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Freestyle seeds for World Championships announced.
CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (August 22) --United World Wrestling has released the tentative top eight seeds for the 2022 World Championships, which take place in Belgrade, Serbia, September 10-18.
Wrestlers earned points towards their seed through participation and placement at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, 2021 World Championships, 2022 Continental Championships, 2022 Ranking Series events, and selected Regional Games (SEA and Mediterranean Games).
Hypothetically speaking, if the seeds were to hold through the finals in the top-eight seeded system, here's how the bracket will play out leading up to the gold-medal match:
Quarterfinals:
No. 1 vs. No. 8 (top side)
No. 4 vs. No. 5 (top side)
No. 2 vs. No. 7 (bottom side)
No. 3 vs. No. 6 (bottom side)
Semifinals:
No. 1 vs. No. 4 (top side)
No. 2 vs. No. 3 (bottom side)
Finals:
No. 1 vs. No. 2
If we know one thing, it's impossible to predict how the brackets will play out. But having the seeded systems helps come up with hypothetical matches that fans could potentially see in Belgrade.
*National Federations were required to submit their world entries by last week but can still update them until 24 hours before the draws. This means these seeds and entries are subject to change.
57kg SEEDS:
No. 1 Thomas GILMAN (USA)
No. 2 Ravi KUMAR (IND)
No. 3 Horst LEHR (GER)
No. 4 Alireza SARLAK (IRI)
No. 5 Vladimir EGOROV (MKD)
No. 6 Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO)
No. 7 Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL)
No. 8 Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR)
If seeds hold at 57kg:
Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Thomas GILMAN (USA) vs. No. 8 Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR)
No. 4 Alireza SARLAK (IRI) vs. No. 5 Vladimir EGOROV (MKD)
No. 2 Ravi KUMAR (IND) vs. No. 7 Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL)
No. 3 Horst LEHR (GER) vs. No. 6 Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO)
Semifinals:
No. 1 Thomas GILMAN (USA) vs. No. 4 Alireza SARLAK (IRI)
No. 2 Ravi KUMAR (IND) vs. No. 3 Horst LEHR (GER)
Finals:
No. 1 Thomas GILMAN (USA) vs. No. 2 Ravi KUMAR (IND)
Gilman holds top seed; Ravi undefeated at 57kg
On the top side of the bracket at 57kg, world champion Thomas GILMAN (USA) commands the top seed. The American earned his top seed after finishing with a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games and podium-topping finishes at the World Championships, Pan-American Championships, and the Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series event.
To reach his second consecutive world finals, Gilman will have to get through No. 8 Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR) in the quarters before squaring off against the winner of No. 4 Alireza SARLAK (IRI) and No. 5 Vladimir EGOROV (MKD).
Depending on how things play out, if Gilman and Sarlak reach the semifinals, it would be their third meeting since last October's World Championships. The American was victorious in their world finals and Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series semifinal meetings.
On the bottom side of the 57kg chart, Ravi KUMAR (IND) holds the second seed. The Olympic silver medalist's road to the finals will likely go through No. 7 Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL) before meeting the winner of No. 3 Horst LEHR (GER) and No. 6 Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO).
61kg Seeds:
No. 1 Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
No. 2 Georgi Valentinov VANGELOV (BUL)
No. 3 Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
No. 4 Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
No. 5 Eduard GRIGOREV (POL)
No. 6 Teimuraz VANISHVILI (GEO)
No. 7 Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE)
No. 8 Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)
If seeds hold at 61kg:
Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. No. 8 Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)
No. No. 4 Suleyman ATLI (TUR) vs. 5 Eduard GRIGOREV (POL)
No. 2 Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) vs.No. 7 Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE)
No. 3 Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) vs. No. 6 Teimuraz VANISHVILI (GEO)
Semifinals:
No. 1 Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. No. 4 Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
No. 2 Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) vs. No. 3 Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
Finals:
No. 1 Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. No. 2 Georgi VANGELOV (BUL)
Harutyunyan headlines 61kg seeds
Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) headlines the upper half of the bracket as the top guy at 61kg. However, his road will be significantly more challenging than second-seeded Georgi VANGELOV (BUL).
