The duo impressed across the fencing, swimming and laser-run disciplines today to advance as the top qualifiers for the final on Saturday (April 30) in the Hungarian capital.

Demeter sealed top spot in semi-final B with 1,196 points, largely thanks to an impressive fencing round where he registered 29 wins for a top score of 274 points.

The Hungarian then backed that up with 304 points in swimming after finishing sixth and 618 points in the laser-run, placing 17th.

Overall he finished just five points ahead of compatriot Balazs Szep and Germany’s Christian Zillekens who both notched 1,191.

The top five also included another Hungarian in Gergely Regos with 1,189, as well as Martin Vlach of the Czech Republic and France’s Valentin Prades who were tied on 1,188.

Parisi enjoyed success in semi-final A as he accumulated 1,197 points to take the lead.

Like Demeter, much of his joy came in the fencing round as Parisi notched 265 points for second.

The Italian also scored 286 swimming points as well as 646 via the laser-run.

There were just five points separating the next seven athletes with Hungary’s Richard Bereczki scoring 1,191 to take second spot ahead of fellow countrymen Csaba Bohm and Adam Marosi, Marek Grycz of the Czech Republic, French duo Pierre Dejardin and Alexandre Henrard and Hungarian Bence Viczian.

The women’s semi-finals also got underway with the fencing ranking round as Egypt’s Amira Kandil and France’s Marie Oteiza occupied the top two spots with 255 points.

They were followed by Egypt’s Salma Abdelmaksoud, Italy’s Maria Lea Lopez, Hungary’s Michelle Gulyas and Lithuania’s Ieva Serapinaitė.

Competition is due to continue tomorrow with the fencing bonus round, swimming and laser-run disciplines set to be contested in the women’s semi-finals.