Berne Individual ME 2024 Highlights

The 2024-25 International Men's Epee season began with the 60th edition of the Bern World Cup. Italy impressed at the top of the draw as 26-year-old Giacomo Paolini came through, beating Belgium's world number 13 Loyola, then world number 12 Imric from the USA, before taking out Japan's world number one and Paris 2024 Olympic champion Kano to make the semifinals. His 19-year-old teammate Matteo Galassi edged past another Japanese fencer, world number seven Yamada, en route to the top four on his senior World Cup debut. At the bottom of the draw, Hungary's world number seven Mate Tomas Kos made light work of his quarter, beating Matsumoto of Japan to make the medal matches. His opponent there would be China's world number 398 Zhang Qingkun, who beat world number four El Sayed from Egypt on the way to his first ever senior medal match. Paolini eased past his teammate Galassi in the first semifinal, beating him 15-6 to make the gold medal match. Kos looked in control of the second semi, going into the first break 8-4 up with this death flick to wrist. The Hungarian stretched the lead to 14-9 before Zhang staged a remarkable comeback. With a second passivity card looming, Zhang launched his final attack, a double enough to see Kos through to the gold medal match. The final began with a minute of passivity before Kos opened the scoring. The Hungarian then used the countdown clock to lure Paolini out and opened up a 3-0 lead going into the first break. The Italian finally got on the scoreboard halfway through the match. Spurred on, he closed the gap to 7-5 down at the second break. With time against him, Paolini pressured Kos, but the Hungarian's reactive game was solid and he pushed further ahead. In the end, the Olympic champion's experience paid off as Kos claimed his first ever World Cup title in the Swiss capital. He was joined on the podium by three first-time World Cup medalists, Paolini with silver, Galassi and Zhang taking bronze.