Zharkov – Kulikova (RUS) to win the Games Qualifier 07/12/2021

The four-times European and five-times World Standard Champions dominated the WDSF Sport Series Games Qualifier in La Nucía, Spain.

The unique setting of WDSF PD couples and WDSF amateur couples on the floor at the same time promised an exciting and highly expected rendez-vous between the two reigning World Champions Dmitry Zharkov – Olga Kulikova (RUS) and Evaldas Sodeika – Ieva Zukauskaite (LTU). And we did not need to be disappointed, what a competition it was. These two world class couples together with their peers created once again a show which will be remembered for a long time after the lights have dimmed out at the venue.

Before the Russians turned professionals, we remember the early rounds at the 2018 World Standard Championship in Vienna as the two couples decided to organize something special for the spectators by performing a simple, yet nearly perfect synchronised choreography during the Viennese Waltz.

The spectators went wild at that moment, and on Sunday, we saw it again, as these good friends and previous rivals on the floor repeated the pattern during one heat of the Viennese Waltz.

Aside this one dance, the magical event in La Nucía (ESP) that was beautifully organised by the Spanish DanceSport Federation (FEBD) included many other special moments, too. The winning couple, Zharkov – Kulikova (RUS) nailed perfect tens at the final, while the runners-up, Sodeika – Zukauskaite (LTU) were awarded nearly as high scores as the Russians.

The world class final was not complete without the bronze medalists couple, Francesco Galuppo – Debora Pacini (ITA) followed by the two Russian couples Alexey Glukhov – Anastasia Glazunova and Evgeny Nikitin – Anastasia Miliutina who ranked 4th and 5th in respective order, and the newlyweds Tomas Fainsil– Violetta Fainsil (GER) who ranked sixth.

The evening ended with deserved standing ovations to all the finalists couples who all gave great performances.

The event served as the European Qualifier for The World Games 2022 set to take place in Birmingham, Alabama (USA) on July 7 – 17, 2022. The event was livestreamed at DanceSportTotal YouTube channel. WDSF expects soon to announce the location and date of the European Qualifier for the World Games 2022 for the Latin discipline.

Photos by JΛVI GNZLZ