Wings of Strength Chicago 2019 - Michael Lockett dominated the competition with Czech participation

Author: František Randáček

Bodybuilding / Fitness Competitions Wings of Strength Chicago

10.07.2019

7 minut čtení

Chicago, the third most populous city in the U.S., also known as the Garden City, hosted Jim Manion's IFBB Professional League show Wings of Strength Chicago this past weekend, with both heavyweights and their lighter counterparts in the 212-pound division taking the stage.

Open category

There were a total of 25 heavyweights on stage, which is undoubtedly an impressive number. For the Czech fan, it is all the more interesting that there was also a pair of Czechs on the podium, namely Lukáš Osladil and Slavoj Bednář.

Of the aforementioned pair, Lukáš Osladil was certainly one of the favourites for the top positions, as he not only has considerable experience on the professional stage, but can also be considered a representative of the wider top.

It is not surprising that Lukáš appeared alongside Samson Dauda, Michael Lockett, Charles Griffen, Sergey Kulaev, Ana Nguyen and Essi Obaid in the first semi-final comparison.

With the trio of Lockett, Osladil and Griffen posing in the middle of the line, it seemed that Lukas was in a real fight for the triumph. However, the judges subsequently judged otherwise, and sent the Lockett, Griffen pair out of the round. It was the one that was to emerge the winner in the next moments.
At that moment, Lukas was already fighting for third place with Essa Obaid, who, according to many, had prepared his life form for this event.

The first semi-final comparison:

The second Czech, Slavoj Bednar, stood alongside Luis Rodriguez, Josh Wade, Eddie Bracamontes, Marc-Arthur Dautruchee, Dorian Haywood and Sibusiso Kotelo in the second comparison, posing with the pair of Wade and Kotelo in the front row. He thus fought for a very respectable eighth to tenth place in a very well-packed field.

Michael Lockett finally enjoyed his fourth professional triumph. His asset is his full and perfectly plastic muscles, especially in the upper half of his body. Not to forget the great abdominal muscles and their excellent control. The weakness remains the more subtle lower limbs, despite the fact that Michael has visibly worked on them.

Second place went to Charles Griffen. He, like the winner, struggles with a significant difference between his excellent upper and lagging lower body. His strengths then are his arms and his airport in the form of his back muscles, which were among the best to be seen on the podium on this day.

Third place was eventually earned by Essa Obaid from the judges, who, as mentioned above, many felt was in the form of his life.

This left Lukas with the unpopular potato medal. Although he was undoubtedly the most symmetrical and best put together competitor on the podium, the judges did not let him go any higher. Why was that? Perhaps only they know, and perhaps Lukas himself suspects.
Some blame him for not coming in as sharp as he usually does.

It should be noted here that if the judges had in any way thrown the foursome, no one could have had the slightest objection. For each of these fighters represented excellent quality and form, and yet each was different in his own way.

An Nguyen also made it into the top 5, and although he lost some of his volume, he was able to work on his form, which was one of the best in the last few seasons.

A disappointing seventh place for Samson Dauda, who took second place in the Battle of Britain a week ago.

The other Czech, Slavoj Bednar, managed to fight his way into the top 10, which he rounded off. Given the intense competition, this position certainly cannot be considered a failure! After all, he left 15 other fighters behind him!

Overall results:

1. Michael Lockett - qualified for Mr. Olympia 2019
2. Charles Griffen
3. Essa Obaid
4. Lukas Osladil
5. An Ngyuyen
6. Sergey Kulaev
7. Samson Dauda
8. Josh Wade
9. Sibusiso Kotelo
10. Slavoj Bednar
11. Dorian Haywood
12. Eddie Bracamontes
13. Luis Rodriguez

14. Marc-Arthur Dautruchee
15. Julio Balestrin
16. Manuel Canadillas
16. James Culberson
16. Leon Eastman
16. Camilo Diaz
16. Elias Gutierrez
16. Justin Maki
16. Jojo Ntiforo
16. Steven Reese
16. Manuel Romero
16. Jeff Beckham

Michael Lockett - free lineup:

Charles Griffin - free lineup:

Essa Obaid - free lineup:

Lukas Osladil - free lineup:

An Nguyen - free lineup:

Final Posedown and Results Announcement:

More photos can be found HERE.

Categories up to 212 pounds

The under 212lb division featured a total of 18 fighters, with Guy Cisternino, John Jewett and Zane Watson being the most notable.

It was these three, along with the foursome of Lloyd Dollar, Mboya Edwards, Dectric Lewis and Bola Ojex, that the judges chose immediately for the first semifinal comparison, with Guy Cisternino, Josh Wade and Bola Ojex taking turns in the middle. So it seemed that it was this trio that would emerge the winner. However, everything was a little different in the end.

Semifinal comparisons:

Lloyd Dollar was able to write his first professional victory in his notebook! The fighter, whose best result so far was fourth place, earned his triumph with nice shapes and excellent sculpting.

Second went to Bola Ojex, for whom this is the best placing so far since moving to the elite. He earned it mainly by the fullness and hardness of his muscles.

Third place went to John Jewett, who presented excellent symmetry and a perfect "V" torso.

Fourth place went to Guy Cisternino. One of undoubtedly the most experienced fighters on the podium, who already has 5 triumphs to his credit, had to undergo surgery on both shoulders last season, which took him out of competition and training for some time. He lost not only volume, but unfortunately also muscle quality.

Fifth place went to Zane Watson, who fell well short of his form from last season, during which he managed to not only take the win at the Toronto Pro Supershow, but also a respectable 12th place at the Olympia 212 Showdown.

Overall results:

1. Lloyd Dollar - qualified for Olympia 212 Showdown 2019
2. Bola Ojex
3. John Jewett
4. Guy Cisternino
5. Zane Watson
6. Mboya Edwards
7. Dectric Lewis
8. Derik Oslan
9. Devaughn Bartley

10. Eric Dankwa
11. Alex dos Anjos
12. Oswaldo Gonzalez
13. Steve Benthin
14. Caleb Blanchard
15. Erik Ramirez
16. Miguel Senior
16. Jorlan Vieira
16. Wayne Williams