Men competed for medals in both Sport SAMBO and Combat SAMBO in the 58 kg, 64 kg, 71 kg, 88 kg and 98 kg categories. The women competed in SAMBO in the 64 kg and 72 kg categories. As the organisers pointed out, the tournament is not only a vibrant SAMBO festival, but more importantly, a tribute to the memory of the great sambist.

"The legacy of Alexander Pushnitsa is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for SAMBO lovers. The participants of the tournament paid tribute to the memory of the legendary athlete with great respect and tried to show the best results, imitating his skill and unique professionalism," said Nelson Romero, President of the Chilean National Sports Federation of SAMBO and Martial Arts.

He noted that he has sincere admiration for the legacy left by Alexander Pushnitsa. "The achievements of this outstanding sportsman are impressive and motivate a new generation of athletes. For Chilean sambists, who had the honour of meeting this outstanding athlete in person at the 2017 World Sambo Championships in Sochi, this tournament is not only a competition, but a tribute to the dedication, unsurpassed skill and passion that Alexander Pushnitsa brought to the world of SAMBO," concluded Romero.

Alexander Pushnitsa is the most titled Soviet sambist. He won the World Championship three times (1974, 1979, 1983), the World Cup twice  (1977, 1980) and the European Championships also twice (1976, 1984). The nine-time USSR champion (1974-1980, 1983, 1984) was also the captain of the Soviet SAMBO team for 15 years.