The reigning world champion and current world number two collided with another big Italian name as she met London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Elisa Di Francisca in the final at the Pala Apitour.

Volpi, who also won European Games gold at Baku 2015, defeated her compatriot 15-9 to seal home soil success.

She had earlier defeated Russia's Anastasiia Ivanova 15-12 in her semi-final, as Di Francisca got past another Italian in Francesca Palumbo 15-7.

In the men's event another reigning Italian world champion missed out as he exited in the semi-finals.

Alessio Foconi, also the world number two, was beaten 15-13 by eventual winner Race Imboden of the United States.

Imboden, an Olympic team bronze medallist, defeated Hong Kong's Cheung Ka Long 15-6 in the final.

Cheung knocked out another American fencer, Gerek Meinhardt, 15-12 in the last four.

Britain's world number one Richard Kruse was knocked out in the last 32 by Daniel Dosa of Hungary.

Elsewhere, the FIE Women's Épée World Cup in Barcelona concluded with a team event at the Spanish city's Institut Nacional d'Educació Física de Catalunya.

Poland came out on top as they defeated Russia 45-40 in the final.

Individual bronze medallist Aleksandra Zamachowska was not part of the Polish line-up but Renata Knapik-Miazga, Ewa Trzebinska and Magdalena Piekarska still proved too strong for the Russian trio of Daria Martynyuk, Violetta Kolobova and Lyubov Shutova.

China beat France 45-38 to win the bronze medals.

A team competition also took place to end the Men's Épée World Cup in Canadian city Vancouver today.

Russia won gold as they defeated Israel 45-38 to capture the title at the Richmond Olympic Oval.

France beat Denmark 45-32 for bronze.