665. Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling (2026)

The 665th Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Tournament is a historic and traditional sports event scheduled to take place between 3 and 5 July 2026 at the Sarayiçi Er Meydanı in Edirne, Türkiye. Recognized as the Olympic arena of Turkish oil wrestling and the site where the nation’s chief wrestler is crowned, the event is coordinated by the Edirne Municipality. The festival, which forms part of Edirne’s intangible cultural heritage—having served as the capital of numerous civilizations and the Ottoman Empire—has a general program spanning from 29 June to 5 July 2026, with the core wrestling competitions concentrated on 3, 4 and 5 July.

Known as “The Enduring Legend of the Unending Wrestling,” the Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Tournament has been held continuously since 5 May 1361, except during times of war or other extraordinary circumstances, making it a centuries-old tradition that has endured to the present day. It is regarded not only as Edirne’s heritage but also as the shared cultural legacy of Türkiye and the entire world.

The international profile of the event gained momentum through the European Commission’s European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) project, which promotes sustainable tourism development models across the European Union. Türkiye first participated in this initiative in 2008, and that same year the Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival was awarded the “European Destination of Excellence” title. Following this international recognition, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, the Edirne Municipality prepared a comprehensive dossier with the aim of having the festival inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. After review by UNESCO’s relevant bodies, the dossier was officially accepted in 2010, and the Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival was formally added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In accordance with a decision by the Edirne Municipal Council, the wrestling matches at the Sarayiçi Er Meydanı for the 665th Historical Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Tournament will be held on 3, 4 and 5 July 2026. The event’s flow has been planned in full compliance with the rules and logical structure of a tradition spanning over six and a half centuries.

On Friday 3 July 2026, the first day of the event, the competition will begin with matches in the “minik boy” category. On Saturday 4 July 2026, the second day of the festival, the chief wrestlers will enter the arena and begin the ritual of tying their belts. The championship finals, which mark the climax of both the wrestling competition and the festival, will take place on Sunday 5 July 2026 to determine the new chief wrestler.

A total of 40 chief wrestlers will compete at the highest category level for the golden belt at the 665th Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Tournament. The selection of participants is based on performance criteria established by the Oil Wrestling League system. By regulation, the top 32 chief wrestlers from the previous year’s Oil Wrestling League earned direct qualification for Kırkpınar.

The remaining eight chief wrestler slots were determined by the results of the fourth stage of the CW Energy Oil Wrestling League, organized by the Türkiye Traditional Wrestling Federation: the Sekapark Golden Belt Oil Wrestling Tournament. The eight additional chief wrestlers who qualified for Kırkpınar after the fourth round of this tournament, along with their respective point totals, are as follows:

• Onur Susuz (23 points)
• Süleyman Başar (17 points)
• Tanju Gemici (14 points)
• Serhat Elvan (13 points)
• Hasan Güzeller (13 points)
• Ünal Karaman (8 points)
• Ali Yanatma (8 points)
• Tolga Turan (8 points)

According to records, Orhan Okulu, who defeated Feyzullah Aktürk in the final of the previous year’s Historical Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Tournament and thereby earned the title of chief wrestler, is also among the participants.

The ticketing process for spectators wishing to attend the matches at the Sarayiçi Er Meydanı commenced on Monday 8 June 2026 at 10:00 via the official platform Biletix (www.biletix.com). Spectators have been advised to log in early to the platform to avoid potential high demand. According to the Edirne Municipality, admission to the stands on the first day of the competition, Friday 3 July 2026, is free for all wrestling enthusiasts and the general public.

Ticket sales are planned exclusively for 4 and 5 July 2026 and are priced in two tiers according to seating location.

• Saturday 4 July 2026 (Day 2): On this day, when the chief wrestlers enter the arena, the first-tier ticket price is set at 1750 Turkish Liras and the second-tier at 1400 Turkish Liras.
• Sunday 5 July 2026 (Day 3 – Final): On the final day, when the winner of the golden belt will be determined, first-tier tickets are priced at 2600 Turkish Liras and second-tier tickets at 1750 Turkish Liras.

