100 fencers
52 fencers to qualify for main tableau
4 poules: rounds
ranking after each round with placement in poule as first criteria
Round No 1
100 fencers
15 poules (10 poules of 7, 5 poules of 6)
Separation by : countries, clubs
100 qualifiers
Round No 2
100 fencers
15 poules (10 poules of 7, 5 poules of 6)
100 qualifiers
poule winners qualified for main tableau
Round No 3
85 fencers (100 at the start, 15 exemptions)
15 poules (10 poules of 6, 5 poules of 5)
85 qualifiers
poule winners qualified for main tableau
Round No 4
70 fencers (100 at the start, 30 exemptions)
12 poules (10 poules of 6, 2 poules of 5)
70 qualifiers
poule winners qualified for main tableau
Preliminary tableau
best remaining fencers on a combined ranking from poule round 2-4 qualifiy to preliminary tableau
Main tableau
Incomplete tableau of 64 with repêchage in one phase to 8
Placement in tableau will if necessary be adjusted to avoid already fenced matches