Thor Masters, one of Europe’s most popular Greco-Roman tournaments, begins this coming Friday (March 20) with athletes from over a dozen nations registered to compete. At press time, the event will host 98 entrants across all ten Senior weight categories.
55, 63, and 82 kg will not included many matches (55 kg only has two wrestlers, 63 has five, and 82 just four). But if not for those four brackets, the optics would be quite different. At Thor Masters 2026, 67 kg currently has 14 wrestlers; 87 has 13 participants; and 97 — the tournament’s deepest bracket — claims 19. Heavyweight (130 kg) is not too far behind 87 with 10 athletes slated to suit up. Those are strong numbers, especially considering that the European Championships takes place in less than a month.
Roster Focus
Sweden is bringing 13 to Thor Masters led by ’19 World silver Alex Kessidis (97 kg), and Germany and Poland are likewise entering a substantial number of competitors, as well, most of whom are their #1’s. But the spotlight for Thor Masters ’26 is being shone on four other countries (including host nation Denmark) due in part to their prospects, roster density, star quality, or all three.
*Note: Only prior World/Olympic, SR European Championships, or Thor Masters placings are listed as credentials.
CRO
Etlinger is once again eyballing 67 and Thor Masters’ 2 kg allowance is a good way for him to re-assert himself in ’26. Now 34, Etlinger has to make the most out of this phase of his career, particularly if he plans on making a push to LA ’28. This weekend should provide him with a nice test as the European Championships awaits in April. Puklavec continues to grow into his own style on the Senior level and is certainly expected to contend in Nykobing Falster; and Kamenjasevic is consistently solid athlete whose results do not speak to how good he actually is. But at the moment, Croatia’s star is Kodric. A World medalist this past fall (and a two-time U23 medalists before that), Kodric is a tough and entertaining wrestler who knows how to finish opponents. The only issue with him is how he might handle moving up when it comes time for Olympic qualification.
67 kg: Dominik Etlinger — ’20 European Championships bronze; ’18 Thor Masters bronze; ’20 Thor Masters gold
72 kg: Pavel Puklavec — ’22 U23 World silver
77 kg: Antonio Kamenjasevic — ’21 European Championships bronze; ’23 Thor Masters silver
82 kg: Karlo Kodric — ’25 World bronze; ’22 U23 World silver; ’23 U23 World bronze
87 kg: Ivan Huklek — ’20 Olympian; ’17 U23 World silver
87 kg: Matej Mandric — ’23 U23 World silver
97 kg: Filip Smetko
DEN
The best young upper-weight in the sport is Bisultanov who, at only 24, has likely not even approached his apex just yet. And although 87 at this year’s Thor Masters does feature a few potential opponents who are in their own right viable, Bisultanov has either already defeated them or would be heavily favored to do so should they clash this weekend. Because this is Denmark’s home tournament, most of the roster members have previous Thor accolades, but lightweights Santiago and Reenberg stand out a little more than the others.
60 kg: Brian Kurt Santiago — ’25 Thor Masters gold; ’24 Thor Masters silver
67 kg: William Reenberg — ’22 Thor Masters silver; ’21 Thor Masters bronze
67 kg: Magnus Rasmussen
82 kg: Oliver Kruger — ’22 Thor Masters silver
87 kg: Turpal Bisultanov — ’24 Olympic bronze; ’22 World Champion; ’22 European Championships gold; 4X Thor Masters gold; ’23 Thor Masters bronze
87 kg: Frederik Mathiesen — ’25 Thor Masters bronze
FIN
Savolainen and Kuosmanen are Finland’s reverse 1-2 punch. Both bring a very bruising, punishing brand of combat to their matches and usually fail to tolerate static positions. Savolainen is a touch more fluid and can lift from par terre top, which tends to work more to his advantage in second periods. Kuosmanen — who essentially rejuvenated his career by moving up to 130 from 97 in ’21 — does not depart from the hardened Scandinavian style but is more willing than most to skirt the line between physical and nasty. It is nothing personal to him. The sport demands an aggressive attitude as a means for mere participation. Kuosmanen, 30, understands the assignment.
72 kg: Mathias Lipasti — 2X Thor Masters gold
77 kg: Akseli Yli-Hannuksela
87 kg: Walterri Latvala — ’25 Thor Masters bronze
97 kg: Arvi Savolainen — 2X Olympian; ’19 U23 World Champion; ’21 U23 World bronze; ’22 European Championships silver; ’18 Thor Masters bronze
130 kg: Matti Kuosmanen — ’25 World bronze; ’20 Olympian; ’17 U23 World silver; 2X European Championships bronze; ’18 Thor Masters gold; ’23 Thor Masters silver; ’17 Thor Masters bronze
130 kg: Konsta Maenpaa — ’21 Thor Masters silver
NOR
The story with Thoresen, for those who are paying attention, is that he is giving 63 a try. He test-drove the weight class at the Worlds and it didn’t go quite well for him. But that was at scratch-63. Last month in Albania, he revisited 63 but with a +2 kg allowance and came away with 3rd. Thor Masters, as mentioned, will also have a +2 allowance; plus, Thoresen’s bracket lists only four other competitors. Though it is not a matter of medaling at this thing that matters. Thoresen needs more and more match time, and, at the very least, Thor Masters’ two-day format (the event actually begins in the afternoon on Friday, not morning) could aid the 29-year-old regarding what his body needs in terms of recovery. Joergensen is currently Norway’s most complete wrestler pertaining to overall skill-sets and competitive maturity. 67 this weekend should not be short on tough matches for him, but he will gladly take them in order to hit a mini-peak for Euros. When he’s on a roll, Mukubu is a dazzler and potent finisher. He is also not one who enjoys being bogged or grinded down by go-nowhere tie-ups. Mukubu likes to create motion, and then score from top. 87 is not going to be a walk in the park for him at Thor Masters, but look for him to provide some moments as he navigates his bracket.
63 kg: Morten Thoresen — ’20 European Championships gold; 2X Thor Masters gold; ’18 Thor Masters silver
67 kg: Harvaard Joergensen — ’23 European Championships bronze; ’22 Thor Masters gold; ’21 Thor Masters silver
87 kg: Exauce Mukubu — ’22 U23 World Champion; ’21 Thor Masters silver; ’22 Thor Masters bronze
Thor Masters 2026 Schedule
The live broadcast for each mat can be found here.
*All times +6 hrs ET.
Friday, March 20
1:30pm-6:30pm — Preliminary rounds
Saturday, March 21
10:30am-2:30pm — Preliminary rounds
2:30pm-4:00pm — Bronze-medal matches
4:30pm-6:30pm — Finals
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