Shortly after sales began, all second-tier tickets were sold out on Biletix. Edirne Mayor Filiz Gencan Akın has invited all citizens to attend this ancient sporting event, which embodies courage, honor and brotherhood, and to join the preparations for the tournament in Edirne.

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The historical Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling is a traditional sporting event that has been sustained for centuries through its unique rituals, strict rules, and deep-rooted history. As a carrier of a cultural heritage spanning hundreds of years, this event represents not merely a physical contest of strength but a complete set of rituals in which morality, character, and tradition converge, reflecting the spiritual legacy of historical figures on the wrestling ground. The legendary personalities preserved in the memory of oil wrestling and the time-honored practices unchanged since antiquity form the distinctive identity of Kırkpınar.

The origins of the Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling are traced to a historic event described as the “endless legendary wrestling match.” According to tradition, during the Ottoman Empire’s conquest of Rumelia, two brothers named Ali and Selim, among forty akıncı warriors, engaged in a wrestling match. After hours of intense struggle, neither warrior gained superiority over the other, and both lost their lives during the contest. As they died, springs began to bubble at the spot where they fell, and in honor of the forty akıncı who had marched to conquest, the area was named Kırkpınar. The event initiated to commemorate these two warriors who gave their lives in a match without a clear victor has since become one of the most enduring traditions in Turkish sports culture.

Kırkpınar matches are conducted under strict rules and disciplines established over centuries.

• Criteria for Victory and Defeat: For a wrestler to be declared victorious, specific conditions must be met. These include forcing the opponent’s back to the ground, lifting the opponent by embracing him and lifting both feet off the ground while taking at least three steps in that position, or causing the opponent to submit voluntarily. Additionally, if the wrestler’s kispet is removed from the opponent’s foot or torn from top to bottom, it is considered an immediate sign of defeat.
• Offenses Requiring Penalties: Moral and rule-based violations on the wrestling ground are strictly prohibited. Insulting the referee, opponent, or spectators through words or gestures, arguing with the opponent, delaying the match, attempting to fix the outcome, violating established wrestling rules, or disregarding the referee’s decisions are classified as actions that directly warrant penalties for wrestlers.
• Applied Techniques: Matches are conducted using various techniques both standing and on the ground. The principal oil wrestling techniques recorded in literature and frequently applied on the Kırkpınar wrestling ground include elense, tırpan, kaz kanadı, ayakta güreşi bağlama, budama, paça, kazık, kepçe, kemane, kolbastı, köstek, künde, boyunduruk, kurt kapanı, yanbaş, and sarma.

• Ağa: One of the most important symbols in Kırkpınar’s historical development. Originally the person responsible for organizing all matches, hosting guests, and distributing prizes, today the Ağa serves a symbolic role in the event, while organizational duties are carried out by the Edirne Municipality and the Turkish Wrestling Federation.
• Başpehlivan: The title awarded to the wrestler who defeats all opponents in the highest category, known as “baş.” A wrestler who wins this title three times consecutively or five times in total across different years earns the permanent right to possess the prestigious golden belt of Kırkpınar.
• Kispet: The traditional garment worn by wrestlers, specially made from buffalo or cattle hide. A thick rope is used to tightly secure the kispet around the waist, while the lower parts, called “paça,” are tied with cords. If the paça is loosely or incorrectly tied, it allows the opponent to insert fingers into the gap and gain advantage, potentially winning the match. Kispet garments are transported to the wrestling ground in special woven reed bags known as “zembil.”
• Peşrev: A ritualistic greeting and warm-up performed by wrestlers before engaging in competition. In this ritual, which boosts the wrestlers’ motivation and excites the spectators, wrestlers gather before the referee panel and first kneel to the ground. Then, with their right hand, they sequentially touch the ground, the knee, the lips, and the forehead. While moving back and forth across the field, they inspect each other’s paças, stroke each other’s backs, tie their necks together, and clasp hands to prepare for the match.
• Yağlanma: The process of applying oil to the wrestlers’ shoulders, chests, arms, and kispet to make gripping more difficult and enhance defense.
• Cazgır (Salavatçı): The official who calls the wrestlers paired by the referee panel onto the wrestling ground. The cazgır announces the wrestlers’ names and hometowns in distinctive rhyming couplets and invites them to compete with prayers.
• Davulcu and Zurnacı: Indispensable auditory elements of the event. Through their traditional melodies, they heighten the spectators’ excitement and, when the match slows, alter the rhythm of the drumbeats to signal to the wrestlers that they must accelerate the pace.
• Kırmızı Dipli Mum: The official invitation symbol of the Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling, preserved for centuries.

