It may not have been the most beautiful match of the week, but when the final is on the line the only appealing result is a win. Today, polo was a sport of strategy, combat, and patience: and Britain’s Max Charlton proved to be the strongest at this game. All the talent of Raul Laplacette could do nothing about it, despite being named best player of the match.
It was a defensive final which, naturally, concluded with a low score of 6-5. It was unbearable suspense until the end, with each team returning goals blow for blow. With only two minutes left on the clock, a remarkable individual play by Raul Laplacette leveled the score once again, and with mere seconds to go, Max Charlton took advantage of another 60-yard penalty. It was the goal that ultimately determined the match.
“Yes, it was a tough fight played out on penalties,” the Briton admitted. “We won today because we were a little bit luckier than Gstaad Palace since both teams were on equal footing. But I‘m particularly pleased to have won here, for Phillipp [Müller, his captain]. It’s amazing!”
J. Safra Sarasin landed on the third step of the podium.
Today’s opening match, the final for third place, was clinched by French captain François Okala‘s team, donning the distinctive J.Safra Sarasin colors, after an action-packed second chukker. Argentinian handicap 6 Horacio Fernandez Llorente led the charge, capturing four goals. The “blues” dominated the match from start to finish, after measuring up the pitch they only discovered last Thursday.
“Actually…not quite,” Tete Fanelli was keen to point out. “This is the third time I‘ve played here. I‘ve been a finalist twice before but lost on both occasions. I thought this would be my year, so I‘m not completely satisfied with third place. That doesn‘t stop me from enjoying this tournament enormously—the organization, the environment, the atmosphere. So I‘m looking forward to coming back here and leaving with the watch!”
So, maybe next year from August 21-24. The date has already been set for this one-of-a-kind tournament, whose teams continuously express their satisfaction before they return home. This edition was no exception, an extraordinary celebration of polo that couldn’t possibly be spoiled by a little cold on Sunday.
Final for 3rd & 4th place
J. Safra Sarasin
Françoise Okala 0
Bautista Fanelli 3 (2 goals)
Horacio Fernandez Llorente 6 (4 goals)
Tete Fanelli 5 (2 goals)
Hublot
Jurgen Schröder 0 (1 goal)
Juan Correa 3 (3 goals)
Pedro Fernandez Llorente 5 (1 goal)
Manuel Fernandez Llorente 6 (1 goal)
Progression J. Safra Sarasin: 3-1 / 7-2 / 8-3 and 8-6
FINALE
Gstaad Palace
Fabio Meier 1 (1 goal)
Luca Meier 1
Adrian Laplacette 6 (1 goal)
Raul Laplacette 6 (3 goals)
Kielder Agro Group
Philipp Mueller 0,
Jaime Robert 3 (1 goal)
Nacho Gonzales 4(1 goal)
Max Charlton 6 (4 goals)
Progression Kielder Agro Group: 1-1 / 2-2 / 4-4 et 6-5
Tournament top scorer: Max Charlton (Kielder Agro Group) with 17 goals
Best professional player of the final: Raul Laplacette (Gstaad Palace)
Best amateur player: Luca Meier (Gstaad Palace)
Best horse of the final: Germania, a 9-year-old bay mare bred in Argentina by Colo Germano, owned by Fabio Meier and played by Raul Laplacette