Harutyunyan earned his top billing after a bronze medal finish at last year's World Championships and a gold-medal winning showing at the European Championships. Although it did not count towards his Ranking Series point total, the Armenian sandwiched a U23 world title between the Senior World Championships and the European Championships.
To improve his bronze-medal finish at the 2021 World Championships, Harutyunyan will have to beat Japan's Rio Olympic runner-up No. 8 Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) in the quarterfinals. Then, he'll share the mat with the winner of No. 4 Suleyman ATLI (TUR) and No. 5 Eduard GRIGOREV (POL).
Vangelov will wrestle No. 7 Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) in the lower-side quarterfinals. If he wins against Bazarganov, he'll go toe-to-toe with whoever is victorious between No. 3 Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) and No. 6 Teimuraz VANISHVILI (GEO).
65kg Seeds:
No. 1 Haji ALIYEV (AZE)
No. 2 Bajrang BAJRANG (IND)
No. 3 Sebastian C RIVERA (PUR)
No. 4 Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
No. 5 Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ)
No. 6 Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)
No. 7 Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM)
No. 8 Munir Recep AKTAS (TUR)
If seeds hold at 65kg:
Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Haji ALIYEV (AZE) vs. No. 8 Munir Recep AKTAS (TUR)
No. 4 Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) vs. 5 Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ)
No. 2 Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) vs. No. 7 Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM)
No. 3 Sebastian C RIVERA (PUR) vs. No. 6 Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)
Semifinals:
No. 1 Haji ALIYEV (AZE) vs. No. 4 Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
No. 2 Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) vs. No. 3 Sebastian C RIVERA (PUR)
Finals:
No. 1 Haji ALIYEV (AZE) vs. No. 2 Bajrang BAJRANG (IND)
Aliyev ascends to top of 65kg seeds
Haji ALIYEV (AZE) headlines arguably the most fan-favorite freestyle weight of the Championships. The three-time world champion moved to the top of the seeds with his podium finishes at the Olympic Games, European Championships and Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event. He finished with silvers at the Olympics and Euros and a bronze at the Italian Ranking Series stop.
To become the first Azeri wrestler to win four world titles, Aliyev will have to take out No. 8 Munir AKTAS (TUR) before clashing with the winner of and No. 4 Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) and No. 5 Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ).
If Aliyev and Muszukajev remain on the winning track through the semifinals, it'd be a third meeting between the superstars since late 2020. The Hungarian has the two matches advantage over the Azeri coming into Belgrade, having won their meetings at the 2020 Individual World Cup and the 2022 European Championships.
On the lower side of the chart, Olympic bronze medalist No. 2 Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) will have to get through the formidable No. 7 Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) before meeting the winner of No. 3 Sebastian C RIVERA (PUR) and No. 6 Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL).
70kg Seeds:
No. 1 Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
No. 2 Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO)
No. 3 Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM)
No. 4 Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)
No. 5 Amirmohammad Babak YAZDANICHERATI (IRI)
No. 6 Zain Allen RETHERFORD (USA)
No. 7 Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR)
If seeds hold at 70kg:
Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) vs. No. 8 Bacar NDUM (GBS)
No. 4 Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) vs. No. 5 Amirmohammad YAZDANICHERATI (IRI)
No. 2 Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) vs. No. 7 Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR)
No. 3 Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) vs. No. 6 Zain Allen RETHERFORD (USA)
Semifinals:
No. 1 Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) vs. No. 4 Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)
No. 2 Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO)vs. No. 3 Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM)
Finals:
No. 1 Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) vs. No. 2 Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO)
Akmataliev ascends to top seed at 70kg
After securing second-place finishes at the 2021 World Championships and 2022 Asian Championships, Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) locked up the No. 1 seed at 70kg.