Legendary wrestlers constantly mentioned in cazgır couplets, master teachings, and the prayers of young wrestlers embody the moral values and sporting spirit of Kırkpınar. New generations of wrestlers step onto the field emulating these figures’ dignity, composure, and humility. The following are the principal legendary pehlivans who left deep marks in the memory of oil wrestling:

Born in 1844 in Plevne, within the borders of present-day Bulgaria. Raised in the Deliorman region, Kel Aliço attracted the attention of the Ottoman Palace due to his outstanding achievements at Kırkpınar. He was brought to the palace as a rival to Kavasoğlu İbrahim, the Sultan’s chief wrestler, and rose to the position of palace chief wrestler through his superior skill, even wrestling with Sultan Abdülaziz himself. He won the title of Başpehlivan 27 times consecutively at Kırkpınar, setting an unbreakable historical record, and entered history as the “Master of Masters.” Known for his toughness, stubbornness, and ruthlessness in wrestling, he was nicknamed “Gaddar,” and due to his sparse hair, “Kel.” He became legendary in the elense and tırpan techniques. Despite his advancing age, he accepted the challenge of his pupil Koca Yusuf, and after a long final match, he kissed Koca Yusuf’s hand, marking his ceremonial retirement on the wrestling ground. He passed away at age 75 in the village of Kel Aliço Pehlivan, now part of İpsala, which bears his name.

Born in 1857 in Şumnu, Koca Yusuf received his wrestling training from prominent figures of his time, including his father Yusuf Pehlivan, Dursun Pehlivan, and Kel İsmail. He first competed on the Kırkpınar field in 1882. His successes elevated his fame, and he was invited to compete in France and the United States, where he delivered heavy defeats to his opponents. The profound impression he made on French spectators led to the phrase “strong as a Turk” becoming embedded in French culture and idioms. He lost his life in 1898 when the ship he was aboard sank near Sable Island while returning from competitions in America.

Born in 1866 in the village of Adaiçi, Adalı Halil began his wrestling career by defeating peers in harvest fields and at village wedding grounds. He engaged in a historic match against Kel Aliço at Kırkpınar that lasted five and a half hours; this prolonged struggle earned him the opportunity to become Kel Aliço’s pupil and opened the doors to success. Using the tactics learned from his master, he won the title of Kırkpınar Başpehlivan 18 times. Known as the “Lion of the Sultan” and the “Lion of Edirne,” Adalı Halil continued the international fame initiated by Koca Yusuf, cementing his global reputation by breaking his opponent’s bone during a match in Chicago, in addition to triumphing in renowned competitions in Paris and Vienna. After retiring from wrestling, he worked as an employee at the Edirne Tobacco Administration and passed away in 1927.

Born in 1872 in Tırnova, then part of the Ottoman Empire. In the 1899 Kırkpınar event, he defeated Adalı Halil and Kara Osman to attain the title of Başpehlivan. Competing in Europe and winning the world championship, Kurtdereli Mehmet, despite suffering illness during the 1911 Taksim Talimhane Wrestling, defeated English, Dutch, and Hungarian opponents to earn the title “Champion of the World.” After his final matches, he sent his kispet to the Kaaba through another wrestler and withdrew from the wrestling ground. In retirement, he served as chief referee. In an interview with the Anadolu Agency, he declared, “When I wrestled, I felt the entire Turkish nation behind me and would do anything to protect its honor.” This statement earned the admiration of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. In response, Atatürk sent him a letter of praise along with an envelope containing 1,000 liras, delivered by Salih Bozok and Kılıç Ali; Kurtdereli read the letter with tears. His sense of responsibility and dignity are regarded today as a fundamental guide for modern wrestlers.

