As usual, the NEMIROFF WORLD CUP provided many excitement. This time it started with trouble, not in Warsaw though – in New York.

John Brzenk and Todd Hutchings got stuck at the airport, due to bad weather. We hoped that Brzenk, a flight mechanic by profession, could do something at least when it came to changing reservation times and getting new tickets. The guts came through in the end - “We'll make it, even if we had to fly through Singapore!” - read their SMS message. They did make it and they fought all out. In left arm, they both had to give up the glory to Artem Taynov and Vadym Stetsiuk, both from Ukraine. John placed third, and Todd, in fifth, was also beaten by Radoslav Dobrovic from Slovakia. It was unfortunate that John and Todd bumbed into each other right at the second step of the ladder – someone had to lose. John just gave up the arm to his younger colleague.

The second day saw Warsaw celebrating the Independence Day. We all watched huge crowds of police lining the Palace of Culture. But the street affairs were overshadowed by the performance of the contestants.

Historic bouts, spectacular show

The 95 category was totally dominated by the Americans. Todd won, John came second, and the third place went to Stefan Tamas of Romania.

The main event of the evening was the open category, right arm. It was all against one another, but only Andrey Pushkar fought tirelessly. It was amazing: a lonely leader in the yellow NEMIROFF T-shirt, and no rival to follow him.

The remaining fighters also fought spectacularly. But Pushkar gave no one any quarter. In the OPEN only Bulgarian Krasimir Kostadinov kept equal pace.

This video will be watched for a long time by all armwrestling fans - Todd Hutchings and Tim Bresnan is pure legend.

Acrobatics and fighting under the table

The 63 category was dominated by contestants from Kazakhstan. Fights, as they usually are in this category, were fast and technical. Kazakhstan is growing stronger in armwrestling. There were also some “acrobatics” and fighting under the table: dynamic leg switches, full – body attacks, etc.

Rustam Malikov won silver the first day, and on Sunday he reached the top of the podium. Other Kazakhstan contestants played no part this time, second and third places went to Georgia and Russia.

Good left and right from Vladimir Mnatsakanyan from Armenia

The 70 kg category was fought “under the flag” of Oleg Zhokh, a likable Ukrainian fighter. Amazing guy, unbeatable by guys lighter that 100 kg.

His arm is in another weight category, maybe that's why desperate Armenian and Kazakhstan contestants had no chance with him. He placed first in left in 70 kg. Right next was Vladimir Mnatsakanyan from Armenia, who was equally good in right arm and placed second in his weight.

Amazing Iskandarov, great Woźny

78 kg, left arm, saw losses from such famous guys as Jaba Getiashvil from Georgia, Sergey Pisarkob from Russia and many others who failed to be on the podium. In this weight, the first place went to Kazimir Iskandarov from Azerbaijan, he also took the top of the podium in right arm. Rafał Woźny from Poland took second.

Brzenk makes place for Hutchings

The 95 kg in left arm was a hard road to follow for John Brzenk, ended in third place. Artem Taynov of Ukraine turned out to be undefeated, and his compatriot, Vadym Stetsiuk, took second place. Tod Huthings – Brzenk's protege, took fifth. The second day, Brzenk let Todd take the first place, thus naming him informally his successor. Also Stefan Tamas from Romania got into the first three.

27 in left, 33 in right

27 contestants started in 95 + kg in left, on day one. Among the beaten ones, outside the podium, were Brazilian Bortolato, Murat Kariev, Jan Żółciński, veteran Semerenko and outstanding in this season Terence Opperman.

Pushkar had no competition and Krasimir Kostadinov bravely beat Tokarev. In right, 33 contestants started, Pushkar won again without breaking a sweat, Kostadinov came second, after a hard battle with a gigantic Lithuanian. Not only the table wobbled during this fight, but the whole stage!

The giant from USA, Tim Bresnan, ended up seventh, Hungarian veteran Georgy Szasz tenth. The list of the ones outside the podium was impressive!

Ladies in three categories

It was a great move by the organizers to implement three female categories. The ladies fought beautifully, dynamically and with technical finesse.

Snieżana Babayev had to contend with 2^nd and 4^th places; she was the only one to represent Team Babaev, though accompanied by husband, Lubomir Jagnesak. Sarah Backman lost to Lithuanian Egle Vaitkute on both days. A new category was opened for females – up to 52 kg, with Tatyana Verina as this year's champion.

The Professionals' World Cup is the most recognizable armwrestling event in the world. On special invitation from organizers, almost 200 people came to Nemiroff World Cup 2012. The biggest stars of world armwrestling, European, World and national champions.

Piotr Szymanowski