Dario Verani claimed a contentious victory over Italian teammate Marcello Guidi at the penultimate leg of the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup in Hong Kong.
The pair tangled repeatedly down the finishing chute and stopped just shy of the finish with Guidi allowing Verani to touch the panel for victory in 1:57:39.2.
Guidi was second in 1:57:39.80 followed by Marc-Antoine Olivier who finished almost nine seconds adrift in 1:57:48.70.
Following a review by officials, the result was allowed to stand.
It means that Olivier goes into the final leg in Neom, Saudi Arabia, in November heading the rankings with 2500 points ahead of Verani (2350pts), Guidi (2008) and Andrea Filadelli (2000).
A level three typhoon warning meant the start was brought forward to 0830am with a cut-off time of 1040am and it made for challenging conditions.
Guidi claimed his first Open Water World Cup title in Setubal, Portugal, earlier this month and he appeared to have timed his attack perfectly as he moved to the head of the field going into the final lap of six.
However, he could not move clear of Verani with the pair going stroke for stroke before the chaotic finish.
Filadelli was fifth in 1:57:52.30 while Olympic gold and silver medallists Kristof Rasovszky and Oliver Klemet were 21st and 22nd respectively as they return to the water.
Olympic bronze medallist Ginevra Taddeucci and Lea Boy finished second and third respectively in the women’s race as Australian Moesha Johnson claimed victory.
Taddeucci went ahead into the final lap where she was joined by Johnson as the pair moved clear.
The Australian, who won silver at Paris 2024, touched the panel in 2:06:38.10 with Taddeucci second in 2:06:40.50.
Boy was in clear water for third in 2:06:57.40 with Germany teammate Jeanette Spiwoks fourth, 13 seconds adrift.
Lisa Pou of Monaco was seventh with Caroline Jouisse of France ninth.
That saw Boy of Germany move second in the women’s rankings with 1948pts behind leader Ana Marcela Cunha (2350pts) and one place ahead of Viviane Jungblut (1900pts).
The final leg will be held in Neom, Saudi Arabia, on 22-23 November.