The Papp László Arena erupted in celebration tonight as David Nagy (HUN) staged a masterful late-bout comeback to claim the gold medal at the Westend Men’s Épée Grand Prix. On a day defined by high-stakes upsets and a vibrant home atmosphere, Nagy’s resilience ensured the title stayed in Hungary.
The men’s competition mirrored the drama of the women’s event, featuring the fall of Olympic giants and a breakthrough performance from a rising star in Central Asian fencing.
In the gold medal final, David Nagy faced the tournament’s surprise, Yerlik Sertay (KAZ). For much of the bout, it appeared the Kazakh underdog would complete his dream run, as Sertay utilized a composed but offensive game to lead 10-5 at the second interval.
However, the break proved to be the turning point. Encouraged by fans, friends and his own family Nagy roared back to close the gap to 9-10. The momentum shifted definitively when a red card was issued to Sertay for the use of the non-weapon arm, gifting Nagy a crucial penalty point. With just 26 seconds remaining, Nagy surged into a 12-11 lead and never looked back, closing out a 15-12 victory to secure his first Grand Prix title on home soil.
While the silver medal was a bittersweet end for Yerlik Sertay, his performance in Budapest was nothing short of historic. Having never previously reached the medal stages of a senior international event, Sertay proved he belongs among the elite, navigating a bracket of world-class veterans with remarkable poise.
The bronze medals were secured by two of the circuit’s most consistent performers. Tristan Tulen (NED) continued his incredible 2026 campaign; already the winner of the Doha Grand Prix and a bronze medallist in Heidenheim, his podium finish today marks his third of the season. Joining him was Switzerland’s Ian Hauri, who maintained his affinity for the Budapest strip. After taking silver here last year, Hauri returned to the podium once again to claim bronze for the Swiss squad.
Path to the Podium
Gold: David Nagy (HUN)
Nagy’s road to gold was perhaps the most difficult in the tournament. After defeating Galassi (ITA) and Alexander Biro (AUT), he faced the ultimate test in the quarterfinals: reigning World and Olympic Champion Kano Koki (JPN). Nagy’s 15-13 victory over the Japanese star set the stage for a tense 11-10 semifinal win over Tulen, before his final heroics against Sertay.
Silver: Yerlik Sertay (KAZ)
Sertay’s impressive run was headlined by a massive upset in the round of 16, where he knocked out World No. 2 and home favourite Gergely Siklósi (HUN) 15-12. He followed this by dominating Czechia's Jakub Jurka 15-9 and out-duelling Hauri in a physical semifinal to earn his spot in the final.
Bronze: Tristan Tulen (NED)
The Dutchman showed his tactical flexibility throughout the day, surviving a one-touch thriller against Yoo (USA) and beating Favre (SUI) before his narrow semifinal defeat to the eventual champion.
Bronze: Ian Hauri (SUI)
Hauri showcased his signature Swiss precision, navigating past Spain’s Bargues 15-14 and defeating Hungary’s Csaba Fenyvesi in the quarterfinals to ensure his second consecutive year on the Budapest podium.
As the curtain falls on the 2026 Westend Grand Prix all eyes will be on Incheon in Korea for the sabre Grand Prix in two weeks’ time.