In addition to the four historical figures detailed above, wrestlers such as Filiz Nurullah, Hergeleci İbrahim, Çolak Mümin Molla, Er Sultan, Filibeli Kara Ahmet, Hançoğlu İbrahim, İpçi Hüseyin, Kara Ahmet, Katrancı Mehmet, Kavasoğlu İbrahim, Kazıkçı Kara Bekir, Nakkaşlı Eyüp, and Şamdancıbaşı Kara İbo also hold legendary status in the wrestling community today, recognized for their distinctive wrestling tactics and powerful personalities.

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The operational phase of the 665th Historical Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling, including its competition schedule cultural ceremonies and prize distribution, is structured within a planned system coordinated by the Turkish Traditional Wrestling Federation and the Edirne Municipality. The preparation and seeding stages of the event, scheduled to take place from 3 to 5 July 2026, will be organized at the Mimar Sinan Sports Hall in Edirne prior to the festival.

The official registration process for wrestlers participating in the competition is conducted at dedicated platforms established at the Mimar Sinan Sports Hall in Edirne. During registration all wrestlers undergo physical fitness assessments and medical examinations. Wrestlers who successfully complete registration and medical checks are subjected to a draw to determine their match brackets and opponents. According to official statements by Metin Şenel Secretary of the Central Referee Committee of the Turkish Traditional Wrestling Federation (TGGF) a total of 840 wrestlers across 14 different weight categories are planned to register for the event. The first wrestling matches on the wrestling ground are scheduled to begin immediately after the Friday prayer held on the first day of the festival.

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The 840 wrestlers competing in the 665th Historical Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling are divided into 14 distinct weight categories based on age and skill level. These categories are hierarchically classified as follows: Mini 1 Mini 2 Mini 3 Encouragement Tozkoparan Foot Support Small Medium Support Medium Large Support Large Medium Small Medium Large Medium Large and Head Height. A total of 40 wrestlers will compete in the main wrestling ground in the prestigious Başpehlivan category. Wrestlers in lower categories such as Tozkoparan will also compete within their respective hierarchical divisions for championship titles.

On the first day of the competition cultural ceremonies central to the centuries-old Kırkpınar tradition are scheduled to be performed. A special welcoming ceremony has been arranged for Güreş Ağası Ufuk Özünlü who won the sponsorship bid for 40 million 664 thousand 665 Turkish Liras. The Güreş Ağası will be received by Edirne Mayor Filiz Gencan at Selimiye Square followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Atatürk Monument. The ceremonial program will continue with prayers offered at the graves of the historic wrestlers Adalı Halil and Kara Emin at the Pehlivanlar Cemetery and conclude with a traditional mevlit ceremony at the Edirne Old Mosque at noon.

The official opening ceremony will take place at 18:00 on the first day of the event at the Sarayiçi Wrestling Ground. During the opening ceremony the flag will be carried by Orhan Okulu the previous year’s Başpehlivan of the 664th Historical Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling followed by protocol speeches and the traditional parade ceremony.

The first 32 elimination rounds of the Başpehlivan competition will be held on the first day of the event. In this stage the fifth bag consisting of eight additional Başpehlivans who qualified for the event will face the fourth bag containing wrestlers ranked 25th to 32nd in the league standings. The eight Başpehlivans who prevail in these elimination matches will advance to the first round of competition which begins on Saturday 4 July at 13:30. On the final day of the event Sunday 5 July the quarterfinals semifinals and final matches of the Başpehlivan category will be held alongside the other weight categories followed by next year’s sponsorship auction and the official closing ceremony.

