Annual guess the results for the World Championships...

[edew]

Well, the last World Cup event (Epee Grand Prix in Australia) completed this past weekend. US men's epee team took a bronze, which is its best ever showing (I believe). Now, it's on to Portugal and the world championships. Who do people think will be the winners and all? Anyone care to put some real stuff down on the line?

[Mergs]

About the only thing I would bet on is that regardless of how ANY American, team or individual, placed, we wouldn't hear of it except here.

US Men's soccer places in top 8 and every sports outlet in the US is falling over themselves to report it.

US Women's foil place 4th in the Olympics and THEN place 3rd (beating the same German team they lost to in the Olympics (different referee?)(bad Mergs, bad)) in the World cup a couple of months later. Nothing, nada, zippo.

[three_hundred_fifty_five]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by Mergs:
<strong>About the only thing I would bet on is that regardless of how ANY American, team or individual, placed, we wouldn't hear of it except here.

US Men's soccer places in top 8 and every sports outlet in the US is falling over themselves to report it.

US Women's foil place 4th in the Olympics and THEN place 3rd (beating the same German team they lost to in the Olympics (different referee?)(bad Mergs, bad)) in the World cup a couple of months later. Nothing, nada, zippo.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">That's because World Cup soccer is bigger than all the Olympic fencing events put together.

[damianip]

ME

1) Jeannet
2) Milanoli
3) Obry/Kulcsar

MF

1) Bissdorf
2) Sanzo
3) Loic/Guyart

MS

1) Podzniakov
2) Montano
3) Nemcsik/Touya

WE

1) Flessel
2) Mincza
3) Hablutzel-Burki/MacKay

WF

1) Vezzali
2) Trillini
3) Scarlat/Wuilleme

WS

1) Jacobsen, S
2) Touya
3) Jemayeva/Jacobsen, E.

Paolo

[Dalton]

The safest possible bet is Podzniakov for men's sabre, the guy has won just about every tournament he has entered since Sydney. For silver, I am betting on Lukachenko of Ukraine, he is young & hungry for medals.

[edew]

Ok, here's mine, with very little basis for the selections:

MF:
1. Bissdorf
2. Sanzo
3. Or/Boidin

WF:
1. Vezzali
2. Bau
3. Trillini/Scarlat

ME:
1. Jeannett (Fabrice)
2. Milanoli
3. Meelis (Seriously, Marik/Strigel)

WE:
1. Lougounova
2. Duplitzer
3. Heidemann/Flessel-Colovic

MS:
1. Ferencsik
2. Covaliu
3. Pozdniakov/Charikov

WS:
1. Marzocca
2. Jemayeva
3. Jacobson (S)/Touya

MFT:
China
France
Italy

WFT:
Italy
Roumania
Germany

MET:
Hungary
France
Italy

WET:
Russia
Switzerland
China

MST:
Russia
Hungary
France

WST:
Italy
USA
France

[goldbaker]

I'll hazard a guess on the foil events, since those are the ones that I've actually tried to follow on the videotapes for the last few years. I also took a quick look at the current FIE standings.

Men's Foil:

1. Sanzo. I'd like to pick an upset, but he just seems to have dominated everything without too much effort. Also seems to have a good ego, like Golubitsky.

2. Guyart. I'm not sure what happened, he seems to have missed a lot of world cup events, but he finished strong and looked really good last year.

3. Attely. Solid -- I like him to finish higher than Boidin.

3. Wu -- I wanted to pick one of the Chinese or Korean fencers, and he was the highest ranked that I saw. I think the only reason they're not ranked higher is that they don't seem to go all of the European world cup events.

Women's Foil:

1. Youcheva. Vezzali can't win every time. I think she's due to be beat. The Italians and Roumanians will dominate the team event, but I think Youcheva has a good chance to beat Vezzali.

2. Vezzali. Still really good, but she'll finally get beaten this year, I think.

3. Koenig. One of the Germans will make it, and I think some of the changes in directing may make Bau's style less profitable this time around.

3. Scarlat.

Those are my thoughts, for the little they're worth. I think the team events will be pretty much the same as always. MF -- France, China, Italy. WF -- Italy, Romania, Germany. Also, I think the Cubans are always a potential for the Men's team event, and the US women will have a good shot for 3rd if they don't run into Italy or Romania too soon.

