TOKYO, Japan, January 27, 2019—Great Britain’s Richard Kruse took the gold medal at the Prince Takamado Trophy Men’s Foil World Cup in Tokyo, and Italy scored gold in the men’s team event. The competition, which took place at Tokyo’s Minato City Sports Center, had more than 195 international men’s foilists and 21 teams participating.
Kruse took on USA’s Race Imboden in the final match, winning with a 15-9 score. Both fencers faced Italian champions in the semi-finals, with Imboden defeating world champion Alessio Foconi, 15-6, and Kruse overcoming Olympic gold medallist Daniele Garozzo, 15-10. Notably, four-time world champion German fencer Peter Joppich was beaten by Imboden in the quarter-finals, 15-7.
In men’s team foil, Italy faced USA in the final round, with Italy scoring gold by two points, 45-43. The USA men defeated Korea in the semi-final, 45-32, while Italy beat Russia, 45-29. The bronze medal went to Korea over Russia, 45-29.
The top-eight individual finalists in the Prince Takamado Trophy Men’s Foil World Cup included Richard Kruse (GBR, gold), Race Imboden (USA, silver), Alessio Foconi (ITA, bronze), Daniele Garozzo (ITA, bronze), Jun Heo (KOR), Peter Joppich (GER), Timur Arslanov (RUS) and Miles Chamley-Watson (USA).
The top-eight countries in the men’s team foil event include Italy (gold), USA (silver), Korea (bronze), Russia, Japan, France, Poland and China.
Complete and official results for the event may be found here on the FIE web site.