The prize amounts awarded to wrestlers achieving rankings have been officially determined by the Edirne Municipality. The champion in the Başpehlivan category will receive one million 655 thousand Turkish Liras. The second-place wrestler in the final will receive 750 thousand Turkish Liras and the two wrestlers eliminated in the semifinals will each receive 380 thousand Turkish Liras. Prize amounts for first place in lower categories have been announced as follows: 225 thousand Turkish Liras for Başaltı 125 thousand for Büyük Orta 82 thousand 500 for Küçük Orta Büyük and 55 thousand for Küçük Orta Küçük. Additionally a prize of 16 thousand Turkish Liras the Best Peşrev Award will be presented to the wrestler who performs the pre-match warm-up and greeting ritual with the greatest aesthetic precision.

This year changes have been introduced to the regulations governing the permanent golden belt awarded to wrestlers who win the Başpehlivan title three times consecutively. Under the new rules wrestlers who have won the Başpehlivan title a total of five times regardless of whether the victories were consecutive will now be granted permanent ownership of the golden belt. Accordingly if Recep Kara or Ali Gürbüz both of whom have previously won the Başpehlivan title four times in past Kırkpınar events win the 665th edition they will earn the right to claim permanent possession of the golden belt. The last time the permanent ownership of the golden belt was awarded in Kırkpınar history was in 1997 when the wrestler Ahmet Taşçı claimed it.

665. Historic Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling began with matches among the mini-1 weight class wrestlers. The 41 mini-1 wrestlers entered the arena to the call of the cazgır and engaged in wrestling, marking the opening contests of the event. On the first day, wrestling took place across a total of 14 weight classes.

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The main category matches of the 665th Historic Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling began at 16:30 on the first day. The top 32 wrestlers from last year’s (2025) CW Energy Oil Wrestling League were divided into four bags of eight based on their league performance. An additional bag (Bag 5) was also created this year, comprising the top wrestlers from the first three legs of the league.

Wrestlers in the first, second, and third bags did not compete in the 32-wrestler elimination matches. Wrestlers in the fourth and fifth bags competed on the first day to advance to the first round. The eight winners of these matches earned the right to participate in the first-round champion matches on the second day.

The bag compositions are as follows:

• Bag 1: Orhan Okulu, Feyzullah Aktürk, Enes Doğan, Mustafa Taş, Yusuf Can Zeybek, Erkan Taş, Yunus Emre Yaman, Ali İhsan Batmaz.
• Bag 2: Seçkin Duman, Furkan Durmuş Altın, Mehmet Yeşil Yeşil, Osman Kan, İsmail Koç, Ali Gürbüz, Yıldıray Pala, Yıldıray Akın.
• Bag 3: Serdar Yıldırım, Nedim Gürel, Serhat Gökmen, Hasan Cengiz, Cengizhan Şimşek, Abdulrefik Öner, Mustafa Doğan Özkaya, Faruk Akkoyun.
• Bag 4: Serhat Balcı, Hamza Köseoğlu, Fatih Atlı, İsmail Balaban, Mustafa Batu, Ertuğrul Dağdeviren, Recep Kara, Hamza Özkaradeniz.
• Bag 5: Onur Susuz, Süleyman Başar, Tanju Gemici, Serhat Elvan, Hasan Güzeller, Ünal Karaman, Ali Yanatma, Tolga Turan.

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On the second day of the 665th Historic Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling, matches in the large weight class began. After pairings were finalized, wrestlers tied their arms, were saluted by the cazgır, performed traditional rituals, and entered the arena to the rhythm of the peşrev. Following the referees’ signal, matches were held across various weight classes and categories.

In the afternoon of the second day, the eight champions determined on the first day joined the 24 champions from Bags 1 and 2, forming a group of 32 wrestlers competing for advancement to the next round.

Sixteen wrestlers were invited to the arena for the third round of the champion matches. They drew lots to determine pairings and then engaged in wrestling after performing the peşrev.

