🇮🇹 BIANCHI COMPLETES HEROIC FINAL LEG COMEBACK TO CLINCH WORLD FOIL TITLE FOR ITALY

HONG KONG — 28 JULY 2026

World number one Italy captured a sensational World title in the men’s team foil event on the seventh day of the 2026 World Championships. Competing at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, the Italian squad silenced a roaring home crowd in an absolute thriller of a gold medal match, mounting an extraordinary final-leg comeback against Hong Kong to secure a dramatic 45–44 victory.

The magnificent win caps an unstoppable tournament run for top seeds Italy, who overcame tough deficits in both their semi-final and final encounters to seal the world crown.

While Hong Kong claimed a memorable silver medal in front of their home fans, the United States dominated the bronze medal play-off against Japan to step onto the podium.

Path to the Podium

Team Italy, featuring Guillaume Bianchi, individual silver medallist Filippo Macchi, Tommaso Marini and Tommaso Martini, opened their day with a bye before routing Malaysia 45–15 and Brazil 45–20. They earned their spot in the semi-finals with a comfortable 45–28 victory over Egypt.

In the semi-finals against Japan, Italy found themselves in an early battle as the Japanese team took a 15–12 lead after three legs. Italy fought back tenaciously across the middle relays, though they still trailed 30–29 after six. Macchi turned the tide in the seventh bout, delivering a 6–2 performance against Baba Shunsuke to vault Italy into a 35–32 lead. Marini and Bianchi maintained control through the final two bouts to seal a 45–37 win.

The gold medal match against home favorites Hong Kong was an instant classic. Backed by a passionate home arena, Hong Kong led 15–13 after three legs, 30–25 after six and pushed their lead to 35–29 in the seventh bout. Trailing by six hits heading into the final stages, Marini outscored his opponent 7–5 to pull Italy within four touches at 40–36. Up stepped Bianchi for the final leg against Choi Chun Yin Ryan. In a nerve-shredding finish, Bianchi executed a brilliant 9–4 run to snatch the World title 45–44.

Team Hong Kong, consisting of Cheung Ka Long, Choi Chun Yin Ryan, Ho Shing Him Harris and Leung Chin Yu, put on a magnificent display throughout the tournament to capture silver. Seeded third, Hong Kong advanced comfortably past Macau 45–28 and Belgium 45–28 before defeating Hungary 45–37 in the quarter-finals.

In a thrilling semi-final against the United States, Hong Kong fell behind 10–6 early before double Olympic Champion Cheung defeated Bryce Louie to put Hong Kong ahead 15–12 after three legs. Hong Kong widened their cushion to 30–26 heading into the final third. Despite a ferocious 11–5 run from Nick Itkin against Cheung in the eighth bout, Choi held his composure in the anchor leg to seal a 45–43 win and a place in the final.

Team United States, fielding Nick Itkin, Alexander Massialas, Bryce Louie and Marcello Olivares, recovered strongly from their semi-final heartbreak to capture the bronze medal. The World number two squad launched their campaign by defeating Australia 45–23, Canada 45–27 and Russia 45–39.

Following their narrow loss to Hong Kong, the Americans brought in Olivares for Louie to start the bronze medal play-off against Japan. Despite an early 8–5 loss for Olivares against Iimura Kazuki, the USA established a 15–9 cushion after three legs. The USA re-introduced Louie off the bench and the tactical move paid off as the Americans pushed their advantage to 30–20 after six bouts, eventually cruising to a 45–28 victory.

Team Japan, represented by Baba Shunsuke, individual bronze medallist Iimura Kazuki, Matsuyama Kyosuke and Ono Ryoga, finished fourth. Seeded fifth, the Japanese team put together strong early performances to defeat Venezuela 45–31, Spain 45–35 and Korea 45–38 before falling to Italy and the United States in the medal rounds.

Full results are here.