St. Moritz

New team sponsors and teams with top international polo stars

The organisers of the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz are delighted to welcome The Kusnacht Practice and Flexjet as new team sponsors of the world’s only high goal tournament on snow. They are joining the ranks of the existing teams Azerbaijan Land of FireWorld Polo LeagueClinique La Prairie, and St. Moritz. Casablanca returns as the official outfitter. The team captains will announce their final line-ups in the next couple of weeks. They are expected to sign up top international polo players to get a headstart in the contest for the coveted polo trophy. The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2023 will be held from 27 to 29 January. Admission to the tournament grounds is free.

The Snow Polo World Cup 2023 will see two of last year’s team captains throwing their hats in the ring again. Crowd-pleaser and winner of the previous tournament, Team Azerbaijan Land of Fire will once more be captained by Elcin Jamalli (AZE), who is banking on his proven teammates Adrian and Raul Laplacette Jr. (both ARG) as well as local star Tito Gaudenzi. Expectations are equally high for Melissa Ganzi’s (USA) Team World Polo League. The experienced team captain, who in 2019 was the first female captain ever to win the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz trophy, will leave no stone unturned to repeat her victory. She will play alongside her son Grant and her trusted pillar of strength, Alejandro Novillo Astrada (ARG).

Marc Ganzi (USA) is also returning to the tournament, this time as captain of Team Clinique La Prairie. He is joining forces with Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz regular Nic Roldan (USA) and Fred Mannix, Canada’s best and foremost polo player. After a seven-year hiatus, Spencer McCarthy (GBR) is making his second appearance at the St. Moritz tournament with polo veteran Nacho Gonzalez (ARG) by his side, as in 2016. His son James McCarthy and powerhouse Max Charlton complete the team; Max Charlton, Britain’s best arena polo player, has clocked up no less than four SPWC victories. For Flexjet captain Daniel Deistler from Germany, it will be a debut in the Engadine valley. He is teaming up with the seasoned top players Patrick Maleitzke (GER) and Clemente Delfosse (FRA). For Eduardo Greghi (SUI/BRA), it will also be a first in
St. Moritz, as for his team, The Kusnacht Practice. His inaugural team features Alejo Taranco (URU), Nicolas San Roman, and Charlie Hanbury (both GBR).

With the Badrutt’s Palace, the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz, the Kempinski Grand Hôtel des Bains, the Carlton Hotel, the Suvretta House, the Giardino Mountain, and the Grace La Margna, all five-star hotels are renewing their commitment alongside Maura Wasescha, Trois Pommes and Sprüngli. The next edition of the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz thus sees long-standing sponsors and partners return and new international sponsors joining the prestigious event, notably the luxurious Ithaafushi, The Private Island by Waldorf Astoria in the Maldives.

Record high demand for VIP and Chukker Club tickets and tickets for the “Baku Moritz” gala night on Saturday, 28 January 2023. The sumptuous catering in the VIP tent will once again carry the signature of the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel chefs – one more reason to secure one of the tickets in time. Tickets are available at www.snowpolo-stmoritz.com/tickets/. As always, admission to the polo grounds will be free and open to all visitors. Over the three-day event, local chefs, coordinated by the leading hotels Badrutt’s Palace and Crystal, will provide a wide array of delicacies for the public.

Team sponsors Azerbaijan Land of Fire, The Kusnacht Practice, World Polo League, Clinique La Prairie, Flexjet und St. Moritz

Official outfitter Casablanca

Trophy sponsors CentraLab, Casablanca, Clinique La Prairie, Flexjet, St. Moritz und Ithaafushi – The Private Island by Waldorf Astoria

Helmet sponsor Flexjet

Umpire sponsor Maura Wasescha – Luxury Properties for Rent & Sale

Official hotels Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, Kulm Hotel St. Moritz, Kempinski Grand Hôtel des Bains, Carlton Hotel, Suvretta House, Giardino Mountain, Grace La Margna, Crystal Hotel, Steffani Hotel, Hotel Corvatsch, Hotel Laudinella, Hotel Sonne

Guest Resort Ithaafushi – The Private Island by Waldorf Astoria

Offiicial partner hotel in Zurich Hotel Schweizerhof

Official restaurants Chesa Veglia/Polo Bar, El Paradiso, HATO

Sponsors Maura Wasescha, Kessel/Maserati, Pernod Ricard Swiss, UBV Lanz AG, Sprüngli, Azerbaijan Land of Fire, Doppelleu Boxer, Trois Pommes, SBS Swiss Business School, CASINO MORITZ

VIP catering Badrutt’s Palace

Official car Kessel/Maserati

Official suppliers Champagne Perrier-Jouët, Oona Caviar, Cecchetto, Sprüngli, Doppelleu Boxer, Cigar Must, Villa Sandi, Royal Salute

Offiicial medical partner Klinik Gut

Official lab partner CentraLab

Exhibitors Casablanca, Maura Wasescha, Azerbaijan Land of Fire, Casino St. Moritz, Ender Sport St. Moritz, Kessel/Maserati, Caviarlieri Switzerland, Villa Sandi, Ithaafushi – The Private Maldives Island

Public catering Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, Crystal Hotel und weitere lokale Partner

Supporters Engadin, Gemeinde St. Moritz, Kanton Graubünden, St. Moritz, Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz, O. Christoffel AG, Blasto

Host Club Evviva Polo Club St. Moritz

Official affiliated club Polo Park & Country Club Zürich

For more information, visit www.snowpolo-stmoritz.com.

