if the fencers advancing from the pool could be determined. The smaller field resulted in fewer pools and smaller pools (the final was only 8 fencers for the first time since 1912, after decades at 10 or 12 fencers). Fencers from the four nations that reached the team event final received byes to the quarterfinals. Round 1: 4 pools of 7 or 8 fencers each. The top 4 fencers in each pool advanced to the quarterfinals. Quarterfinals: 4 pools of 7 fencers each. The top 4 fencers in each pool advanced to the semifinals. Semifinals: 2 pools of 8 fencers each. The top 4 fencers in each pool advanced to the final. Final: 1 pool of 8 fencers. Schedule All times are Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10) Results Round 1 The top 4 fencers in each pool advanced to the quarterfinals. Fencers from the four teams that advanced to the final of the men's team épée event received byes through round 1: France: Daniel Dagallier, Armand Mouyal, and René Queyroux Great Britain: Bill Hoskyns, Michael Howard, and Allan Jay Hungary: Lajos Balthazár, Béla Rerrich, and József Sákovics Italy: Giuseppe Delfino, Edoardo Mangiarotti, and Carlo Pavesi Pool 1 Pool 2 Pool 3 Pool 4 Quarterfinals The top 4 fencers in each pool advanced to the semifinals. Quarterfinal 1 Quarterfinal 2 Quarterfinal 3 Quarterfinal 4 Semifinals The top 4 fencers in each pool advanced to the final. Semifinal 1 Semifinal 2 Final The three-way tie among the Italian fencers for the medals at 5–2 required a barrage to settle. The first barrage resulted in another three-way tie at 1–1 (Pavesi defeated Delfino; Delfino defeated Mangiarotti; Mangiarotti defeated Pavesi). In the second barrage, the results were the same except Pavesi defeated Mangiarotti to win the gold medal. Delfino took silver and Mangiarotti bronze. In all, Mangiarotti had faced Delfino 4 times (Mangiarotti winning in the semifinal pool, Delfino winning three times: the final pool and both barrages), Delfino had faced Pavesi 3 times (Pavesi winning all 3 in the final pool and both barrages), and Pavesi had faced Mangiarotti 3 times (Mangiarotti winning in the final pool and first barrage, Pavesi winning in the second barrage). References Epee men Men's events at the 1956 Summer Olympics