Professionals' World Cup – only for the best.
The annual Professionals' World Cup organized initially in Gdynia, and then in Warsaw, is the biggest armwrestling event for professionals. There are no random wrestlers here, mostly national champions. Most of them, however, are European, World or other tournament champions from all over the world. Among them are also Polish contestants – the best of the best in the whole country. For many contestants, the Nemiroff World Cup is the most important event of the year. Some resign from starting in Europeans or the Worlds, to prepare and start. Names like Ekaterina Larina (Russia), Gladkaya Irina (Russia), Andersson Heidi (Sweden), Backman Sarah (Sweden), Borlakov Murat (Russia), Tsindeliani Roman (Russia), Bulenkov Alexander (Russia), Taynov Artem (Ukraine), Amilins Janis (Latvia), Babayev Rustam (Ukraine), Brzenk John (USA), Oncescu Ion (Romania), Khubiashvili Gela (Ukraine), Kostadinov Krasimir (Bulgaria), Cyplenkov Denis (Russia), Pushkar Andrey (Ukraine), Ibragimov Ibragim (Russia), Kvikvinia Geradi (Georgia) and many, many others make this a high – level event.
There were 7 male categories: 63kg, 70kg, 78kg, 86kg, 95kg, +95kg and OPEN. The women fought in one category only – up to 65 kg. The left hand category was fought on 6th November, the right – on 7th, all fights to two losses. The prize money this year was 22 000 $.
Russian – American war.
Of course, a lot could be said of every fight. But all the fans spoke about from the very start was the fight between two wrestlers – last year's defender of the title, the hugely built Denis Tsyplenkov from Russia, and the strongest right – hand contestant of last year – the legendary John Brzenk from USA. Although the outcome of Nemiroff World Cup 2009 was the same – John the best in open in right arm (4th in left), Denis in left (7th in right – in the end phase of eliminations he gave up the hand a lot), those two had some impressive fights which electrified all the audience, both at the arena and those watching on TV.
Also the winner of left and right arm in up to 86 category deserves a mention – Rustam Babaev from Ukraine. Not only did Rustam win his weight category, but he also won the silver medal of the OPEN category, right arm. His final fight with the slightly heavier (95 kg), legendary John Brzenk will be remembered for a long time – a long, hard and equal fight. The Ukrainian was a hair's breadth from winning the right arm, too. For many observers, this was the fight of the night.
I've been in this sport for years and have been to many tournaments. At the start of the 90's, there was a tournament, very famous all over the world – Golden Bear, took place every year in Moscow. When I heard of the Zloty Tur Cup, in 2001, I did not consider that this tournament will evolve so much, and be the kind of event I've dreamed of my whole life. Nowadays I train only for myself and for my students. One of them is the guy who's won the OPEN category in left arm again – Denis Tsyplenkov. I can definitely say that we want to start in this tournament every year – because it is not an ordinary tournament. It's a celebration for every armwrestler in the world – said Kote Ramadze, Tsyplenkov's coach from Russia.
Over 130 contestants, from 22 countries, over 500 exciting fights in left and right arm, armwrestlers from the world elite, two days of semifinals, finals and OPEN category broadcast in N Sport television. Reruns in five stations abroad, hundreds of spectators, professional organization, power, adrenaline and great sporting emotions – this was the 10 Złoty Tur Cup – VII Professionals' World Cup Nemiroff World Cup 2009, that too place on 6th and 7th November in the Warsaw Hilton Hotel.
Paweł Podlewski
