World #2 defeats world #1 to take compound men’s crown at World Cup Final

Dutch world number two Mike Schloesser beat world number one Braden Gellenthien of the USA, 147-144, to take the compound men’s title at the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final in Moscow, Russia.

“It feels really good. I’m super happy, I came here with really good confidence and when eventually it shows out there, it’s an awesome feeling,” said Schloesser. 

“I want to thank everyone who has helped me get here. I had some troubles last year, personal and in archery, and I think that a lot of people helped me to get here, so I want to thank them all.”

Mike looked every bit the top seed as he won his first two matches with scores of 149 points.

Braden, the world ranking leader, was strong, too. He opened with a 149 to dispatch Evren Cagiran before a gritty finish to take out Daniel Munoz by a point.

The final had the makings of a classic.

Gellenthien shot three perfect Xs to start and Schloesser matched him on score. The USA archer blinked first, shooting his fifth arrow into the nine, and was trailing by one after three ends.

It was then that the world number two pulled away. He shot five straight Xs, while Braden dropped points on four of his next five shots, to extend the lead to five.

Mike needed a hit to win with his last shot.

He needed the buffer. As has happened before when Schloesser has a big lead, his last arrow is his worst. The 25-year-old never settled properly on the trigger and sent it downrange with force. 

It landed wide left, in the eight. Enough for the victory.

This is Mike’s second Hyundai Archery World Cup Champion title. His previous win came in Odense in 2016 when, again, he built a huge (eight-point) advantage and his winning arrow was wild, that time a seven.

“The thing is, usually when I lead I make it difficult for myself and it’s just stupid. But it happens and I’m working on it,” said Schloesser.

“For example, the [semifinal] match against Anton [Bulaev]​, I knew I needed to shoot a 10 to win and I did it, and I did it in a good fashion. So I’m happy with that one. I just need to work on that one, get confidence out of that one and do it more often.”

Braden has now appeared in the gold medal match at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final an incredible seven times, collecting two titles and five silvers.

“The wind picked up a little bit in the last match and I just kept getting bumped. To be honest with you, I was breaking the same shots that I was breaking the whole way through and instead of hanging 10s, they were just out,” said Braden.

“I’m just glad it’s over. This whole season it’s been super stressful. Second place isn’t the way I wanted to finish this season, but I’m happy with it, and Mike shot amazing today.”

Daniel Munoz took Colombia’s second medal of the day after Lopez won compound women’s gold when he defeated host nation representative Anton Bulaev to bronze.

“It’s a tough tournament, very complicated but I felt very good. I came from less to more throughout the matches,” said Munoz. “I’m very happy, it was a good score and by far one of the best achievements of my career, so I feel very, very happy.” 

“Of course, everyone would like to win gold but we are shooting against archers with many years of experience and podiums, so I think I’m doing a good job and I feel super happy to win this medal for Colombia.”

The match was tied with three arrows left to shoot.

Munoz posted two 10s and a nine, Bulaev a nine and a 10 – and pushed his last arrow into the nine, too, to surrender the third spot on the podium.

The 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup Final takes place on 6-7 September in Moscow, Russia.