All Star Challenge

North America, Polo News

World Polo League Kicks off Much Anticipated 2021 Season with All-Star Challenge

15. February 2021

By: Rebecca Baldrige
Photos by: ChukkerTV

WELLINGTON, FL, February 11, 2021— World Polo League announces team lineup and match dates for the 2021 All-Star Challenge.

The World Polo League will kick off its third season this week with The All-Star Challenge, which is slated to begin on February 13. Two-time winner Valiente will be missing from the lineup this year, but seven teams will be vying to see their name engraved on the trophy.

Ten-goalers Adolfo Cambiaso, Juan Martin Nero and Pablo MacDonough, teammates from the renowned La Dolfina, return this year to be pitted against one another following an incredible 8th win at Palermo in December.

The tournament will see plenty of father-son action too, with Adolfo Cambiaso playing together with son Poroto, while former 10-goaler Lolo Castagnola will play against sons Barto and Camilo (Jeta) and Grant Ganzi will take to the field against his father Marc.

The seven team sponsors and rosters for the All-Star Challenge include:

Casablanca: Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Barto Castagnola, and Juan Martin Nero

Santa Rita Polo Farm: Pablo Spinacci, Nacho Figueras, Sugar Erskine, and Horacio Llorente

Great Oaks: Dillon Bacon, Torito Ruiz, Clemente Zavaleta and Nacho Novillo Astrada

Seminole Casino: Melissa Ganzi, Juan Martin Zubia, Nic Roldan, and Alejandro Novillo Astrada

Hawaii Polo Life: Chris Dawson, Adolfo Cambiaso, Poroto Cambiaso, and Jejo Taranco

White Birch: TBA, Mariano Aguerre, Facu Llorente, and Lolo Castagnola

Richard Mille: Marc Ganzi, Jeta Castagnola, Pablo MacDonough and Paco de Narvaez

Tournament play will begin on February 13 at 11am, when White Birch faces off against Hawaii Polo Life. The All-Star Challenge final is set for Saturday, February 20th, at 3 pm.

Co-founded by Grand Champions owners and president Melissa and Marc Ganzi, the World Polo League is the only 26-goal polo in the world outside of Argentina. The WPL was created to preserve the highest level of polo and its rich, hallowed tradition in the United States. The WPL, boasting 11 tournament-quality fields to play on, will follow the season opening All-Star Challenge with a number of top-level tournaments that will include: Founder’s Cup, Palm Beach Open, Triple Crown of Polo, and Beach Polo World Cup, Miami Beach April 21-25.

The World Polo League attracts the sport’s top players from every corner of the world, including: Australia, Chile, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Argentina, Canada, Ecuador, Brazil, Switzerland, France, Germany, Uruguay, Venezuela, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique polo facility in Wellington with 120 stalls in five self-contained barns, an exercise track, five climate controlled tack rooms, a vet room, staff quarters, a guest house and three polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation including one field for stick-and-ball and plans to build more in the future.

World Polo League matches will continue to be closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We closely adhere to Florida state and CDC guidelines, and take all measures possible to maintain a safe environment that will allow us to continue playing. We look very forward to the day we can welcome our fans back. In the interim, please visit www.worldpolo.orgfor more information. Matches can be viewed on www.chukkertv.com

World Polo League 2021 All Star Challenge Schedule

Saturday 2/13
11am White Birch vs Hawaii Polo Life
1pm Casablanca vs Great Oaks

Sunday 2/14
4pm Richard Mille vs Santa Rita

Wednesday 2/17
11am Seminole Casino vs Winner Game 1 (White Birch/Hawaii Polo Life)
3pm Winner Game 2 vs Winner Game 3

Saturday 2/20
3pm All Star Challenge Final

All Games Live on https://www.chukkertv.com

By: Rebecca Baldrige Photos by: ChukkerTV WELLINGTON, FL, February 11, 2021— World Polo League announces team lineup and match dates for the 2021 All-Star Challenge. The World Polo League will…

Asia, Europe, North America, Polo News

World Polo League Founders Cup Begins Friday With Tripleheader at Valiente

21. February 2020

After a successful All Star Challenge season-opener, the World Polo League season continues Friday with the Founders Cup.

