2023 Russian Nationals Day 1 Recap

57 KG

The main story of the 57 kilogram bracket was the breakthrough of Artem Gobaev to the finals. Gobaev, who I had predicted as losing in his qualification round match to Amir Chamzyn, tore through the bracket by beating 2022 61 KG Russian Nationals runner-up #2 Akhmed Idrisov in the quarterfinals and returning Russian Nationals runner-up #6 Nachyn Mongush in the semifinals. Gobaev will face reigning Olympic champion #1 Zavur Uguev in the finals. Uguev made the finals off of victories over 2022 Russian Nationals bronze medalist #7 Musa Mekhtikhanov in the round of 16 and 2019 Russian Nationals champion #3 Ramiz Gamzatov in the semifinals. Uguev will be looking for his sixth career Russian Nationals title with a victory over Gobaev. 

Other notable results include: #6 Nachyn Mongush over #4 Azamat Tuskaev in the round of 32, #3 Ramiz Gamzatov over #8 Ramazan Abdurakhimov in the quarterfinals, and Osman Sultanov over #10 Petr Kopylov in the round of 16. 

65 KG

Returning Russian Nationals champion #4 Ibragim Ibragimov proved that his run last year in Naro-Forminsk was no fluke, as he upset 2020 Olympic bronze medalist #2 Gadzhimurad Rashidov in the semifinals to make back to back Russian Nationals finals appearances. Facing off against Ibragimov in the finals will be top ranked Shamil Mamedov who beat returning national runner-up #8 in the semifinals. Another notable run out of this bracket was that of Dalgat Abdulkadyrov who upset #6 Danil Kharchilava in the round of 32 and #7 Ramazan Bagavudinov in the round of 16 to make the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, Abdulkadyrov lost #1 Shamil Mamedov and will have a chance to earn bronze tomorrow against #8 Gadzhimurad Omarov.

70 KG

#2 Evgheni Zherbaev secured his second Russian Nationals finals  appearance with a semifinal victory over upset minded Aznaur Tavaev to avenge a loss from their 2019 Kunaev finals match. Tavaev was the story of the the 70 kilogram bracket on his way to the semifinals, as the former European and Yarygin champion upset #6 Konstantin Kaprynov in the round of 16 and upset Russian University Nationals champion #4 Khabib Zavurbekov in the quarterfinals. #3 Inalbek Sheriev secured his first Russian Nationals medal with a semifinal win over three-time Russian Nationals bronze medalist #8 Kurban Shiraev. Sheriev survived a scare in the round of 16 in the form of a 3-2 match against 2020 Russian Nationals bronze medalist Ruslan Zhendaev. The notable result from this bracket include 2021 65 KG Russian Nationals runner-up Zagir Shakhiev’s return to form with a 16-6 tech fall over #5 Sarmat Bestaev in the qualification round. Shakhiev was beaten in the round of 16 in a 7-0 loss to eventual finalist #2 Evgheni Zherbaev and will have the chance at wrestling for bronze tomorrow against Aznaur Tavaev.