Favorites for WC 2006 Turin

[eac]

Originally Posted by RoninX

Sorry for the drift. How do you guys and gals follow international fencing? Do you get the WC videos? Just review the bout stats. I know many are more "plugged" in then me in regard to the national and international scene and so must get a good deal of info through the traditional grapevine. I see the occasional video or vid clip that someone uploads but thats about it.

Is there a mag or new group I should get tied into if I am interested in more than reviewing results from international events?

I certainly second the interest in some better way of following this, but my method is essentially just to watch fencingchannel.tv for things like the Junior WCs, occasionally buy DVDs from them (which are fairly low-quality as sports footage goes, but much, much better than nothing), check fie.ch, nahouw.net, and occasionally chat with the few international competitors I know personally.

[Epee Scherma]

Originally Posted by BySword

why Hungarian is favored in epee?

If you paid attention to the European Championships, then you'd understand.
I hope either Claus Moerch or Dmitry Karuchenko make top 4.

[the doc]

in what way is richard kruse (last 8 olympics and worlds, currently 23rd rank in the world) not a proper world class fencer?

he beat guyart at the europeans cos he was better. i would tip for a top 8 again this year.

men's foil is one of the few weapons where we can say our top guys are top class

[SBS]

I think edew basically summed up my thoughts on ME except I might replace Marik for Kolobkov. I'm really routing for good results for Ben Solomon though I'm unsure if I would put him in a medal position.

[D'Art]

Originally Posted by the doc

in what way is richard kruse (last 8 olympics and worlds, currently 23rd rank in the world) not a proper world class fencer?

he beat guyart at the europeans cos he was better. i would tip for a top 8 again this year.

men's foil is one of the few weapons where we can say our top guys are top class

OK, you make a valid point with Mr Kruse, but can you really say that any of the others are truely world class? James Beevers at a push, but I certainly wouldn't class either of the Davids as such, and certainly not Cookie*, whom I know for a fact has also beaten Guyart this year.

As a team, the guys are getting to the point where they are approaching World class, but again, I feel they need another couple of seasons experience together to make the breakthrough and consistently get results. Whether this would be enough to signal a change of policy from BF is another matter, however.

*Cookie being the only one I know personally. I know the others by sight only. I'm sure that Cookie would agree with my statement, as he is brutally honest about his talents, possibly even to the point of playing himself down slightly.

[rac]

Originally Posted by alexnormann

womens foil:
Mueller Link

I have to second this vote!
RAC

[Lemberg]

Karyuchenko for ME
Mackay for WE
Tretiak for MS
NOT an American (my money is on Sofiya Velikaya) for WS
don't know enough about foil to say

[alexnormann]

Originally Posted by D'Art

OK, you make a valid point with Mr Kruse, but can you really say that any of the others are truely world class? James Beevers at a push, but I certainly wouldn't class either of the Davids as such, and certainly not Cookie*, whom I know for a fact has also beaten Guyart this year.

As a team, the guys are getting to the point where they are approaching World class, but again, I feel they need another couple of seasons experience together to make the breakthrough and consistently get results. Whether this would be enough to signal a change of policy from BF is another matter, however.

*Cookie being the only one I know personally. I know the others by sight only. I'm sure that Cookie would agree with my statement, as he is brutally honest about his talents, possibly even to the point of playing himself down slightly.

James Beevers was top sixteen at the last World Championships (bashing Joppich on the way). He barely lost the last match (9-8) on the biggest referee mistake of the tournament. He used to be consistently in the top 16 of the world ranking, and he qualified for the olympics in 2000 in the european zone, which in it self is a world class achievement.

David Mansour was in every world cup final of his last junior year, but hasn't really broken through on the senior level yet. Still he has a couple of world class results.

[D'Art]

Originally Posted by alexnormann

James Beevers was top sixteen at the last World Championships, he barely lost the last match (9-8) on the biggest referee mistake of the tournament. He used to be consistently in the top 16 of the world ranking, and he qualified for the olympics in 2000, which in it self is a world class achievement.

David Mansour was in every world cup final of his last junior year, but hasn't really broken through on the senior level yet. Still he has a couple of world class results

All very true, but (and it is a big but) past results, especially when all bar a solitary one were all before the current timings were adopted, are not an indicator of current form.

[the doc]

i probably wouldn't say the other british guys are world class yet, but although guyart is olympic champion, that was also on the old timings and he has appeared to fall away since the change.

my picks would be that most of the usual suspects will put in a good show, with men's epee most likely for a shock.

[Gav]

... with men's epee most likely for a shock

As always.

I agree with D'arts assessment. I'd put Kruse in for L8 and opt for a strong chance of a medal. The other guys ... not as likely. Cookie is a great fencer - as we know - he shouldn't sell himself short. As for James... I would put him down for L16, possibly L8, however he's not ever managed a 'medal performacnce' (with the exception of his zonal qualification) so though I would hope he managed it I doubt he will get a medal.

I think that the US men's Foil team for a medal is a bit optimistic.

[veeco]

Originally Posted by edew

ME: Bockzo, Jeannet (F), Marik, Solomon

Solomon will not make it into the top 4 this year. Next year probably, but this year not. You cannot make 122nd in Heidenheim and then make top 4 at worlds the same year.

[edew]

Originally Posted by the doc

i probably wouldn't say the other british guys are world class yet, but although guyart is olympic champion, that was also on the old timings and he has appeared to fall away since the change.

my picks would be that most of the usual suspects will put in a good show, with men's epee most likely for a shock.

Guyart's style doesn't emphasize flicks. He's pretty much a thruster. If anything, he pulls his arm back and counter-attacks may time him out.

[edew]

Originally Posted by veeco

Solomon will not make it into the top 4 this year. Next year probably, but this year not. You cannot make 122nd in Heidenheim and then make top 4 at worlds the same year.

Ok, I meant King Solomon, the Israeli epeeist. Kicked 4$$ against Nebucanezzer, I believe.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by edew

Ok, I meant King Solomon, the Israeli epeeist. Kicked 4$$ against Nebucanezzer, I believe.

Yes, but Neo got back in time to save the Nebucanezzer and everyone on board!

[Epee Scherma]

WE: Mackay v. Duplitzer... part three? four? of the season?

[EZRHINO]

Jorgensen is no good, surely Denmark can do better!

[tehcow]

The only event where I've seen enough of the top level fencers to make any sort of prediction would be Women's Epee, since most of the top WE came to Sydney, whereas the Men's was pretty weak. At that comp Sherraine Mackay was way way ahead of everyone else in the individual competition, and I would expect her to win.

I'm guessing a lot of predictions would be based largely on educated guesses, but I don't really know enough names to even try for the other events :P

[sabreman]

A Romanian will make the top four in men's sabre. Most likely Covaliu.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Solomon is a great epeeist, but I do not foresee him making the 4.

US mens epee just isn't that strong yet.