Battle Plan

This will be the twelfth Zloty Tur already, and IX World Cup. Each of the edition has its own Hero, or Heroes, its own background, something that stands out in when we are looking forward to the first Ready. Go!

The way of playing the Cup is specific and unique. It gives fans and players more thrill, than any other game in combat sports. Since 2007 events have been taking place on both hands, so everyone has (at least theoretically) two chances. Additionally ending the fight in weight classes (86, 95, +95 kg) in the top four gives a pass to the most observed, most important, most spectacular, open class. Theoretically - I emphasize - theoretically, each player has a chance to pack four gold medals and four cups in their suitcase.

Players are not set-up at the Nemiroff World Cup. Therefore it may happen that dead cert candidates on the podium would meet in the first fights. This is the first reason for a huge dose of excitement at the World Cup.

World Cup - the specificity of the rivalry

The second has resulted from the specificity of the armwrestlers competition in the world, for all these years, since athletes from different countries began to meet. Many of the Champions prepare especially for specific opponents. It is often so special, that a place in the whole classification recedes into the background. It happened that a World Cup table became arena of such meetings.

Two so spectacular fight next to the entire tournament took place in 2003, at the IV Zloty Tur Cup, which became the Professionals’ World Cup that year. Then a legendary player from Ossetia - Anatoly Skodtotaev and a Russian Champion Gennady Fardsinov appeared in Warsaw. They both so strong, so well prepared and experienced, that their presence at the highest step of the podium seemed to be obvious. But no! As it is mentioned in accounts their fight was a decoration of the tournament, but both lost too much strength to continue fighting effectively. Anatoli Skodtotaev said later: - I had known that if I would have given up Gennady the fight, I would have flashed at a tournament then. But I have never had an opportunity to stand with him at the table and I was just curious which of us is stronger?
Then the semi final duel of Gashevski and Tshakilov was regared the best fight of the tournament. Initially Gashevski wanted to beat Taimuraz by a hook but Tshakilov’s hook was not a little worse. Then there were elbows detachements and tearing. It is impossible to put what happened in words. The fight was resumed once again and started with ‘hooks’. Gashevski changed his fighting style and opened Tsakhilov’s hand. It still remains a mystery, how it was possible to get out of the ‘hook’ so quickly and attack ‘from the top’. It became clear for all the fans why a Bulgarian is called Professor. But such a fight for a primacy, beside the mainstream, become ‘a pass’ for Rustam Babayev. Cvetan lost in the clash with Taimuraz so much strength that he could no longer resist Rustam Babayev.

Will there be such rivalries between the various champions apart from division of fourteen sets of medals between men and two sets between women at this year's Cup? Let’s look at the strat list. How are the Battlefields plans arranged for the War?

“What will Travis do?”

A song which chorus goes like this: What will Travis say, what will Travis do?” will be heard in the Cup lobby. When he will see Denis Cyplenkov. Travis Bagent dealt with the Alexey Voevoda in Olsztyn in January 2005. Are we in the evaluation of this confrontation convicted only on the divination of tea leaves? What was happening next with Travis Bagent? In October 2005 he won in the open at World Cup (only right hand rivalry took place). He showed up again at Vendetta competition 19th May, in the United Arab Emirates and defeated Farid Usmanov from Uzbekistan 4:2.

On 5th November 2006 a row took place during the Vendetta series in Manchester. A fight of Travis and Alexey Semerenko ended in a draw in terms of sport, but in fact it was a draw won by fouls. So you cannot call it a real confrontation. Then, in England - Travis clearly showed that he began to create himself ‘really rude’, almost hung about hooliganism. Correspondents of the industry-media written very cautiously about this incident, but today they mention in it as an ‘almost a brawl’, so something that should have never taken place at the table. The PAL suspended Travis Bagent. The American fought in other fringe organizations, he lost his sponsor - Vyotech company and began to lose his form.

During the Istanbul International Friendship Night 2009 he lost a six-round duel with Arsen Lilievem to zero! We must recall that at the beginning of his career Arsen Liliev appeared at a table in the -78 kg class! Now he was called for the Russian National Team in the 95 kg class. In December 2010 Travis lost with Davon Larratt on the left hand 4:3. On the 15th February 2011 Travis met the Canadian again in a duel on both hands and he won on the left hand, and lost on the right one.

Let’s sum up: “What will Travis say”? when he looks at Cyplenkov? Nay! There is still one surprise Whiting for him, his conqueror from 2009, Arsen Liliev will have appeared at the Cup ‘a bit’ more massive.

Fans should be getting ready for full-time excitement. Let’s start with that there ‘is a pressure’ on a signal “Beat the Champion!” so cheering against Denis. Let he giveaway at least one cup!- fans may expect. At least on the left hand! As it cannot be hidden that audience do not really like Denis, at least not as much as they like Alexey Voevoda, and certainly he does not have a percent of sympathy which John has.

King Denis! Who’s going to dethrone him, who is going to snatch his sceptre- at least from the left hand! Can Travis become a New King? He, due to his behaviour, he is teetering on the edge in the battle for audience sympathy. Division line is really thin, temper and smile of a toothpaste commercial in not scuffling with opponents. We like players with a temper, but we also require fair play in the true sense of the word. Will the audience cheering sustain ‘Rebellious’ Bagent?

Also Rustam Babayev, Andrey Pushkar Farid Usmanov, Arsen Liliev (which will attack only on the right hand) will put their indicator on the battle table. Who else ...

Vendetta at the Cup

The elder ‘B Brother’ Rustam has a chance to take a revenge on Arsen Liliev for his brother Ruslan’s defeats. Rustam and Arsen have never met at any official competitions yet. Ruslan lost with Arsene twice.

Without any hospitality!

In each of the six categories it will be going on from the first qualifying round. Polish representatives, as hosts - exceptionally here - should not be polite. Quite the contrary! We can, as the guerrilla warfare specialists, join us in the Two Worlds War and to obtain in at least a few high places.

PeSz