The most notable match of this round was between Ali Gürbüz, a four-time champion of Kırkpınar, and his protégé Ali İhsan Batmaz. Ali İhsan Batmaz, who has competed in the heavyweight category since 2023 and placed third at Kırkpınar last year, faced his master for the first time on the Kırkpınar arena. Ali Gürbüz, aiming to become the permanent holder of the golden belt, pressured his opponent, forced him to the ground, and subdued him with a sarma technique, winning the match in the 10th minute. As a result, Ali Gürbüz emerged victorious and Ali İhsan Batmaz was defeated.

Based on the results of the third round, Mustafa Taş, Ali Gürbüz, Serdar Yıldırım, Orhan Okulu, Erkan Taş, Osman Kan, Feyzullah Aktürk, and Seçkin Duman qualified for the quarterfinal matches.

On the third and final day of the 665th Historic Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling, matches in the mini-1 weight class opened the day. Wrestlers were paired before the matches, then tied their arms and performed the peşrev to the sound of drums and zurnas. After the referees’ signal, the wrestling began.

In the afternoon of the final day, wrestlers were summoned to the arena for the champion quarterfinal matches. The draw paired Orhan Okulu with Feyzullah Aktürk, Mustafa Taş with Serdar Yıldırım, Osman Kan with Seçkin Duman, and Erkan Taş with Ali Gürbüz. After performing the peşrev, the champion wrestlers began their matches.

The most anticipated match of the day was the one between Orhan Okulu and Feyzullah Aktürk, described as an “early final.” The contest began with strong neck holds and remained dynamic throughout. Feyzullah Aktürk, seeking revenge for his loss in last year’s Kırkpınar final, successfully defended against Okulu’s moves, while Orhan Okulu repeatedly employed the classic backward pull. As no decisive result was achieved in regulation time, the match moved to the point-scoring phase. Despite receiving two warnings, Feyzullah Aktürk secured victory in the 45th minute with a pressure move, advancing to the semifinals. As a result, Feyzullah Aktürk won and Orhan Okulu was defeated.

Another highly anticipated match was between Ali Gürbüz, the wrestler closest to becoming the permanent holder of the golden belt, and Erkan Taş. Ali Gürbüz frequently used his height advantage to neutralize Erkan Taş’s moves. As both wrestlers adopted cautious tactics, the match moved to the point-scoring phase. In the 50th minute, when both wrestlers began taking risks, Erkan Taş brought down his opponent with a chingal technique and secured victory with a pressure move. As a result, Erkan Taş advanced to the semifinals, while Ali Gürbüz was defeated and lost his chance to become the permanent golden belt holder this year.

In the quarterfinal matches between Mustafa Taş and Serdar Yıldırım, and between Osman Kan and Seçkin Duman, Mustafa Taş and Seçkin Duman emerged victorious and advanced to the semifinals.

As a result, Mustafa Taş, Seçkin Duman, Feyzullah Aktürk, and Erkan Taş earned the right to compete in the semifinals.

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Before the semifinal champion matches, the auction for the 666th Historic Kırkpınar Wrestling Lordship was held at the Sarayiçi Er Meydanı. Ufuk Özünlü, the current wrestling lord, was the sole candidate bidding for the symbolic lordship staff. Edirne Mayor Filiz Gencan opened the auction at 41 million liras; Özünlü won the lordship for next year with a bid of 46 million 666 thousand 666 liras.

Ufuk Özünlü, who regained the lordship, descended to the arena wearing the “modernized ağa attire” and greeted the stands to the rhythm of drums and zurnas. He was accompanied by İbrahim Türkiş, President of the Turkish Traditional Wrestling Federation, former Fenerbahçe president Ali Koç, and past wrestling lords. Gencan and Türkiş presented Özünlü with a permanent golden belt in recognition of his third consecutive term as ağa.

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Following the lordship auction, a 30-square-meter Turkish flag carried by the referees was paraded around the arena under the guidance of Kırkpınar’s chief cazgır Emin Ger and accompanied by national marches. Spectators in the stands, including Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, stood to salute the flag.

Wrestlers were summoned to the arena to draw lots for the semifinal pairings. The draw matched Erkan Taş with Seçkin Duman and Mustafa Taş with Feyzullah Aktürk. After performing the peşrev and greeting the stands, the wrestlers began their matches.

