Międzychód to host 16th Mayor’s Cup arm wrestling championship in July

Międzychód staged its 16th Open Championship for the Mayor’s Cup on July 11, 2026, at Centrum Animacji Kultury w Międzychodzie, ul. Plac Kościuszki 9, with registration and weigh-in running from 8:30 to 10:00 and competition starting at 10:00. The final was expected around 16:00, giving the town an all-day armwrestling card built for endurance as much as strength.

The event’s importance went beyond a single title round. The Polish federation calendar had already placed Międzychód on the country’s competition map, and the Mayor’s Cup carried the kind of civic backing that has helped keep grassroots armwrestling visible in smaller towns. The venue itself added to the setting: Centrum Animacji Kultury occupies a historic building once nicknamed the former stara ogiernia, and the cultural institution says it was rebuilt over nine years before becoming the town’s community stage.

Today’s field was wide enough to show whether the tournament still had real competitive weight. Professional men contested right-hand classes at 63, 70, 78, 86, 95, 105 and 105-plus kilograms, along with an open left-hand division. Amateur men were split across both arms in 78, 95 and 95-plus kilograms, while masters and grand masters classes gave veteran pullers their own lanes. Women had open right- and left-hand divisions, juniors under 18 had an open right-hand class, and disabled athletes were included in both standing and seated divisions. With double elimination in place, consistency mattered as much as a fast start.

The rule sheet was explicit. Athletes paid a 50 zł license fee per arm, had to compete in sportswear, and minors needed written parental or guardian consent. Competitors were also responsible for their own insurance, and the event staff carried no liability for injuries, a standard caution in a contact sport where arm safety is always in view. Medals and diplomas went to the top three in each class, with cups reserved for the open categories.

Międzychód’s role in Polish armwrestling was not new. The federation’s results archive shows the town hosted the XXIV Mistrzostwa Polski in 2024, and its club list includes UKS Wilki Międzychód as a licensed armwrestling club. The federation also notes that athlete data from events like this may be shared with Federacja Armwrestling Polska, the European Armwrestling Federation and the World Armwrestling Federation for administration and rankings, which means a local card in Międzychód can still reach well beyond Plac Kościuszki.