Akmataliev is positioned on the top side of the bracket to take on No. 8 Bacar NDUM (GBS) in the quarters. Then, in the semifinals, he'll likely square off against the winner of No. 4 Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) and 2021 world runner-up No. 5 Amirmohammad YAZDANICHERATI (IRI).
On the bottom side of the chart, reigning world bronze medalist Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) holds the second seed. He'll compete against No. 7 Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR) for a shot to wrestle the winner of No. 3 Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) and No. 6 Zain Allen RETHERFORD (USA).
74kg Seeds:
No. 1 Kyle Douglas DAKE (USA)
No. 2 Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)
No. 3 Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA)
No. 4 Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
No. 5 Yones Aliakbar EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI)
No. 6 Hetik CABOLOV (SRB)
No. 7 Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
No. 8 Mitchell Louis FINESILVER (ISR)
If seeds hold at 74kg:
Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Kyle DAKE (USA) vs. No. 8 Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR)
No. No. 4 Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) vs. 5 Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI)
No. 2 Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) vs. No. 7 Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
No. 3 Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) vs. No. 6 Hetik CABOLOV (SRB)
Semifinals:
No. 1 Kyle Douglas DAKE (USA) vs. No. 4 Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
No. 2 Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) vs No. 3 Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA)
Finals:
No. 1 Kyle Douglas DAKE (USA) vs. No. 2 Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)
Dake dons top seed at 74kg
Kyle DAKE (USA) dons the top seed at 74kg and heads into Belgrade ready to navigate a seemly easier road to the finals than his two biggest rivals, No. 3 Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) and No. 2 Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK).
Dake earned his top seed by winning bronze at the Tokyo Olympic Games and finishing atop the podium at the World and Pan-American Championships.
The three other seeded guys who Dake will share the upper half of the bracket with are No. 8 Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR), No. 4 Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) and No. 5 Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI). He'll have Finesilver in the quarters and Bayramov or Emamichoghaei for a finals shot.
On the bottom side, Salkazanov is the on-paper favorite to take on Dake in the world finals, which would be a rematch of last year's Oslo gold-medal bout. But to do so, he'll have to get through Rio Olympic bronze medalist No. 7 Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), then will square off against the winner of the world champion matchup between No. 3 Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) and No. 6 Hetik CABOLOV (SRB).
If Salkazanov and Chamizo reach the semifinals, it'll be a rematch of the 2021 and 2022 European Championships, where the Slovakian wrestler was victorious in both matches.
79kg Seeds:
No .1 Jordan Ernest BURROUGHS (USA)
No. 2 Mohammad Ashghar NOKHODILARIMI (IRI)
No. 3 Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)
No. 4 Arman AVAGYAN (ARM)
No. 5 Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)
No. 6 Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR)
No. 7 Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA)
No. 8 Baliyan GOURAV (IND)
If seeds hold at 79kg:
Quarterfinals:
No .1 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) vs. No. 8 Baliyan GOURAV (IND)
No. No. 4 Arman AVAGYAN (ARM) vs. 5 Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)
No. 2 Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) vs. No. 7 Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA)
No. 3 Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) vs. No. 6 Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR)
Semifinals:
No .1 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) vs. No. 4 Arman AVAGYAN (ARM)
No. 2 Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) vs. No. 3 Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)
Finals:
No .1 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) vs. No. 2 Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI)
Burroughs bags top billing at 79kg
Last year's world finals opponents No. 1 Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and No. 2 Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) are positioned on opposite sides of the 79kg chart. Therefore, they wouldn't meet again unless they remained undefeated until the gold-medal bout.
Looking for his sixth world title, Burroughs earned the top billing after winning gold at the World Championships, Pan-American Championships, and the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event.
Burroughs will have to get through No. 8 Baliyan GOURAV (IND) in the quarterfinals, and then the winner of the fourth and five matchup between No. 4 Arman AVAGYAN (ARM) and No. 5 Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO).
Nokholdilarimi's road to the finals will travel first through No. 7 Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA) on the lower side of the bracket. Then, if he beats the French wrestler in the quarterfinals, he'll wrestle reigning European champion No. 3 Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) or No. 6 Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR).