The match between Erkan Taş and Seçkin Duman began dynamically but slowed in pace as it progressed. Seçkin Duman attempted to counter Erkan Taş’s frequent knee-and-thigh attacks. As neither wrestler gained clear dominance in regulation time, the match moved to the point-scoring phase. In the first minute of scoring, Erkan Taş defeated his opponent with a knee-and-shin technique to advance to the final. As a result, Erkan Taş won and Seçkin Duman was defeated.

The match between Mustafa Taş and Feyzullah Aktürk began at a fast pace. Mustafa Taş relied on strong neck holds, while Feyzullah Aktürk attempted to build his offense from the knee. As neither wrestler gained dominance in regulation time, the match moved to the point-scoring phase. Feyzullah Aktürk escaped Mustafa Taş’s künde attempt and secured victory. As a result, Feyzullah Aktürk won and Mustafa Taş was defeated.

As a result, Erkan Taş and Feyzullah Aktürk earned the right to compete in the final, while Seçkin Duman and Mustafa Taş shared third place.

In the final of the 665th Historic Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling, Feyzullah Aktürk, who had defeated Mustafa Batu, Yıldıray Pala, Orhan Okulu, and Mustafa Taş in previous rounds, faced Erkan Taş, who had eliminated İsmail Balaban, Mehmet Yeşil Yeşil, Ali Gürbüz, and Seçkin Duman. The 27-year-old Feyzullah Aktürk from Akhisar, Manisa — known as the “hard rock” of this year’s circuit, having won the champion title in Yuntdağı, Sekapark, Kestel, Vezirköprü, Çardak, Kula, Manavgat, and Çağlak wrestling events — and the 26-year-old Erkan Taş from Sinop — known as the “iron chickpea,” having won the champion title in Dikmen, Ödemiş, Osmancık, Edremit, and Çalı events — performed the peşrev after being saluted by Chief Cazgır Emin Ger.

The final match began under the refereeing of Olgay İnce from the Kocaeli region. According to one source, the match started at 17:51 and lasted a total of 54 minutes.

The wrestling began dynamically with mutual attacks, occasionally becoming aggressive. Erkan Taş appeared dominant until the 15th minute, successfully neutralizing two critical moves from his opponent. The head referee issued a warning to Feyzullah Aktürk at this stage, urging him to wrestle more actively.

At the 20th minute, the match continued on the ground due to Erkan Taş’s counter. While Erkan Taş attempted leg-and-stick maneuvers, Feyzullah Aktürk focused on defense. Referee Olgay İnce, citing prolonged ground wrestling, called the wrestlers to their feet. During the 30-minute regulation period, with Erkan Taş being more active and Feyzullah Aktürk adopting a defensive strategy, no decisive result was achieved, and the match proceeded to the point-scoring phase.

Feyzullah Aktürk, under pressure from warnings, adopted a more aggressive style. His counter-dalmas at the 35th, 41st, and 45th minutes excited the crowd, but none resulted in points. According to one source, Feyzullah Aktürk received a second warning at the 52nd minute.

At the 49th minute (another source cites the 54th minute), Feyzullah Aktürk attempted a single-leg takedown on Erkan Taş. Erkan escaped the move, moved behind his opponent, scored a point, and won the match. As a result, Erkan Taş became the champion of the 665th Historic Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling, while Feyzullah Aktürk lost his second consecutive Kırkpınar final.

Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak presented awards to the champion wrestlers. Alongside Minister Bak, the ceremony was attended by Bilal Erdoğan, President of the World Ethnosports Union; Taha Akgül, President of the Turkish Wrestling Federation; Müsavat Dervişoğlu, General Chairman of the İYİ Party; and numerous members of parliament, former ministers, former MPs, and mayors.

^{665. Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling (2026) (AA)}

The champion wrestler Erkan Taş, runner-up Feyzullah Aktürk, and third-place finishers Seçkin Duman and Mustafa Taş received their cups in a formal ceremony. The wrestlers ascended the podium in front of the protocol stand, where they were presented with their awards and trophies. Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak placed the golden belt on champion Erkan Taş.

