Baldini Takes Men’s Foil Crown

Andrea Baldini (ITA) stormed back on the world cup scene after missing out on the 2008 Beijing Olympics with a dominating victory of China’s Joon Zhu at the 2009 World Championships. US fencer Kurt Getz knocked off #4 Richard Cruse en route to a 7th place finish.

Gerek Meinhardt (pictured, right) made the top 16, finishing 14th. Alexander Massialas (44th) and Miles Chamley-Watson (46th) fell in the first round.

Kurt Getz fenced his way into the top-8 but was stopped by China’s Jun Zhu 15-5. Earlier Getz had upset #4 Richard Kruse 15-11 after surviving a 15-14 match against Korea’s Chang Duk Ha.

Semi-Final Action

Peter Joppich was well rested coming into his semi-final against Zhu and quickly got up 2-0. Zhu seemed to solve for Joppich’s collapsing of the distance and ended the first period tied 5-5.

In the second period, Zhu, who finished 6th at the Beijing Olympics, continued trying to catch Joppich in preparation and using his height to catch Joppich short.

{sidebar id=1}Zhu took the lead 8-6. Joppich fights back but the second period ends with Zhu leading 9-8.

The third period begins with momentum on Zhu’s side and Joppich out of replay challenges. At 30 seconds into the 3rd period, Zhu catches Joppich coming forward twich to bump the lead up to 11-8.

At this point the tactics are pretty set. Joppich trying to set up a long attack and Zhu mixing up his counter-attacks to frustrate the German.

Joppich answers with 3 straight points to tie it up 11-11. On the next action, Zhu traps Joppich with a slight step back before attacking into Joppich’s advance. (12/11). Zhu then ripostes to go up 13-11. Joppich misses his next two attacks as Zhu wins 15-11.

In the second semi-final bout Andrea Baldini takes on Russia’s Artem Sedov. Baldini missed out on the 2008 Olympics after testing positive for a banned substance.

Baldini jumps right on Sedov with a quick attack followed by a riposte and counter-riposte to go up 3-0 in only 20 seconds of fencing action.

Sedov presses forward, determined not to let Baldini control the action on the strip.

Baldini continues to press his attack throughout the first period to set up a myriad of actions and end the first period dominating 9-1.

Sedov works to try to find an answer to Baldini. No matter what Sedov does to get a point, Baldini answers and wins 15-6.

Final Bout

Andrea Baldini and Zhu Joon trade a number of blade actions and fence to a standstill on the first phrase of the match.

Baldini takes the next action with a close riposte to go up 1-0. Early in the match, Baldini looks to be attempting the same strategy of Joppich: closing into Zhu’s distance and making the taller Chinese fencer uncomfortable with the distance.

Zhu ties things up 1-1, then reacts well to Baldini’s attack to take a 2-1 lead. Baldini continues to press with remises after his first attack falls short and is impaled by Zhu’s riposte (3-1).

Baldini continues to press and scores on a slow attack at Zhu’s end of the strip. He missed his next action and Zhu gets an easy touch to end the first period up 4-2.

In the second period, Baldini starts off attacking strong only to get hit by Zhu. Baldini scores the next two touches to close within 1 touch.

Just when both fencers seemed to have fallen asleep in the middle of the stip, Baldini launches an attack to tie the match. Zhu tries to bait Baldini on the next touch, but Baldini is just close enough to hit on his direct attack and take a 6-5 lead.

Now Zhu becomes a bit more active using an epee-style bouncing to creep in as Baldini uses the clock to force Zhu into action. With only 15 seconds remaining, Zhu concedes the period and goes to confer with his coach to figure out a 3rd period strategy.

Zhu starts off the 3rd period in the unusual position of being behind. He tries to force an attack but Baldini is ready with a riposte and goes up 7-5. Zhu, frustrated, begins using a lot more blade actions but Baldini will have none of it and attacks into onne of Zhu’s preparations to expand the lead to 3 touches.

Zhu now starts gambling on long attacks. In perhaps the highlight touch of the match Baldini catches Zhu’s fleche and turns to riposte Zhu in the back after the Chinese fencer has passed. Because the riposte started before the pass, the touch stands for Baldini.

Now unable to wait on Baldini, Zhu forces another attack but doesn’t have the speed to close in on Baldini, who calmly ripostes to put the lead to 10-5. Finally Zhu lands an attack 10-6 and follows up with another point to close within 3 with 1:11 remaining.

On the next action, both fencers close but Baldini pushes Zhu away and gets a yellow card. Capitalizing on Baldini’s frustration, Zhu scores quickly to close 10-8. On the next point Baldini ripostes and is leading by 3 touches with 30 seconds remaining in the bout.

Zhu starts to mount a comeback, closing to within one touch with only 15 seconds remaining, but Baldini again has the answer. On match point with Zhu down by 3 he tries to score on a long attack, but falls short and is hit as Baldini ends the match.

{mospagebreak title=Final Results}

2009 Men’s Foil World Championships – Final Ranking

Full results available at: http://www.live.fie.ch/antalya/resultats/