45 fencers
26 fencers to qualify for main tableau
4 poule rounds
ranking after each round with placement in poule as first criteria.
Round No 1
45 fencers
7 poules (3 poules of 7, 4 poules of 6)
Separation by : countries, clubs
44 qualifiers (1 abandoned)
Round No 2
44 fencers (45 at the start, 1 abandoned)
7 poules (2 poules of 7, 5 poules of 6)
7 poule winners qualified for main tableau
Round No 3
37 fencers (45 at the start, 7 exemptions, 1 abandoned)
6 poules (1 poule of 7, 5 poules of 6)
6 poule winners qualified for main tableau
Round No 4
31 fencers (45 at the start, 13 exemptions, 1 abandoned)
5 poules (1 poule of 7, 4 poules of 6)
5 poule winners qualified for main tableau
Preliminary tableau
16 best remaining fencers on a combined ranking from poule round 2-4 qualifiy to preliminary tableau
8 fencers from the preliminary tableau are qualified for the main tableau
Main tableau
26 fencers in an incomplete tableau of 32 with repêchage in one phase to 8
Placement in tableau will, if necessary, be adjusted to avoid already fenced matches