The event took place in a new venue at the Incheon Airport Sky Dome, conveniently situated close in the airport and the surrounding hotels, 175 men and 154 women competed over the three days of competition.
In the Men’s competition Sebastian Patrice of France became the only male Sabre fencer to record two Grand Prix wins this season, as he doubled up on his win in Tunis January 2026. That combined with three bronze medals at World Cup competitions, it makes him the most successful and consistent fencer this season and sets him up nicely for the European Championships in June in Antony France and the World Championships in Hong Kong in July.
In the first semi-final Sebastain Patrice was victorious 15-12 against Fares Ferjani of Tunisia and in the second semi-final Maxime Pianfetti of France defeated the reigning World Champion Sandro Bazadze of Georgia 15-9. That set up an all-French gold medal match, which proved to be a thoroughly entertaining match, which Patrice won in style 15-9.
In the Women’s competition reigning World Champion Yana Egorian took her 4th Grand Prix gold medal of her career and her 3rd win here in Korea after Grand Prix wins in Seoul 2016 and 2017. In the final Egorian defeated Maia Chamberlain of the USA 15-7, who scored her first ever Grand Prix medal and celebrated her silver medal. Chamberlain had defeated Bulgaria’s Yoana Ilieva 15-8 in the first of the semi-finals, Ilieva had to settle for bronze again like she won the Seoul 2025. In the second semi-final Yana Egorian beat Araceli Navarro of Spain 15-12, Navarro unable to repeat her 2025 performance where she took the gold.
