PLYMOUTH College fencer Ben Andrews exceeded all expectations at his first World Championships.
Competing in the cadet event in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Andrews finished an impressive 15th overall.
He was the only British fencer in any discipline to reach the last 16.
Andrews knocked out GB team-mate Josh Willcox 15-13 in the round of 128, then beat Reynaldo Perz from the Philippines 15-11, before seeing off Germany’s Artur Fischer 15-10. However, he’s run eventually came to an end when he lost to eventual silver medallist Ryan Griffiths of America.
Andrews, who had come 19th at this year’s European Championships, then competed as the lead epeeist for GB in the mixed weapons event. He helped Britain to 12th overall.
The teenager had received a major boost ahead of the World Championships by securing a sponsorship deal with prestigious private bank Arbuthnot Latham.