In an extraordinary 24-hour span, Hong Kong’s fencing star Ryan Choi Chun-yin has made history by becoming the city’s first men’s foil world champion and ascending to the top of the FIE world rankings.
The official update from the International Fencing Federation confirmed Choi’s rise from 11th to world No. 1, capping off a dream run that saw him claim three major titles in just two months.
Choi’s stunning victory at the World Championships, where he earned 80 ranking points, propelled him to a career-high total of 194 points, securing his position as the new world No. 1.
This milestone comes after his recent triumphs at the Shanghai Grand Prix and the Asian Championships, where he also claimed gold.
Reflecting on his journey earlier, Choi revealed that becoming the world’s top-ranked fencer had been a long-held ambition.
"When I first turned professional in 2018, my goal was to reach world No. 1," he said. "But after facing so many setbacks, I started to doubt whether it was possible. These past two tournaments (winning in Shanghai and at the Asian Championships) reignited my belief that I could chase this dream again."
Choi’s previous highest ranking was world No. 6 in 2022.
With the World Championships marking the end of the 2024-2025 season, he is also set to finish as the year-end No. 1—a feat achieved last year by his teammate and reigning Olympic champion, Edgar Cheung Ka-long.
Meanwhile, Cheung, who held the top spot before the tournament, suffered an unexpected early exit in the opening round of the World Championships, resulting in a significant points drop.
The "Golden Boy" has now fallen to 13th in the latest rankings.
(Marco Lam)