86kg Seeds:
No. 1 Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI)
No. 2 David Morris TAYLOR III (USA)
No. 3 Myles Nazem AMINE (SMR)
No. 4 Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
No. 5 Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
No. 6 Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
No. 7 Deepak PUNIA (IND)
No. 8 Ethan Adrian RAMOS (PUR)
If seeds hold at 86kg:
Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) vs. No. 8 Ethan RAMOS (PUR)
No. 4 Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) vs. 5 Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
No. 2 David Morris TAYLOR III (USA) vs. No. 7 Deepak PUNIA (IND)
No. 3 Myles Nazem AMINE (SMR) vs. No. 6 Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
Semifinals:
No. 1 Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) vs. No. 4 Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
No. 2 David Morris TAYLOR III (USA) vs. No. 3 Myles Nazem AMINE (SMR)
Finals:
No. 1 Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) vs. No. 2 David Morris TAYLOR III (USA)
Yazdani and Taylor sit on opposite sides of 86kg bracket
Olympic champions Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) and David TAYLOR III (USA) are seeded first and second, respectively, at 86kg. This means fans must wait until the gold-medal bout to see the potential fifth meeting between the pair of massive superstars.
Yazdani, known by wrestling fans worldwide as "The Greatest," used his Bolat Turlykhanov Cup Ranking Series gold to inch his way past Taylor for the weight's top seed.
After his runner-up finish in Tokyo, Yazdani strung together gold-medal performances at the World Championships and the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup and beat the American out for the top spot by 6,400 points.
Yazdani's first seeded opponent would come in the quarterfinals, as he'll likely see No. 8 Ethan RAMOS (PUR). Then, Yazdani would wrestle his 2017 world finals opponenet No. 5 Boris MAKOEV (SVK) or world bronze medalist No. 4 Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) for a spot in the semifinals.
Tokyo Olympic champion will have a significantly more challenging road to the finals than his Iranian rival. In the quarterfinals, he'll square off against arguably the weight's best defensive wrestler in Tokyo Olympic fifth-place finisher No. 7 Deepak PUNIA (IND). If he gets past the Indian youngster, he'll have to beat Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist No. 3 Myles Nazem AMINE (SMR) or No. 6 Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ).
92kg Seeds:
No. 1 Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI)
No. 2 Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)
No. 3 Jden COX (USA)
No. 4 Andrii VLASOV (UKR)
No. 5 Viky VIKY (IND)
No. 6 Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)
No. 7 Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO)
No. 8 Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL)
If seeds hold at 92kg:
Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) vs. No. 8 Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL)
No. 4 Andrii VLASOV (UKR) vs. No. 5 Viky VIKY (IND)
No. 2 Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) vs. No. 7 Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO)
No. 3 Jden COX (USA) No. 6 Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)
Semifinals:
No. 1 Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) vs. No. 4 Andrii VLASOV (UKR)
No. 2 Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) vs. No. 3 Jden COX (USA)
Finals:
No. 1 Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) vs. No. 2 Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Ghasempour grabs top seed at 92kg
Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) headlines the top of the chart at 92kg after winning gold at the World Championships and Bolat Turlykhanov Cup Ranking Series. Dating back to 2018, the Iranian has won 10 consecutive competitions – including a pair of U23 world titles, senior-level world gold, and two Asian championship titles.
Ghasempour sits on opposite sides of the bracket from two-time world champion and Rio Olympic bronze medalist J'den COX (USA) and wouldn't see his rival until the gold-medal match. But to get to Cox, Ghasempour will have to take out No. 8 Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL) in the quarters and either No. 4 Andrii VLASOV (UKR) or No. 5 Viky VIKY (IND) in the semifinals.
On the bottom side, No. 2 Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) will have his hands full on his way to the finals. First, he'll have to beat No. 7 Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), then the winner of third-seeded Cox and No. 6 Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ).
