Russia’s Maxim Sivolap and Artem Yartzutkin stunned top seeds Jyrki Nurminen and Santeri Siren of Finland on their way to reaching the semi-finals ©FIVB

Russia’s Maxim Sivolap and Artem Yartzutkin stunned top seeds Jyrki Nurminen and Santeri Siren of Finland en route to the semi-finals of the International Volleyball Federation Beach World Tour event in Siem Reap in Cambodia.

Sivolap and Yartzutkin fought back to beat the Finns 15-21, 23-21, 17-15 to book their place in the quarter-finals of the two-star event.

The Russian pair also needed three sets to get past Denmark’s Kristoffer Abell and Martin Trans Hansen in the last eight as they earned a 14-21, 21-17, 15-12 triumph.

Sivolap and Yartzutkin will go up against Florian Schnetzer and Peter Eglseer of Austria in the last four.

Cristophe Dressler and Alexander Huber of Austria also progressed to the semi-finals ©FIVB
Cristophe Dressler and Alexander Huber of Austria also progressed to the semi-finals ©FIVB

The Austrian duo overcame second seeds Nuttanon Inkiew and Adison Khaolumtarn of Thailand 21-18, 21-17 to progress to the semi-finals.

Cristophe Dressler and Alexander Huber joined their Austrian team-mates in the last four by defeating Czech Republic’s Jan Dumek and Vaclav Bercik 21-16, 22-20.

They will take on Switzerland’s Quentin Metral and Yves Haussener, who completed the all-European semi-final line-up with a 21-18, 21-13 victory against Canada’s Sergiy Grabovskyy and Cameron Wheelan.

The tournament concludes with semi-finals and medal matches tomorrow.