Awards for those who placed in the 665th Historic Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling were presented by Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Hamza Yerlikaya, World Ethnosports Union President Bilal Erdoğan, Governor of Edirne Yunus Sezer, Governor of Yalova Ahmet Hamdi Usta, General Chairman of the Yeniden Refah Party Fatih Erbakan, General Chairman of the İYİ Party Müsavat Dervişoğlu, MPs Fatma Aksal, Ahmet Baran Yazgan, Mehmet Akalın, Serkan Sarı, Cavit Arı, Fahri Özkan, Edirne Mayor Filiz Gencan, Acting Mayor of Antalya Büşra Özdemir, Rector of Trakya University Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hatipler, Chairman of the Gallipoli Historical Area of the Çanakkale Battles İsmail Kaşdemir, General Director of Investments and Operations at the Ministry of Youth and Sports Süleyman Şahin, Director of Edirne Police Muhittin Ayhan, Deputy President of the World Ethnosports Confederation Hakan Kazancı, Deputy General Chairman of the Yeniden Refah Party Suat Kılıç, President of the Turkish Traditional Wrestling Federation İbrahim Türkiş, President of the Association of Cities Hosting Oil Wrestling Ahmet Akın, Deputy President of the Traditional Wrestling Federation Şahin Hopur, Kırkpınar Wrestling Lord Ufuk Özünlü, former Kırkpınar Wrestling Lord Seyfettin Selim, Chairman of the CW Energy Board Tarık Savran, and Board Member of the Turkish Traditional Wrestling Federation İbrahim Doğan. After the ceremony, a group photo was taken with the champion wrestlers.

The event concluded when the Turkish flag, raised by 2025 champion Orhan Okulu during the official opening ceremony on Friday, was lowered from the flagpole by the final champion, Erkan Taş, to the sound of the National Anthem.

665. The final standings in the champion wrestler category of the 665th Historic Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling are as follows:

• Erkan Taş (Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club, Sinop) — Champion, golden belt holder
• Feyzullah Aktürk (Manisa, Akhisar) — Runner-up
• Seçkin Duman and Mustafa Taş — Shared third place

Erkan Taş won the Kırkpınar championship for the first time. Feyzullah Aktürk lost his second consecutive Kırkpınar final. Mustafa Taş, who won the golden belt at the 661st Historic Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling in 2022, secured third place this year. Ali Gürbüz, a four-time champion who would have become the permanent golden belt holder with a fifth title, lost in the quarterfinals to Erkan Taş and missed his chance this year.

Following the award ceremony, champion wrestler Erkan Taş expressed great joy. He stated that wrestling is a tradition passed down through generations in his family and that winning the golden belt had been his childhood dream. He thanked his team, especially his master Mustafa Taş, the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, and everyone who supported him. Taş declared that his next goal is to become the permanent holder of the golden belt.

Mustafa Taş, Erkan Taş’s cousin and the 2022 champion, also made an emotional statement after the ceremony. He said that both had shared the same dream since childhood, trained together under difficult conditions, and that it did not matter who won — what mattered was achieving this success as a family. He also expressed his gratitude to the people of Sinop and Antalya.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated Erkan Taş on becoming the champion of the 665th Historic Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling. Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, in his message, congratulated Erkan Taş on his victory and thanked all wrestlers for their contribution to preserving this historic heritage.

Former Fenerbahçe president Ali Koç, who attended the event live at the Sarayiçi Er Meydanı, said it was his first time witnessing Kırkpınar in person and that this fulfilled a long-standing promise he had made to himself. He emphasized that Kırkpınar is one of the world’s oldest sports and a significant opportunity for national promotion.

World Ethnosports Union President Bilal Erdoğan visited the press tribune during the event, met with journalists, and highlighted the vital role of the media in promoting Kırkpınar and oil wrestling. Edirne Mayor Filiz Gencan also thanked the media personnel for their efforts throughout the event.