Defending champions Hungary have had to settle for a sixth-place finish in the men's water polo at the World Swimming Championships after losing 10-9 to Montenegro in the fifth-place match.

There was little to separate the teams early on as they split four points in the first period, but efforts from Aleksander Ivovic and Darko Brguljan helped Montenegro head a point in front by the end of the second.

After another closely-fought quarter, Hungary threatened to steal it late on as Daniel Varga and Balazs Erdelyi both added their second goals of the game.

However, Ivovic completed his hat-trick with his third shot of the match to ensure that Montenegro held on in a high-scoring fourth period.