34th Snow Polo World Cup in St. Moritz starts on Friday

Thrilling matches and many novelties at the 34th Snow Polo World Cup in St. Moritz on 26–28 January 2018. The 34th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz is set to become a top event par excellence. A laid-back Polo Bar in St. Moritz’s legendary restaurant Chesa Veglia and the “Baku Moritz Polo Award” are two new additions to this year’s fixture. Given the excellent make-up of the underlying ice, construction of the extensive infrastructure on the frozen lake has begun just over a week ago. Demand for tickets to this year’s event is exceptionally high. Tickets to the VIP tent on Saturday and Sunday are almost sold out; the exclusive Polo Gala night has been sold out for some time. The partner hotels also report high bookings. Some 15,000 spectators from around the globe are expected to attend the world’s only high-goal polo tournament on snow — admission to the action-packed tournament is free, as ever.

Four top-tier teams studded with players from nine countries will once again compete for the coveted Cartier Trophy this year. The competition kicks off with a riveting encounter on Friday noon. Rommy Gianni (+1) and his top-class Team Cartier – the winner of 2016 and 2017 has old hands Chris Hyde (+5), Dario Musso (+6) and Juan Cruz Greguoli (+4) at his side – will face the runners-up of 2017, Team Badrutt’s Palace Hotel around captain Melissa Ganzi (0). The US American player is entering the competition with a first-rate team, lining up with the only Swiss player, Tito Gaudenzi (+2), very well known in the Engadin Valley, and the Argentine polo legend Alejandro Novillo Astrada (+8).

Friday’s second game promises no less excitement. Zhanna Bandurko (0), the Russian player making her debut at the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz, and her sterling Team Maserati will face last year’s newcomers Team Azerbaijan Land of Fire with captain Elchin Jamalli (+3). Bandurko has teamed up with the professional players Robert Strom (+5), Gerardo Mazzini and Hissam al Hyder (both +6). Rashad Hasanov (+2) and the two professional players from Argentina Lala Laplacette (+5) and Adrian Laplacette Jr. (+6) complete the ambitious team from Azerbaijan.

The sport of polo originated more than 3,000 years ago in Azerbaijan, guest country of last year’s Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz. In its capital Baku, international polo tournaments have been held since 2013 thanks to the support from St. Moritz. Jointly, both parties have now created the “Baku Moritz Polo Award” which means to recognise outstanding achievements in  polo. Reto Gaudenzi, Vice-ˇpresident and CEO of Evviva Polo St. Moritz Ltd, together with Elchin Guliyev, President of the Equestrian Federation of the Azerbaijan Republic, Dr. Piero Dillier, FIP’s Vice President, Birgit Hügli-Hermann, owner of the Polo & Luxury magazine and initiator of the award, and Yves Gardiol, CEO of Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, sit on the judging committee. The prize will be awarded for the first time at the “Baku Moritz Polo Gala” held at the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel on Saturday 27 January 2018. Another attractive novelty is the Polo Bar at the St. Moritz cult location Chesa Veglia. The bar, which will open its doors on Wednesday 24 January 2018, is bound to become a hotspot on the weekend of the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz. Last but not least, the polo ponies will move into remodelled stables, courtesy of the city of St. Moritz who invested CHF 3.5 million in the renovation;; the ponies are due to arrive on 22 January 2018.

www.snowpolo‑stmoritz.com

Team Cartier

Team Azerbaijan Land of Fire

Team Badrutt’s Palace Hotel

Team Maserati

Programme:
Thursday: January 25, 2018

Friday: January 26, 2018

Saturday: January 27, 2018

Sunday: January 28, 2018