'26 U20 World Championships (8/16 - 23) thread

Dogwelder

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I'll offer up a spoiler solution. Put everyone on ignore but Coastal2, problem solved!🙂
😀
 

zzs006

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Mar 27, 2017
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Bassett is far and away the best guy at 65kg but his road isn’t easy. First match against Askerbek who has placed 5th at worlds before. Then he will have Verdiyev who was a U17 silver a few years ago. 3rd match should be his easiest. Semi will probably be between Dimov (2026 U20 Europe gold), Umarov ( I picked for silver), or Tathashtikeh from Iran. I still think he cruises through this field but it’s not an easy draw.

Yandel Morales representing Puerto Rico but will be a freshman at Mizzou this coming season has a great draw. He’s on the opposite side from Bassett and his quarter is super weak. He has a chance to make the semis
 
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Dogwelder

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.. Or we could have a separate thread just for PBP. We've done that for duals, B10s, and NCAAs.
I really think the solution to the pbp issue is to have its own dedicated thread. Should be easy and everyone would be happy
Yeah, I thought the PBP-only thread worked well, when I think Tom made them on the old Rivals board.
 

zzs006

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Cortez has a pretty nice path. I feel confident he wins his quarter bracket and likely has either Rashidov or Ismayilov in the semis.

The top side is much tougher. The second quarter bracket is insanely tough. First round is Magomedov (RUS) vs Gur (TUR) and Ogawa (Japan) vs Petrosyan (ARM). Winner of that gets Rupesh (IND). I have a quarterfinal being Magomedov vs Ogawa.

My initial predictions were Ogawa with gold, Rashidov silver and bronze for Magomedov and Cortez and I still see it going that way
 

zzs006

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Mastny with a pretty brutal draw. Winnable first match against Chernakov but then he will have Kurashvili (GEO) who is a U17 champion and took 3rd at U20 euros losing to Togoev. I’m picking Kurashvili but Mastny can win this. Next would be Togoev (RUS). I have him winning silver. He has dominant this year teching everyone at euros.

Great first round match between Cetin (TUR) and Myradov (TKM). Winner should make the semis. Rahmani should cruise to the semis in the second quarter bracket.

3rd quarter bracket is weak. I think Yergali (KAZ) makes the semis where he will see Togoev.

Final between Rahmani and Togoev should be good
 

zzs006

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Burton with a pretty tough draw but matches he can win to make the semis. First match will probably be Nikoghosyan (ARM) who was 3rd at U20 euros. He can definitely win that match which would give him Yadav (IND). Win there he most likely would have Gharehdaghi from Japan. Not an easy road but bronze is definitely doable. Gharehdaghi and Khaniev on opposite sides setting up what could be one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament
 
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Psalm 1 guy

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Late into the match Okazawa was lying on his back, exhausted. As he lay there I thought, "If he was from [insert most any country] he would feign an injury, but the Japanese wrestlers have too much honor to do that." Sure enough, he got himself back to center. Most of the time in those situations you see the magical "ice spray" work its wonders : )
Speaking of honor, or the lack thereof, check out the match between Seidel and Khateri. Seconds before Khateri walked out to start the second period (and after one of the coaches had toweled off his shoulders, the main Iranian coach threw some water on Khateri's right shoulder and rubbed his wet hand on the back of Khateri's neck. Khateri then went out to the mat and the referee sent him back to his corner to be toweled off, giving Khateri another 25-30 seconds to catch his breath and his coach more time to coach him! Pretty sneaky and dishonorable in my book.
 
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mvattivo

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Askerbek is tall for 65kg. Regardless of what you think about Bassett personally, I think it is impossible to not appreciate his relentless style and pace of wrestling. The referee gave him a look a couple of times as if to say "calm down, psycho" when Bo wanted to start early.
 

Nitlion1986

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Apr 13, 2024
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Askerbek is tall for 65kg. Regardless of what you think about Bassett personally, I think it is impossible to not appreciate his relentless style and pace of wrestling. The referee gave him a look a couple of times as if to say "calm down, psycho" when Bo wanted to start early.
I have never had a problem with his social media presence and have loved watching him wrestle.

Watching him wrestle and able to understand the effort the kid has put into his technique and conditioning I find it impossible to understand the negativity.
 

Coastal2

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I have never had a problem with his social media presence and have loved watching him wrestle.

Watching him wrestle and able to understand the effort the kid has put into his technique and conditioning I find it impossible to understand the negativity.
I'm the same. Forrest skirted the rules across the board and got nothing but love.

It's going to be interesting to see Kaura Coles' development and McCort's girls team's future as that same pace and mindset isn't something that is common.
 
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