Three games will open the second tournament of the season at Valiente Polo Farm. Scone will make its season debut against J5/La Dolfina Breeding at noon on Field 3; Valiente plays Alegria at 2 p.m. on Field 2; and Seminole Casino meets Richard Mille at 4 p.m. on Field 1.

Ten teams, including new team sponsors Amaala, Scone and STM, will compete in the first of three WPL tournaments offering major prize money. Scone competed last year in the WPL‘s inaugural season.

The WPL is coming off a successful opening and fun All Star Challenge where Valiente defended its title with a new lineup.

Valiente (Bob Jornayvaz 2, Poroto Cambiaso 4, Diego Cavanagh 9, Adolfo Cambiaso 10) led for most of the game to defeat SD Farms (Sayyu Dantata 2, Santi Torres 7, Guillermo Terrera 8, Juan Martin Zubia 8), 12-10. Poroto Cambiaso, 14, the only returning player off last year‘s winning team, has now won back-to-back tournament titles. His father, Adolfo, was Most Valuable Player of the game.

„We have seen some great polo,“ WCT Commissioner Dale Smicklas said. „We have seen some thrilling games and some expected results as well as some upsets. And there is so much more ahead of us.“

Team sponsors and rosters for the Founders Cup are:

Amaala (25): Nacho Figueras 6, Tincho Merlos 7, Facu Llorente 7, Juan Bollini 5.

Alegría (25): Henry Porter 3, Matias Magrini 7, Fred Mannix 7, Nachi du Plessis 8.

Casablanca (25): Grant Ganzi 3, Rodrigo Andrade 8, Hilario Ulloa 10, Juancito Bollini 4.

J-5 La Dolfina Breeding (23): Gonzalo Ferrari 4, Isidro Strada 7, Jerónimo Del Carril 7, Robertito Zedda 5.

Richard Mille (26): Camilo Castagnola 7, TBA 2, Barto Castagnola 7, Pablo Mac Donough 10.

Scone (23): David Paradice 0, Poroto Cambiaso 4, Diego Cavanagh 9, Adolfo Cambiaso 10.

SD Farms (25): Sayyu Dantata 2, Santi Torres 7, Guillermo Terrera 8, Juan Martin Zubia 8.

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (24): Melissa Ganzi 0, Lucas James 8, Alejandro Novillo Astrada 8, Nic Roldan 8.

STM (26): Robert Strom 5, Pablo Spinacci 6, Corcho Zavaleta 7, Nacho Novillo Astrada 8.

Valiente (27): Bob Jornayvaz 2, Gringo Colombres 8, Sebastian Merlos 9, Jejo Taranco 8.

Last year‘s Founders Cup winner was Grand Champions. In one of polo‘s biggest upsets, Grand Champions knocked off Valiente, 12-11, in overtime at Valiente.

In front of an overflow crowd, Argentine 10-goaler Juan Martin Nero scored the winning goal in the first two minutes of overtime to upset previously unbeaten Valiente (Bob Jornayvaz, 2, Agustin Nero, 6, Santi Torres, 6, Adolfo Cambiaso, 10). Nero was MVP.

Playing together for the first time in the tournament, Grand Champions finished the eight-team 26-goal tournament undefeated at 4-0. Nero and teammates Rodrigo Andrade, Grant Ganzi and Juancito Bollini earned $60,000 in prize money.

