The World Fencing League (WFL) is a professional fencing organization founded in late 2025 by British-born American Olympic fencer Miles Chamley-Watson and Chiron Sports Group. The league was established to modernize the sport through advanced technology, athlete-driven storytelling, and high-production entertainment values.
History The WFL was officially announced on November 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. The league was incubated by Chiron Sports Group, a sports-focused investment firm, alongside founder Miles Chamley-Watson.
In December 2025, the league reached a financial milestone by securing its first round of funding from the Flick Family Office. The legal proceedings for the financing were advised by the law firm Winston & Strawn, signaling the league's transition from a concept to a capitalized professional entity.
On January 7, 2026, the WFL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with USA Fencing. This partnership was designed to connect elite professional competition with grassroots participation in the United States. This was followed in February 2026 by a partnership with UC San Diego Athletics to establish professional pathways for collegiate athletes.
By March 2026, the league moved into its final pre-launch phase for the "WFL Debut" scheduled for April 25, 2026, at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. During this month, the league confirmed its full inaugural roster and a US$100,000 grand prize purse.
Events Year Date Location Team winner Bouts won 2026 April 25 Los Angeles Team Shield 5:1
Athletes The league features a select roster of 12 elite fencers. Athletes are announced via the league's official digital channels, with several confirming their participation through verified social media posts.
Athlete Country Weapon Notable Achievements Participation Eszter Muhari Épée 2026 Lee Kiefer Foil 3x Olympic Gold Medalist, 2x World Champion 2026 Ryan Choi Foil 1x World Champion 2026 Arianna Errigo Foil 1x Olympic Gold Medalist, 10x World Champion 2026 Miles Chamley-Watson Foil 2x World Champion 2026 Oh Sang-uk Sabre 3x Olympic Gold Medalist, 5x World Champion 2026 Koki Kano Épée 2x Olympic Gold Medalist, 2x World Champion 2026 Alexandra Ndolo Épée 2026 Gergely Siklósi Épée 1x Olympic Gold Medalist, 1x World Champion 2026 Michela Battiston Sabre 2026 Jean-Philippe Patrice Sabre 2026 Maia Chamberlain Sabre 2026
Teams Year Team Athletes 2026 Team Blade Miles Chamley-Watson Lee Kiefer (c) Gergely Siklósi Alexandra Ndolo Oh Sang-uk Maia Chamberlain Team Shield Ryan Choi (c) Arianna Errigo Michela Battiston Jean-Philippe Patrice Eszter Muhari Koki Kano
Technology The league employs Dentsu Lab's proprietary blade tracking technology to visualize weapon movements for broadcast audiences and Allez Go's AI system aimed at making "right-of-way" calls easier for viewers to follow.
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