🇳🇱 TULEN TRIUMPHS IN DOHA TO CLAIM FIRST GRAND PRIX TITLE
Updated: Aug 5
DOHA, QATAR — 25 JANUARY 2026
The Netherlands' Tristan Tulen reached a career pinnacle in Doha, capturing his first-ever Grand Prix title at the opening Men's Epee Grand Prix of the season. The 2022 European silver medallist, ranked 27th in the world, produced a masterclass of tactical fencing to defeat Italy’s Simone Mencarelli 15–7 in the final.
Mencarelli (ITA), 22, secured the silver medal, marking his first-ever major individual senior podium. The world number 59 was the revelation of the tournament, taking down several of the sport's biggest names on his way to the silver.
The bronze medals were shared by the surprise of the tournament, Dmitriy Gusev (AIN), and the legendary Gergely Siklosi (HUN). For Gusev, ranked 157th, this was a breakthrough first major senior medal, while for Siklosi—the 2019 World Champion and World number one—it was another addition to one of the most decorated resumes in modern epee.
Path to the Podium
Tristan Tulen (NED) was untouchable throughout the day. After a perfect 6-0 run in the pools, he systematically dismantled the bracket, including a 15–8 win over defending champion Neisser Loyola (BEL) in the round of 32. He followed this by eliminating the reigning Olympic Champion Kano Koki (JPN) 15–9 and the reigning European Champion Roman Svichkar (UKR) 15–11. A controlled 12–7 semi-final win over Gusev set the stage for his dominant performance in the final.
Simone Mencarelli (ITA) proved to be a "giant-killer" in Doha. His route to the silver included a 15–12 upset of last season's Bogota GP winner Akira Komata (JPN) and a disciplined 13–9 victory over World number 3 and Olympic medallist Mohamed Elsayed (EGY) in the quarter-finals. He secured his place in the final by stunning the World number one Siklosi 15–9 in the semi-finals.
Dmitriy Gusev (AIN) authored the underdog story of the weekend. After narrowly surviving the preliminary rounds, he shocked the fencing world by eliminating the World number 2 and reigning World silver medallist Masaru Yamada (JPN) 15–12 in the round of 64. He reached the podium after a nail-biting 15–14 quarter-final victory over the USA's Gabriel Feinberg.
Gergely Siklosi (HUN) demonstrated his world-class consistency, conceding very few touches in the early rounds. His quarter-final was a clinical 15–5 dismantling of World number 10 Jakub Jurka (CZE) before he ran into the inspired Mencarelli in the final four.