2020 WORLD POLO LEAGUE SCHEDULE

Founder‘s Cup Feb 19 – Mar 1

Friday 2/21 12 p.m. Scone vs J5 La Dolfina at Valiente 3

Friday 2/21 2 p.m. Valiente vs Alegria at Valiente 2

Friday 2/21 4 p.m. Seminole vs Richard Mille at Valiente 1

Saturday 2/22 12 p.m. SD Farms vs Casablanca at SD Farms field

Sunday 2/23 10:30 a.m. Amala vs Winner Valiente/Alegria at GCPC 1

Sunday 2/23 4 p.m. STM vs Winner Scone/J5 La Dolfina at GCPC 2

Mar. 4-22, Palm Beach Open

Mar. 28-Apr. 18, Triple Crown of Polo

Apr. 6-12, U.S. National Mixed Doubles Polo Championship

© Thomas Wirth

After a successful All Star Challenge season-opener, the World Polo League season continues Friday with the Founders Cup. Three games will open the second tournament of the season at Valiente…

North America, Polo News

Valiente wins inaugural World Polo League All Star Challenge

20. February 2019

Valiente makes history with overtime thriller and captures the World Polo League’s first tournament. Pablo MacDonough was awarded Most Valuable Player. By Sharon Robb.

On a historic day of firsts at Grand Champions Polo Club, Valiente came up big.Valiente (Agustin Nero, 6, Santi Torres, 6, Pablo MacDonough, 10, Poroto Cambiaso, 3) made history with a thrilling 10-9 overtime victory over Colorado (Rob Jornayvaz, 2, Juan Martin Zubia, 7, Rodrigo Andrade, 9, Jero del Carril, 7) Sunday in the championship final of the inaugural World Polo League All Star Challenge Draw Tournament.

With 6:34 left in overtime, Argentine 10-goaler Pablo MacDonough converted a 60-yard penalty shot to clinch the win in front of a record crowd and worldwide livestream audience. MacDonough finished with eight goals all on penalty conversions and was named Most Valuable Player for the final.

“I have never had eight penalty goals in one game, that is the first time in my life I scored so many penalties in one game,” MacDonough said. “It was good, especially the last one. I just wanted to hit the ball well and if you hit the ball well you have a chance to score. I just concentrated on putting the ball up in the air and that was it. Then you need a little bit of luck and it was on my side. “This couldn’t be any better, to win the first World Polo League tournament,” MacDonough said. “I am very happy to be part of this league. This is something good for polo here in America. I am glad to be here this season and hopefully this league is here to stay.”

Poroto Cambiaso, 13, the son of polo great Adolfo Cambiaso and youngest player in the eight-team tournament, was selected Most Valuable Player for the tournament and presented a Catena Watch by Bill Kraft, Catena USA CEO and President. It was Cambiaso’s first 26-goal tournament win in his U.S. 26-goal debut. Cambiaso scored two goals in the final and matched up well against players twice his age. “This is the first time in my life I play with Poroto,” MacDonough said. “It’s unbelievable how he understands the game. He is the future of polo.”

Valiente finished the tournament unbeaten at 3-0 and Colorado finished 3-1. Both teams are owned by Wellington-based J5 Equestrian. “Valiente is an amazing organization,” MacDonough said. “I am glad to be part of one team and I am glad to be here.” With his attacking, aggressive style of play, Torres played an integral role in the game. “That whole game was tough, every second of it,” said the 25-year-old Torres. “That team was unbelievable. I was lucky Pablo made that shot. I screwed up on the play that made us go into overtime, luckily he made that.”

After Torres fouled Andrade on a potential goal run, Jero del Carril converted a 30-yard penalty with 12 seconds left to send the game into overtime. Del Carril finished with four goals to lead Colorado’s scoring. Jornayvaz and Zubia each had two goals and Andrade added one. “The game was amazing,” said Torres, who also won the 20-goal Sterling Cup last weekend with Colorado teammates Nick Johnson, Diego Cavanagh and Jornayvaz. “That team was unbelievable. We played tough and tried to keep our man, but they are an awesome team. The whole game was tough.

AHPA Best Playing Pony of the tournament was Mini Watt played by Torres. Mini Watt was also the APHA Best Playing Pony for the championship final in the 2017 $100,000 World Cup won by Torres’ team Palm Beach Illustrated.

FEBRUARY

Feb. 20-March 3, Founders Cup