As the name implies, the Sassari City Rankings Series Event is an opportunity for competitors to improve their position in the UWW World Rankings. Below, we will take a look at how the entrants in Italy might upgrade their official standings and potentially secure a top four seed at the World Championships. 

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May 24-25 | 4:00 AM Eastern Time

The UWW rankings are used to determine the top four seeds at the world championships and are derived from performances in six events: the previous year's world championship; this year's continental championships; and the four ranking series events. Wrestlers score points according to their placement at the events. Wrestlers only score points for themselves, not for their country, and you can't take the points to you earn in one weight class to another if you move up or down a division. 

The point scales are heavily tilted toward the previous year's world championship. At the ranking series events, the champ will score between 14 and 18 points, silver medal is worth between 12 and 16, a bronze is worth between 10 and 14, and fifth place is worth either 8, 10 or 12. The complete scoring rubric and more details about the Rankings Series Events can be found here. 

After Sassari, there is only one rankings series left on the calendar, the Yashar Dogu in Istanbul in mid-July, so wrestlers are running out of time to accrue valuable ranking points. 

57 Kilograms

Top 6 Ranked Wrestlers

The only freestyler entered in Sassari at 57 kilos who can make up meaningful ground in the rankings is Givi Davidovi of Italy, who has 16 points at the moment. Depending on how big the field is, Davidovi could gain between 14 and 18 points if he wins the whole tournament. But that will be a tall order with Russia's Azamat Tuskaev in the same bracket. 

Thomas Gilman sits just outside the top six at #7 with 32 points. 

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Top 6 Ranked Wrestlers

Iran's Mohammedbagher Yakhkeshi has the best opportunity to climb into the top 4. He currently has 20 points, and a tournament victory will put him right on the cusp of a top 4 rankings. Turkey's Recep Topal could also vie for a championship, which would also put him close to a seed, as he has 16 points. Also enetered with 16 points is Sonba Gonge of India. 

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Top 6 Ranked Wrestlers

This should be one of the most loaded brackets at the event. Turkey's Selahattin Killicsallayan and Belarus' Niurhun Skrabin can both jump into third place in the rankings with a strong performance. Turkey, in particular, seems to be making a big push to get their starters seeds, as most of them are here in Italy and it is a safe bet they will be entered at the Yashar Dogu as well. 

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Top 6 Ranked Wrestlers

There are two entrants that have a shot at propelling themselves into the top four. Mustafa Kaya of Turkey (naturally) and Nurkozha Kaiponov of Kazakhstan (who are also sending pretty much all their starters) both sit at 20 points, and could establish themselves as the #3 ranked wrestlers in the weight class with a solid tournament. 

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Top 6 Ranked Wrestlers

The most fire of all the weight classes at Sassari. Worth tuning in to watch Frank Chamizo alone. Speaking of Chamizo, any placement in the top five at the tournament will be enough to send him up to at least #3 in the rankings, which, if there are no other changes after Yashar Dogu, would put Burroughs and Chamizo on the same side of the bracket at the World Championships (assuming Burroughs wins Final X). 

Turkey is sending two contenders, Yakup Gor (28 points) and world bronze medalist Soener Demirtash (20 points), both of whom have an opportunity to get into the top four, especially if they also place at the Yashar Dogu. Of course, only one of them can compete in Nur-Sultan at the World Championships, but it's a nice problem for Turkey to have. 

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Top 6 Ranked Wrestlers

Turkey once again is sending out a wrestler that has a significantly improve his ranking. Muhammet Kotanoglu is tied for sixth with 26 points but can move into sole position of fourth place with a top five finish in Sassari. 

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Top 6 Ranked Wrestlers

The team sending the top ranked wrestler to Sardinia is who else but Turkey. Fatih Erdin, the current #1, will look to extend his lead over David Taylor. Considering the gold medal-winning performance the Magic Man achieved in Budapest last summer, we don't think he's sweating it either way.

Erdin will be joined by fellow countryman Selim Yashar (who has no ranking points) who should also contend for a medal. Additionally, Deepak Punia of India has 18 points and will have an opportunity to get in the ranking mix. 

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Top 6 Ranked Wrestlers

Two of the top six point scorers will be in Sassari City. Alireza Karimi of Iran and Batyrbek Tcakulov of Russia are registered and should contribute to a very tough 92 kg bracket. They're all chasing J'den Cox, who sits atop the rankings with a substantial lead on both of them and cannot be caught, at least not from points earned at the Sassari alone. 

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Top 6 Ranked Wrestlers

The competitor with the most points that's expected to be in Italy is Batzul Ulziisaikhan of Mongolia. Ulziisaikhan can't catch either Snyder or Sadulaev, but he can put some distance between himself and the rest of the wrestlers in the rankings. 

Two other wrestlers expected in the bracket that have points are Abraham de Jesus Conyedo of Italy (25 points) and Igor Ovsiannikov of Russia (24 points).

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Top 6 Ranked Wrestlers

A trio of heavies with ranking points are expected to be in a packed 125 kg bracket: Parviz Hadi of Iran (41 points), Sumit Sumit of India (36 points) and Daniel Ligeti of Hungary (26 points). Hadi will pass Gwiazdowski with any finish in the top five. Sumit will have to make the finals to leap frog Gwiz.