1996 Olympic silver medalist Brandon Paulson (Golden Valley, Minn./Minnesota Storm) advanced to the semifinals at 54 kg with a 3-0 overtime decision over Rakym Assembekov of Kazakstan. Paulson was ahead 1-0 going into overtime where Assembekov clinched first. Assembekov went to throw and slipped and unlocked to give Paulson a 2-0 lead. Paulson then got the third point off a gut wrench. He will face Uran Kalilov of Kyrgyzstan in the semifinals tomorrow. "The first minute and a half he was really strong, but then he wore down," said Paulson. "In overtime I could tell that he didn't want to be on the mat anymore, he was really tired. His clinch position wasn't that strong, so when I got on top, I just wanted to get the one point lift and get the three points. I just have to be careful tomorrow and work on my positioning. This weekend I feel great." 2000 Olympian Kevin Bracken (Colorado Springs, Colo./NYAC) lost a tough 3-2 overtime decision to Michael Beilin of Israel in his quarterfinal match. Bracken was ahead 2-1 going into overtime where Beilin locked first. Bracken went to throw first and Beilin caught him on his back for the two points. "I had a good lock and I didn't bring my hips in as far as I should have," said Bracken. "I let my hips fall beneath him and I didn't pop properly. He wound up coming up on top and got two points for the counter. I'm sad and I know I wrestled like a world champion and didn't win it." Many past world and olympic medalists or champions have advanced to the semifinals at their weight classes. At 54 kg, Paulson along with 1999 world champion and 2000 olympic silver medalist Lazaro Rivas of Cuba have advanced. At 63 kg, 2000 olympic silver medalist Juan Maren of Cuba and 1998 and 1999 world champion Kim In Sub of Korea and at 97 kg 1995 world silver medalist Etru Sudureak advanced. 2001 Greco-Roman World Championships Patras, Greece, Dimitrios Tofalos Arena, Dec. 7 Quarterfinal Results 54 kg - Lazaro Rivas (Cuba) dec. Khatri Mukesh (India), 4-3; Hassan Rangraz (Iran) won by tech. fall over Tenyo Tenev (Bulgaria), 12-0, 2:22; Uran Kalilov (Kyrgyzstan) dec. Barys Radkevich (Belarus), 3-2, ot, 7:13; Brandon Paulson (United States) dec. Rakym Assembekov (Kazakhstan), 3-0, ot, 6:18 63 kg - Michael Beilin (Israel) dec. Kevin Bracken (United States), 3-2, ot; Kim In Sub (Korea) dec. Eduard Aplevich (Belarus), 7-5; Juan Maren (Cuba) dec. Levente Furedy (Hungary), 3-1; Vagninak Galustyan (Armenia) dec. Peng Cui (China), 6-3 76 kg - Kim Jin Soo (Korea) dec. Marko Yli-Hannuksela (Finland), 3-0, ot, 6:14; Alexei Mishine (Russia) dec. Tamas Berzicza (Hungary), 4-1, ot, 6:00; Sergiy Solodkyy (Ukraine) dec. Bakhtiyar Baiseitov (Kazakhstan), 5-0; Ara Abrahamian (Sweden) dec. Odelis Herrero (Cuba), 6-0 97kg - Ale Bezroutchkine (Russia) dec. Aleksey Cheglakov (Uzbekistan), 2-1, ot, rd; Petru Sudureak (Romania) dec. Marek Svec (Czech. Republic), 3-2, ot, 6:38; Mehmet Ozal (Turkey) pin Marek Sitnik (Poland), 1:44; Ernesto Pena (Cuba) dec. Ehssan Karimfar (Iran), 6-0 Saturday's Semifinal pairings 54 kg/119 lbs. Lazaro Rivas (Cuba) vs. Hassan Rangraz (Iran) Uran Kalilov (Kyrgyzstan) vs. Brandon Paulson (United States) 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Michael Beilin (Israel) vs. Kim In Sub (Korea) Juan Maren (Cuba) vs. Vagninak Galustyan (Armenia) 76 kg/167.5 lbs. Kim Jin Soo (Korea) vs. Alexei Mishine (Russia) Sergiy Solodkyy (Ukraine) vs. Ara Abrahamian (Sweden) 97 kg/213.75 lbs. Alexandre Bezroutchkine (Russia) vs. Petru Sudureak (Romania) Mehmet Ozal (Turkey) vs. Ernesto Pena (Cuba) U.S. Results 54 kg Brandon Paulson, Golden Valley, Minn. (Minnesota Storm); dec. Vitalie Ceban (Moldova), 6-1; dec. Dariusz Jablonski (Poland), 11-2; dec. Rakymzhan Assembekov (Kazakstan), 3-0, ot, 6:18 63 kg Kevin Bracken, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC); won by tech. fall over Chieh Yen Shih (Chinese Taipai), 11-0, 1:56; dec. Christos Gikas (Greece), 6-0; won by tech. fall over Akaki Chachua (Georgia), 13-2, 4:06 76 kg Keith Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army); Keith Sieracki, won by tech. fall over Mal Suraj (India), 13-0, 1:19; dec. Andrea Minguzzi (Italy), 4-0; lost dec. to Tamas Berzicza (Hungary), 3-0; 97 kg Jason Loukides, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), dnp; lost dec. to Petru Sudureak (Romania), 6-0; lost by tech. Fall to Urs Burgler (Switzerland), 10-0, 1:39