Artur Głowiński: In this tournament the USA meets Europe. Cyplenkov and Pushkar meet each other all year and know each other well. They know who’s the strongest and see no point in fighting. The guys from USA came and they wanted to test the Americans and show who’s better, so that’s why they did what they did.

If this happened in football, it would be unacceptable, so why here?

Artur Głowiński: But here it wasn’t about money, it was an intercontinental fight. I get it. Of course you don’t give up the fight, hence the jeers and boos. But I understand – it was done to fight USA, to not lose on your own turf.

Sergey Popov: They wanted to stay fresh, that’s why they gave up, to stay fresh for later. If they fought all out from the start, there would be nothing left of them later.

Is this fair in your opinion?

Popov: Yes it is. That’s sport. Sport is the art of measuring strength, strategy. Everyone does it. This time the American stepped in and Cyplenkov now doesn’t know how to handle it. He’s got a lot to think about. Because here’s a man who can squeeze Cyplenkov really bad, that never happened before.

Is it fair, what Andrey and Denis did?

Tim Bresnan: Of course not. Armwrestling is not a team sport. You don’t have mates to give up a fight to. Dave’s fights were all hard, but no one gave up the hand to him.

Christian Binnie: I’m with Tim on this. We came here to fight, it’s armwrestling all the way. If I were to fight Tim or any other of my friends, I would, all the way.

Piotr Szymanowski „Peszy”: I’m a little surprised with that question, it’s not easy to answer. Even Igor Mazurenko gave up the hand to Sławek Głowacki on one Cup. Well, maybe not gave up, but he didn’t struggle. So it’s obviously a procedure at times, although the audience may not like it. It’s ok as long as no money is involved. Because that would be the worst, if goys from one country set up to divide the cash on the side. But if it’s just a matter of giving up because you don’t have a chance anyway – well, that’s just one side of the game. The audience has a right to be adamant, the USA – Russian war is the salt of this tournament.

So there is a war?

Of course, that’s the allure of the tournament. Now everyone is expecting for someone to overthrow Cyplenkov.

Iza Małkowska