Team USA got off to a strong start on the final day of the 2019 World Championships going 6-0n before their first loss. Tyler Graff and Pat Downey each picked up two wins in the preliminaries but ultimately fell. Graff remains alive for repechage. He'll wait to see if Beka Lomtadze (GEO) wins in tonights semifinals.

The Kyles did their thing. Dake rolled in round 1 before giving our hearts minor trembles when he actually trailed 1-1 late in his quarter vs. Nabiev (RUS) before scoring 4 unanswered. 

Olympic Champion Kyle Snyder also gave us a brief moment of trepidation. He gave up the first 3 points to Ibragimov (UZB) before rolling to a 13-3 tech. He'll face 2012 Olympic Champ Sharif Sharifov (AZE) in the semi's tonight.

In other American news, Myles Amine has qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games. Representing San Marino, a small nation-state in Italy, Amine made the semifinals where he'll face Olympic Champ Hasan Yazdani Charati (IRI).

For match notes and second session updates later, read Nomad's work here. In addition to Dake and Snyder in the semi's, tonight's session includes Jordan Burroughs wrestling for Bronze and J'den going for his second straight title.

How The Brackets Played Out

61 KG MFS - Bracket Link

Prelims

No real upsets in the pigtails. KGZ teched Euro Bronze Voch (SUI). Tumenbileg (MGL) looked very good. Interested in his bout coming up with Idrisov (RUS).

Now we're cooking. Bonne (CUB) trails Gvarzatilov (AZE) 1-0 at the break. He gets put on the clock but gets a takedown. And then a pancake! He's leading the returning champ 7-0! Wow! He wins.

It's just 1-0 for Idrisov heading to the last 2:00. Tumenbileg gets put on the clock and goes down 2-0 with half a period to go. 2-0 then a takedown for Idrisov and that should ice it. 

Ehsanpoor (IRI) opens the scoring on Topal (TUR). 

Graff up and chasing Liu (CHN) all over. 2-0 lead for him at the break. Another takedown and a shot clock point. 5-0 with a minute to go. 7-0 final. He'll have Lomtadze (GEO) next, the #3 seed.

Quarters

Kaliyev (KAZ) and Aware (IND) was the wild one early. Great exchanges that the crowd got into. Graff 1-0 on a shot clock at the break. Idrisov (RUS) rolling over Rakhmanov (UZB). Gvarzatilov (AZE) down 8-6 to Ehsanpoor (IRI) at their midway point. 

Graff got pushout out to trail 1-1 w/ 1:13. He was in deep on a shot in the waning moments but got crotch lifted to lose 3-1 to Lomtadze (GEO).

13-12 barnburner for Ehsanpoor over Gvarzatilov. 

Tonight's Semifinal Matchups

Ehsanpoor (IRI) vs. Idrisov (RUS)

Aware (IND) vs. Lomtadze (GEO)

79 KG MFS - Bracket Link

Prelims

Nothing juicy in the pigtails.

Here's the guy I want to see...Nika Kentchadze (GEO), the U23 Champ. Wow. He was up 6-2 and got pinned by Grigoriyan (ARM).

Dake on. Gets taken down then steps over a gut. 2-2. Geesh. Easy gut for Kyle. 4-2. Dake just balls him up. Techs before the break.

Teymouri (IRI) out to a big lead, 6-0 on returning Bronze Kurbanov (UZB). Then he's up 10-4. But Kurbanov works back. Wow. 13-10 Kurbanov final.

Quarters

Dake on the clock inside the final minute of period 1 and gets a push out. Hasanov (AZE) the World runner-up to Dake last year is 3-0 on Usserbayev (KAZ) at the break. He goes on the clock again and is trailing 1-1 with 1:35 but immediately scores a pushout. Nabiev getting reckless now. And Dake separates. 

Grigoriyan tries to keep on his unexpected run and Kurbanov continues to give up a bevy of points. Grigoriyan 6-4 at halftime. OMG. Kurbanov came back again. 8-8.

