Andrew Jacked wins UK
Andrew Jacked took the 2026 Arnold Classic UK title this weekend, adding a UK crown to his recent Ohio win and cementing his top spot in bodybuilding ( ). The Expo also delivered a viral training moment — 78‑year‑old Arnold Schwarzenegger working side‑by‑side with strongman Hafþór J. Björnsson thrilled lifters online (fictionhorizon.com).
The Men’s Open purses at this month’s Arnold events were historic: the Arnold Classic in Columbus carried a $750,000 first-place prize while the Arnold Classic UK awarded $250,000 to its Open winner, figures reported by multiple contest outlets. (muscleinsider.com) Those payouts pushed the combined top‑level prize money for the two events past the $1 million mark for the season’s Open champion, a milestone covered in event recaps and competition roundups. (kulturistika.com) Under the IFBB Pro League’s 2026 Olympia Qualification System, winners of each Open contest during the qualification window automatically earn a spot at Mr. Olympia, with the 2026 OQS running from Sept. 15, 2025 through Aug. 30, 2026. (ifbbpro.com) The Columbus top six that framed the March showdown included names such as Nick Walker, Hadi Choopan, Martin Fitzwater, Brandon Curry and Rafael Brandao alongside the champion, while the UK lineup listed Brandon Curry, Martin Fitzwater, Blessing Awodibu and others as the main contenders. (generationiron.com) Chinedu Andrew Obiekea — known professionally as Andrew Jacked — is Nigerian‑born, competes under the UAE flag and entered 2026 off a podium finish at the 2025 Mr. Olympia, details noted in profiles and event writeups. (en.wikipedia.org) A separate expo highlight at the NEC in Birmingham saw Arnold Schwarzenegger, 78, training side‑by‑side with strongman Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, 37, in clips that spread widely on social platforms and were documented by event coverage and social posts from the expo floor. (britannica.com)
