Levan Saginashvili gives up East vs West super heavyweight title to recover
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Athlete | Levan Saginashvili (Georgia) |
| Title | East vs West right-arm super heavyweight |
| Status | Vacant |
| Reason | Recovery from injury |
| Planned return | 2027 |
| Path to the vacant title | Jablonski vs. Tsvetkov eliminator, then a Las Vegas title-path match in December |
Levan Saginashvili, the dominant super heavyweight of modern arm wrestling, has handed back the East vs West right-arm super heavyweight title. After weighing his injury and a proposed December match, he chose to rest until 2027, and the promotion accepted his request.
The title is now vacant. Kamil Jablonski and Georgi Tsvetkov met in an eliminator at East vs West 25 on August 1, which Jablonski won 4-2, and the winner is booked for a title-path match in Las Vegas in December against an opponent still to be named. Saginashvili has said he plans to challenge for the belt when he returns.
What the vacancy means
| Date | Event | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 31, 2026 | Announcement | Saginashvili relinquishes the right-arm super heavyweight title |
| Aug 1, 2026 | East vs West 25, Batumi | Kamil Jablonski def. Georgi Tsvetkov 4-2 in the eliminator |
| Aug 1, 2026 | East vs West 25, Batumi | Vitaly Laletin retains the left-arm super heavyweight title, 4-0 over Alizhan Muratov |
| Dec 2026 | Las Vegas | Title-path match for the vacant right-arm title |
Our take
Saginashvili’s decision is the responsible one. Arm wrestling’s biggest names pull against each other several times a year, and super heavyweights carry the highest risk of tendon and elbow injuries. Taking time to recover protects the most valuable athlete in the sport.
For East vs West, the vacancy is an opportunity. Jablonski’s form in 2025–26 — a 3-0 left-arm win over Georgii Dzeranov at King of the Table 14 and the 4-2 win over Tsvetkov — makes him a credible champion, and a 2027 return match against Saginashvili would be the biggest supermatch the promotion could book.
Results from both 2026 East vs West cards are on our East vs West results page.
Why Saginashvili matters
Levan Saginashvili’s dominance at super heavyweight has been the defining fact of supermatch arm wrestling. His combination of size, hand strength and pressing power has made matches against him the sport’s ultimate test, and his presence on an East vs West card has been the promotion’s biggest draw.
How supermatches work
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | One-on-one matches over a set number of rounds |
| Title matches | Usually best of seven |
| Arm | Right or left arm, announced in advance |
| Fouls | Two fouls in a round cost the round |
| Start | Hands gripped, referee's "ready, go" |
Read our arm wrestling rules guide for the full rules, and our technique guide for how matches are won.