97kg Seeds:
No. 1 Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA)
No. 2 Magomedgadji Omardibirovich NUROV (MKD)
No. 3 Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
No. 4 Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR)
No. 5 Mohammadhossein Askari MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)
No. 6 Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK)
No. 7 Radu LEFTER (MDA)
No. 8 Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ)
If seeds hold at 97kg:
Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA) vs. No. 8 Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ)
No. 4 Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR) vs. No. 5 Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)
No. 2 Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) vs. No. 7 Radu LEFTER (MDA)
No. 3 Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL) vs. No. 6 Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK)
Semifinals:
No. 1 Kyle SNYDER (USA) vs. No. 4 Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR)
No. 2 Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) vs. No. 3 Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
Finals:
No. 1 Kyle SNYDER (USA) vs. No. 2 Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD)
Snyder snags No. 1 seed at 97kg
In the absence of the Russian Wrestling Federations' Abdulrashid SADULAEV, Kyle SNYDER (USA) seized the top seed at 97kg. After runner-up finishes to Sadulaev at the Olympic Games and World Championships, Snyder won the Ivan Yariguin, Pan-American Championships Zouhaier Sghaier Tournament, the latter of the two being point-earning competitions, and will sit on the top side of the bracket.
Snyder shouldn't have trouble with his potential quarterfinals opponent No. 8 Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ). But "Captian America" will have his hands full if No. 5 Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) can get past No. 4 Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR) in the other top side quarterfinal.
In Snyder and Mohammadian's last meeting, the Iranian pinned the Olympic champion in the second period after commanding control of the entire first period.
On the bottom side of the chart, No. 2 Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) will see No. 7 Radu LEFTER (MDA) in the quarterfinals before tussling with either No. 3 Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL) or No. 6 Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) for a spot in the finals.
125kg Seeds:
No. 1 Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)
No. 2 Taha AKGUL (TUR)
No. 3 Amir Hossein Abbas ZARE (IRI)
No. 4 Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL)
No. 5 Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER)
No. 6 Robert BARAN (POL)
No. 7 Zhiwei DENG (CHN)
No. 8 Amarveer DHESI (CAN)
If seeds hold at 125kg:
Quarterfinals:
No. 1 Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) vs. No. 8 Amarveer DHESI (CAN)
No. 5 Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER) vs. No. 4 Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL)
No. 2 Taha AKGUL (TUR) vs. No. 7 Zhiwei DENG (CHN)
No. 3 Amir Abbas ZARE (IRI) vs. No. 6 Robert BARAN (POL)
Semifinals:
No. 1 Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) vs. No. 4 Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL)
No. 2 Taha AKGUL (TUR) vs. No. 3 Amir Hossein Abbas ZARE (IRI)
Finals:
No. 1 Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) vs. No. 2 Taha AKGUL (TUR)
Petriashvilii picks up top spot at 125kg
Georgian superstar Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) heads to Belgrade as the No. 1 seeded wrestler at 125kg.
Petriashvilii picked up weight's top seed with second-place finishes at the Olympic Games World Championships and European Championships and first-place finishes at the Matteo Pellicone and Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series events.
More importantly, Petriashvilii put himself on the opposite side of the bracket from the last two guys who beat him, No. 2 Taha AKGUL (TUR) and No. 3 Amir ZARE (IRI). He now sits on the same side as Commonwealth Games champ No. 8 Amarveer DHESI (CAN), who he'll have in the quarterfinals, and No. 4 Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) and No. 5 Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER). The three-time world champ will have to get through the winner of Munkhtur or Cudinovic to reach his fifth consecutive 125kg world finals.
Olympic champion Akgul earned the second seed at 125kg but will a tough road if he wants to reach the world finals for the fifth time. First, he'll have to get through world bronze-medal winner No. 7 Zhiwei DENG (CHN) before setting up a second meeting with Zare, who defeated Akgul en route to last year's world-title run.
For the matchup between Akgul and Zare to happen, the Iranian has to remain unbeaten until the quarterfinals, where he'll have to defeat No. 6 Robert BARAN (POL).
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