Vlasov Defeats Two World Champs to Advance to Finals World Championships

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (September 7) - Former world champion Roman VLASOV (RUS) knocked off a pair of 2014 world champions and the European Games gold medalist for good measure on Monday to advance to the gold medal finals at the Senior Wrestling World Championships.

Vlasov, the 2011 world champion and London 2012 Olympic Games gold medalist, notched five wins at 75kg to advance to the final at the Orleans Arena against two-time world silver medalist Mark MADSEN (DEN).

On his way to the final, Vlasov scored a back-arching throw in the first period to defeated 2014 champion Arsen JULFALAKYAN (USA), 5-0, and threw the 2014 champion at 80kg Peter BACSI (HUN) in the round of 16 for another 5-0 win.

In the quarterfinals, Vlasov eliminated 2013 world champion KIM Hyeon-Woo (KOR) from medal contention with a win over Doszhan KARTIKOV (KAZ) in the quarterfinal. Asian Games bronze medalist Kartikov upset gold medalist Kim, 4-2, in the previous round.

Meanwhile, 2013 world champion RYU Han-Soo (KOR) returned to the finals at 66kg and will face 2013 bronze medal winner Frank STAEBLER (USA) and top-ranked Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) notched three technical falls on his way to the 98kg finals.

Aleksanyan will face London 2012 gold medalist and 2014 world bronze medal winner Ghasem REZAEI (IRI) in the evening’s finale.

Also in Monday’s evening’s finals, Tarek Aziz BENAISSA (ALG) won a pair of bouts in the consolation round to earn a place a bronze medal match at 66kg.

Benaissa, with his wins, secured Algeria’s best-ever finish in at the wrestling world championships. The previous best was a 15th place recorded by Rafik BENHAMMADI (ALG) at freestyle 52kg in 1991.

Greco-Roman

66kg (48 entries)
Gold – No.5 Frank STAEBLER (GER) v No.3 RYU Han-Soo (KOR)
Bronze – Tarek Aziz BENAISSA (ALG) v No.1 Davor STEFANEK (SRB)
Bronze – No.4 Artem SURKOV (RUS) v No. 6 Migran ARUTYUNYAN (ARM)

Semifinal – No.5 Frank STAEBLER (GER) df. No.1 Davor STEFANEK (SRB), 5-1 
Semifinal – No.3 RYU Han-Soo (KOR) df. No. 6 Migran ARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 4-4

75kg (46 entries)
Gold – No.11 Mark MADSEN (DEN) v No.3 Roman VLASOV (RUS)
Bronze – No.14 Andrew BISEK (USA) v Saied Mourad ABDVALI (IRI),
Bronze – Doszhan KARTIKOV (KAZ) v No.4 Elvin MURSALIYEV (AZE),

Semifinal – No.11 Mark MADSEN (DEN) df. Saied Mourad ABDVALI (IRI), 2-2 
Semifinal – No.3 Roman VLASOV (RUS) df. No.4 Elvin MURSALIYEV (AZE), 6-0 

98kg (36 entries)
Gold – No.3 Ghasem REZAEI (IRI) v No.1 Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)
Bronze – No.2 Islam MAGOMEDOV (RUS) v Elis GURI (BUL)
Bronze – No.5 Dmitri TIMCHENKO (UKR) v No.11 Alin ALEXUC-CIURARIU (ROU)

Semifinal – No.3 Ghasem REZAEI (IRI) df. Elis GURI (BUL), 3-0
Semifinal – No.1 Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) df. No.11 Alin ALEXUC-CIURARIU (ROU) by TF, 9-0, 3:59