[afc fencer]

WS
1.Touya
2.JEMAYEVA
3.Jacobson(S)/NETCHAEVA

WST
1.France
2.USA
3.Italy

[veeco]

ME
1) Jeannet
2) Milanoli
3) Lucenay/Fekete

I'd like to see Fekete, or any other Hungarian in the top 3. Lucenay is kind of new IIRC in the World Championships, but he has had a good beginning of the season. All bets are off as to who will win between Jeannet and Milanoli. It's going to be one way or the other.

MF
1) Wessels
2) Guyart
3) Sanzo/Bissdorf

Here I have priviledged the new generation with Wessels and Guyart in the top 2. Then Sanzo and Bissdorf, the easy picks in that category.

MS
1) Podzniakov
2) Pillet
3) Ferjancsik/Kothny
I think Pillet has better chances than Touya for the French. He's had an amazing seaon. Podzniakov is untouchable, and I'd like him to go for more.
I like Ferjancsik, and Kothny just because he's one of the hardest worker of all, and I'd like to see one medal for Thailand ;-).

WE
1) Dupliktzer
2) Mincza
3) Flessel/Logounova
I'd like to put Flessel at the first spot, but she's lost a couple key world cups this year when she was in the final, so it seems like Dupliktzer has an edge on her. Maybe I'll put Flessel in 2 and Mincza in 3. Logounova could make the top 3.

WF
1) Vezzali
2) Scarlat
3) Mohamed/Youcheva
Vezzali can definitely go for another title. Scarlat has been doing good. I don't think Wuilleme will make it into the top 4. She's had a good run at the beginning of the season but then her results kind of went down. Mohamed has been strong overall, and Youcheva won the last Grand Prix.

WS
1) Argiolas
2) Touya
3) Jemayeva/Jacobson, S.

Neither of the Jacobson sisters have won a Grand Prix this season. I see possibly Sada making it into the top 3, but that's it. I'd kinda like to see Argiolas at the top for a change, even though Touya could take first again.

Team results --

ME
France
Germany
Hungary

I had originally Italy, France and Hungary, but then I thought I'd better remove one of these and put Germany instead. Strigel and Fiedler are good assets. Now I don't know which one should go away... It's tough, really. Since I don't see much Italians in the top FIE points, they will go.

MF
France
China
Poland

MS
Russia
Hungary
France

WE
Germany
Russia
Hungary

WF
Italy
Germany
Russia

WS
France
Russia
USA

MxS
France
Russia
USA

<small>[ 08-10-2002, 03:25 AM: Message edited by: veeco ]</small>

[edew]

Just refreshing this thread since the Worlds is coming up. Any more guesses by our readers here?

[darius]

Josh McGuire, all the way, baby!

[nahouw]

ME
1) Milanoli
2) Jeannet
3) Lucenay/Fekete

I agree with Veeco, that all bets are off when it comes between Milanoli-Jeannet (they aways have
very interesting bouts), but since Milanoli lost in San Juan to Jeannet, I'm putting my money on him
winning in Lisbon.

MF
1) Bissdorf
2) Sanzo
3) Guyart/Wessels

I disagree with Veeco, and like this finish better.

MS
1) Podzniakov
2) Pillet
3) Ferjancsik/Kothny

I'll totally agree with Veeco -- looks good to me -- let's see what the ref say &lt;g&gt; heeheehee

WE
1) Flessel
2) MacKay
3) Dupliktzer/Logounova

I'll disagree with Veeco here -- I'll put Laura in first (she was so entirely pissed off losing in San Juan
that she will make sure that she wins), and Sherraine in second (she is coming off 2 consecutive
World Cup wins).

WF
1) Vezzali
2) Trillini
3) Granbassi/Youcheva
OK, so I'm Italian-centric here &lt;g&gt; But I'll be right &lt;g&gt; Vezzali is unbeatable, Trillini is Trillini,
and Margherita is coming back from an injury, but is ready and looking good, especially after the
bronze in Havana.

WS
1) Jemayeva
2) Marzocca
3) Argiolas/Jacobson, S.

