The 35-year-old beat Race Imboden from the United States 15-9 in the final to become the first world number one in Britain’s history.

Going into the event, the World Championship silver medallist trailed Italy’s world champion Alessio Foconi by 24 points but his victory, coupled with Foconi’s loss in the semi-finals to Imboden, means Kruse now replaces the Italian at the top.

Foconi had been the favourite to win at the Minato-ku Sports Center but lost to Imboden 6-15 in the last four.

Kruse made it into the final with victory over another Italian Daniele Garozzo in his semi-final 15-10.

Elsewhere on the FIE World Cup circuit, Russia’s Inna Deriglazova claimed victory at the Women’s foil event in St-Maur in France.

The 28-year-old reigning Olympic champion took gold once again with a 15-12 victory over Italy’s Alice Volpi.

Both semi-final losers – Italy’s Fracesca Palumbo and France’s Ysaora Thibus – claimed bronze medals for their efforts.

They were each beaten in the last four by scores of 15-11 and 15-12 respectively, Palumbo losing to her compatriot while Thibus fell to Deriglazova.

Meanwhile in Doha action began at a World Cup in Doha, which is hosting both men’s and women’s epee action.

On the men’s side starting with 128 fencers at the Aspire Dome, Russia’s top seed Georgiy Bruev advanced through the round of 64.

Having taken a bye in the first round, the bronze medallist from the Heidenheim World Cup earlier this month then beat Finland’s Jaakko Paavolainen 15-10.

At the other end of the draw, Ukraine’s Igor Reizlin also advance with a win by the same score line over Soren Thomsen from the United States.

In the women’s draw, both of Italy’s top seeds Eleonora De Marchi and Alessandra Bozza made it through to tomorrow’s action.

De Marchi advanced with a 15-13 win over Japan’s Miho Yoshimura, while Bozza eased past South Korea’s Lam Shin A 15-10.

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