UAE Polo ran out the champions of the IFZA Gold Cup, the most prestigious tournament of Asia and the Middle East, for the second consecutive year following a 10-7 win over IFZA Habtoor on Saturday March 4 at Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In a very hard fought contest, UAE Polo, made a spectacular comeback in the last chukka, after trailing the whole game. The result meant that UAE Polo claimed the two most important competitions of the Dubai Gold Cup Series, having previously won the Dubai Silver Cup (which they also won in 2019).
Once again, Sheikha Maitha’s organisation, led by Lucas Monteverde, four time winner of the Argentine Open, demonstrated its superiority in terms of horsepower, and their steady improvement, in order to remain one of the most powerful organisations in the world showing great results and having a solid presence in England and the United States. Tommy Beresford, who was also a member of the team in the high goal season in England, was named MVP. Beresford was arguably the best player of the 2023 Dubai Gold Cup Series.
Prior to the IFZA Gold Cup final, Dubai Wolves by CAFU defeated Ghantoot to win the the Subsidiary Bentley Cup.
The IFZA Gold Cup saw eight teams, up to 20 goals, compete.
THE IFZA GOLD CUP WAS STREAMED LIVE ON POLOLINE TV.
IFZA GOLD CUP – FINALS – SATURDAY, MARCH 4
FINAL IFZA GOLD CUP: UAE POLO 10-7 IFZA HABTOOR
UAE Polo Team: Faisal Yabroudi 0, Lukin Monteverde 6, Mín Podestá 7, Tommy Beresford 7. Total: 20.
IFZA Habtoor: Mohammed Al Habtoor 0, Matt Perry 5, Bautista Bayugar 8, Juan Jauretche 7. Total: 20.
Score UAE Polo: 1-2, 4-4, 5-6, 7-6, 10-7.
Umpires: Jason Dixon & Matías Baibiene.
Third man: Peter Wright.
MVP: Tommy Beresford.BPP: Nova, played by Lukin Monteverde.
BPP presented by the Argentine Polo Pony Breeders Assn.: Open Pollera. Playerr: Bautista Bayugar.
BENTLEY CUP FINAL: DUBAI WOLVES BY CAFU 11-8 GHANTOOT
Dubai Wolves by CAFU: Habtoor Al Habtoor 1, Toly Ulloa 6, Teodoro Lacau 6, Jacinto Crotto 7. Total: 20.
Ghantoot Polo Team: Nasser Al Shamsi 1, Segundo Amadori 4, Pablo Llorente 6, Marcos Araya 7. Total: 18.
Score Dubai Wolves by CAFU: 1-1, 3-1, 6-3, 8-5, 11-8.
Umpires: Matías Baibiene & Peter Wright.
Third man: Jason Dixon.