

Greco-Roman

77kg
Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) df. Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) by VPO1, 3-1
Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) df. Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) by VSU, 11-0

97kg
Kiril Milenov MILOV (BUL) df. Mihail KAJALA (SRB) by VPO, 3-0
Musa EVLOEV (RUS) df. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) by VPO1, 3-1

130kg
Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) df. Heiki NABI (EST) by VPO, 2-0
Adam COON (USA) df. Minseok KIM (KOR) by VFA, 7-0
 

#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)