🇩🇰 KONGSTAD SECURES MAIDEN WORLD CUP TITLE IN FUJAIRAH
Updated: Aug 5
FUJAIRAH, UAE - 10 JANUARY 2026
Denmark’s Conrad Kongstad produced a career-defining performance to capture his first major senior title at the second Men’s Epee World Cup of the season in Fujairah. Ranked 59th in the world, Kongstad navigated a challenging field to claim the gold medal, defeating Italy’s rising star Matteo Galassi 15-13 in a closely fought final.
Galassi (ITA) took home the silver, marking his best World Cup result to date. The 2025 European Championship silver medallist has shown remarkable consistency this season, following up his bronze at the season opener in Vancouver with a second consecutive podium finish.
The bronze medals were shared by two experienced Europeans: Alexis Bayard of Switzerland and Mate Koch of Hungary. Bayard, a former European bronze medallist, secured his third career World Cup medal, while the 2023 World Champion Koch collected his ninth, further cementing his status as a mainstay of the epee elite.
Path to the Podium
Conrad Kongstad’s journey to the top step of the podium was a masterclass in resilience. After a tight 15-14 opening win against teammate Jorgensen, he caused one of the upsets of the tournament by eliminating World Number 2 Masaru Yamada (JPN) with a disciplined 8-7 victory in the round of 32. He maintained his momentum with a 15-9 semi-final win over Bayard before edging out Galassi in the final.
Matteo Galassi reached the final by showcasing the form that has seen him climb to World Number 9. His route included a significant 15-13 victory over World number 8 Ruslan Kurbanov (KAZ) in the round of 16. In the semi-finals, he put in a commanding performance to defeat the former World Champion Mate Koch 15-10.
Alexis Bayard (SUI) looked imperious throughout the early rounds, including a dominant 15-7 quarter-final win over the USA’s Samuel Imrek. However, he was unable to find a way past the eventual champion in the final four.
Mate Koch (HUN) proved his veteran credentials early on, surviving a nail-biting 14-13 encounter with Italy’s Buzzacchino in the Round of 64. He then cruised through the following rounds, including a 15-5 dismantling of Korea's Park, before falling to Galassi in the semi-finals.