Upon careful consideration of the matter, attentively monitoring the course of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and the figures published by the Swiss Office of Public Health (FOPH), whilst looking for ways to implement the protective measures and directives imposed, the Board of Directors has decided to postpone the Snow Polo World Cup 2021 by one year. The event that was to be held at the end of January 2021 will now take place from 28 to 30 January 2022.

Several factors all contributed to the decision to cancel the tournament. Above all, the organisers of the Snow Polo World Cup take their responsibility towards visitors, partners, players, their staff and volunteers very seriously, all the more so in these difficult times marked by the pandemic. The global uncertainty surrounding the freedom to travel adds to the complexity. Sound planning has become all but impossible given the ever-changing entry restrictions and quarantine regulations, which would have rendered it equally difficult for partners, sponsors and guests from around the world to travel to St. Moritz for the tournament. Shifting consumer patterns and a marked booking reluctancy combined with unprecedented planning insecurity make it impracticable for the organisers to stage this event.

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

1 Rommy Gianni +1 ITA
2 Chris Hyde +5 ENG
3 Dario Musso +6 ARG
4 Juan Cruz Greguoli +4 ARG

 

Team Azerbaijan Land of Fire

1 Elchin Jamalli +3 AZE
2 Lala Laplacette +5 ARG
3 Adrian Laplacette Jr. +6 ARG
4 Rashad Hasanov +2 AZE

 

Team Badrutt’s Palace Hotel

1 Melissa Ganzi 0 USA
2 Tito Gaudenzi +2 SUI
3 Alejandro Novillo Astrada +8 ARG
4 tbc +6

 

Team Maserati

1 Zhanna Bandurko / Raya Sidorenko 0 RUS
2 Gerardo Mazzini +6 ARG
3 Hissam al Hyder +6 PAK
4 Robert Strom +5 FRA

 

Programme:
Thursday: January 25, 2018

Time Event Location
13.00h – 16.00h Polo training sessions Polo field on the lake or on stables field. (small catering on the lake)
18.30h Players’ and sponsors’ presentation with cocktail party (by invitation only) Sunny Bar at Kulm Hotel
20.00h Fondue Night (by invitation only, limited tickets available) at Hotel Steffani

Friday: January 26, 2018

Time Event Location
10.30h Press conference VIP lounge on the lake
11.00h Polo village opens Lake of St. Moritz
11.30h VIP tent opens Lake of St. Moritz
12.00h Polo Game 1: Cartier vs. Badrutt’s Palace Hotel Lake of St. Moritz
13.00h Prize-giving ceremony The Winston Cup Lake of St. Moritz
14.15h Polo Game 2: Maserati vs. Azerbaijan Land of Fire Lake of St. Moritz
15.15h Prize-giving ceremony The Carlton Hotel Challenge Lake of St. Moritz
16.30h Polo village and VIP tent close Lake of St. Moritz
18.30h Meet the Stars More Info: www.maserati-event.ch/en/meetthestars Maserati Showroom
19.30h Individual Sponsor Dinners in St. Moritz (by invitation only)

Saturday: January 27, 2018

Time Event Location
11.00h Polo village opens Lake of St. Moritz
11.30h VIP tent opens Lake of St. Moritz
12.00h Polo Game 3: Maserati vs. Cartier Lake of St. Moritz
13.00h Prize-giving ceremony Maserati Cup Lake of St. Moritz
14.15h Polo Game 4: Badrutt’s Palace Hotel vs. Azerbaijan Land of Fire Lake of St. Moritz
15.15h Prize-giving ceremony Deutsche Bank Wealth Management Challenge Lake of St. Moritz
15.30h Trois Pommes Fashion Surprise VIP Tent
16.30h Polo village and VIP tent close Lake of St. Moritz
19.15h Cocktail Reception (black tie) Lobby Badrutt’s Palace Hotel
20.00h The Snow Polo Night Gala Dinner “Baku Moritz Night” (black tie, tickets available, +41 79 901 75 00) Badrutt’s Palace Hotel
23.30h Polo After Party King’s Club (open end) King’s Club
23.30h La Martina Snow Party @Vivai (open end) Vivai

Sunday: January 28, 2018

Time Event Location
11.00h Polo village opens Lake of St. Moritz
11.30h VIP tent opens Lake of St. Moritz
12.00h Finals 3rd place Lake of St. Moritz
13.00h Prize-giving ceremony La Martina Cup Lake of St. Moritz
14.15h Final Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz Lake of St. Moritz
15.15h Prize-giving ceremony the CARTIER TROPHY Lake of St. Moritz
Prize-giving: Best Player presented by Cartier Lake of St. Moritz
Prize-giving: Best playing Patron presented by Deutsche Bank Wealth Management Lake of St. Moritz
Prize-giving: Best Horse presented by Polo Times Lake of St. Moritz
17.00h Polo village and VIP tent close for 2018 Lake of St. Moritz
19.00h Farewell Party (by invitation only, limited tickets available) King’s Club
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