I like this order better -- let's see how the draw plays out.

Team results --

I pretty much agree with veeco on the team results, except his placement of the womens' epee team
from Germany -- Claudia Bokel declined the team, and without her (defending world champion) I don't
think there is a good chance for the team.

[damianip]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by nahouw:
<strong>

Snip!!!
I agree with Veeco, that all bets are off when it comes between Milanoli-Jeannet (they aways have very interesting bouts), but since Milanoli lost in San Juan to Jeannet, I'm putting my money on him winning in Lisbon.

Snip!!!!

</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">However, Milanoli beat him in Havana the week before, thereby clinching the World Cup in ME.

I think he was a little less motivated in Puerto Rico.

Nonetheless, a final of Milanoli-Jeannet would make sense.

Paolo

[veeco]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by damianip:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by nahouw:
<strong>

Snip!!!
I agree with Veeco, that all bets are off when it comes between Milanoli-Jeannet (they aways have very interesting bouts), but since Milanoli lost in San Juan to Jeannet, I'm putting my money on him winning in Lisbon.

Snip!!!!

</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">However, Milanoli beat him in Havana the week before, thereby clinching the World Cup in ME.

I think he was a little less motivated in Puerto Rico.

Nonetheless, a final of Milanoli-Jeannet would make sense.

Paolo</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">I actually met Jeff Snider at the men's epee training camp last week-end and he said that he had beat Jeannet in Havana.

Now, no matter who beat who, I don't think I'll put whoever beat Jeannet in Havana in 1st.

But there one thing to keep in consideration, which is that I have rarely seen someone win both the World Cup title and the World Champion in the same year.

[MHS Fencer]

Jeff beat Jeannet in Havana. The next bout however (where Jeff lost to Oliver Luecke) they had to switch reels on the side that Jeannet had fenced on. Not to tarnish the victory or anything, just tossing in some additional information. Oh, yeah, predictions, I can only do ME, so here goes:

1. Milanoli
2. Jeannet
3. Fekete/Sepulveda

I think that Sepulveda has the ability to make the top 3, and the rest of them speak for themselves.

[edew]

World Championships start tomorrow. Too bad we can't even get a web page with the list of competitors. Anyone seen the list? It'll help give us a clue on who to bet on.

[mfp]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by edew:
<strong>World Championships start tomorrow. Too bad we can't even get a web page with the list of competitors. Anyone seen the list? It'll help give us a clue on who to bet on.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Try <a href="http://www.fpe.pt/esgrima2002/result.htm" target="_blank">http://www.fpe.pt/esgrima2002/result.htm</a>

and then click on the various events. So far only WE and MS have produced a list.

[edew]

Check out:

<a href="http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/ce/multi/0,1329,5613827_15,00.html" target="_blank">http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/ce/multi/0,1329,5613827_15,00.html</a>

concerning Laura Flessel-Colovic. A fellow fencer sent me this info. Apparently, Flessel may not be able to compete at the Worlds. Maybe I'll throw in a Swiss in the top-4 instead, then.

[edew]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by mfp:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by edew:
<strong>World Championships start tomorrow. Too bad we can't even get a web page with the list of competitors. Anyone seen the list? It'll help give us a clue on who to bet on.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Try <a href="http://www.fpe.pt/esgrima2002/result.htm" target="_blank">http://www.fpe.pt/esgrima2002/result.htm</a>

and then click on the various events. So far only WE and MS have produced a list.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Thanks for the info.

Given the list, and the info about Laura Flessel-Colovic, here's my guesses for MS and WE.

Note that Gourdain isn't on the French team!

MS:
1. POZDNIAKOV
2. COVALIU
3. FERJANCSIK/TARANTINO

I'll put in that Keeth Smart will make top-8!

In the teams:
1. Russia
2. Hungary
3. France
4. Thailand!

WE:

1. LOGOUNOVA
2. MINCZA
3. LI/MACKAY

Teams:

1. Russia
2. Hungary
3. China
4. Switzerland

[veeco]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by edew:
<strong>
Note that Gourdain isn't on the French team!
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">He's busy farming in a village next to mine. They put the World Champs at the same time as the harvest, damn!