Tonight's Semifinal Matchups

Dake (USA) vs. Kurbanov (UZB)

Hasanov (AZE) vs. Salkazanov (SVK)

86 KG WFS - Bracket Link

Prelims

Huge win for Michigan's Myles Amine (SMR) who took out multiple-time World medalist Ali Shabanau (BLR). Gostiev (AZE) beat Shapiev and gets Sandro Aminashvili.

Downey dominated with two 4's in a first period tech.

Yazdani Charati (IRI) rolled up Jaime Espinal (PUR). Shapiev (UZB) beat Aminiashvili. 

Downey kept attacking late and wins 8-2 over Euro Silver Baranowski (POL). Myles Amine pretty much controlled Torreblanca (CUB). Upe 3-0 at one point and won 3-2.

Wow! Dudarov (GER) beat #2 seed Makoev (SVK) - the guy that beat J'den in 2017 World semi's. Downey now has Dudarov. 

Erdin (TUR), the top seed! Takedown to go up 9-8 with short time but then gives up a pushout to lose on criteria to Friev (ESP).

Amine over Takatani (JPN).

Downey is constantly on the attack but Dudarov keeps countering on the edge. The match unravels for Downey who gets teched.

Quarters

This bracket is a disaster. These are the countries in the quarters - Iran, Russia...fine...then Columbia, India, San Marino, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland.

Yazdani teched early. Izquierdo (COL) lead #4 seed Punia most of the bout. Amine up 4-0 on Dudarov. Friev (ESP) and Reichmuth (SUI) tied at 1 late. Reichmuth with the pushout and he's going to Tokyo.

Dudarov coming hard but Amine level changes and gets to a leg. Crotch lift almost worked for Dudarov. Amine hangs on! Myles Amine to Tokyo!

Deepak closed. 7-6 late. 

Tonight's Semifinal Matchups

Reichmuth (SUI) vs. Deepak (IND)

Amine (SMR) vs. Charati (IRI)

97 KG WFS - Bracket Link

Prelims

It was close early but Hushtyn (BLR) and Andriitsev (UKR) was really entertaining in  the second. Both were gassed. Andriitsev, a two-time OLY medalist tied the score at 7 with :17 to go but was losing on criteria and got the pushout with :02!

Iran's Ali Shabani looked good with a 9-1 over Ciftci (TUR). He gets Odikadze (GEO) next. 

Rio Bronze Sharifov (AZE) shut out Rio 5th Andriitsev (UKR), 4-0.

Snyder with 3 TD's and 2 guts for the tech.

Odikadze (GEO) and youngster Shabani (IRI) are in a see-saw battle. Great bout. 

Ibrigamov (UZB) led Rio Bronze Satirov (ROU) the entire way. Sadulaev (RUS) teched Ceban (MDA) in the 2nd. 

Quarters

Ibragimov (UZB) opens with a standing single he walks for pushout on Snyder. Then gets a takedown. Kyle down 3-0. Then gets to work. A takedown and then another, this time a feet-to-back-4. 6-3 at the break. All Kyle in the 2nd as he gets the 13-3 tech.

3-0 Sadulaev leads Nurov (MKD) halfway. It's a 6-0 final. Sharifov 4-0 over Odikadze well in to the 2nd. Odikadze had looked very good thus far. But he gets blanked, 6-0.

Tonight's Semifinal Matchups

Snyder (USA) vs. Sharifov (AZE)

Yergali (KAZ) vs. Sadulaev (RUS)

Full USA Freestyle Results

61 KG - Tyler Graff

Prelims - tf Kim (KOR), 10-0

Prelims - def. Liu (CHN), 7-0

Quarters - loss to Lomtadze (GEO), 3-1

 79 KG - Kyle Dake

Prelims - tf. Nasirov (KGZ), 12-2

Quarters - def. Nabiev (RUS), 5-1

Semifinals - vs. Kurbanov (UZB)

86 KG - Pat Downey

Prelims - tf. Mkhirtaryan (ARM), 11-1

Prelims - def. Baranowski (POL), 8-2

Prelims - lost to Dudarov (GER), 13-0

97 KG - Kyle Snyder

Prelims - tf. Khatri (IND), 10-0

Quarters - tf. Ibragimov (UZB), 13-3

Semifinals - vs. Sharifov (AZE)