The World Polo League opens its sixth season Saturday at Grand Champions Polo Club. The WPL continues to make history as the only 26-goal polo played outside of Argentina. The star-studded league has attracted some of the world’s top players including 10-goalers Pablo Mac Donough, Camilo Castagnola and Juan Martin Nero; 9-goalers Juan Martin Zubia, Sapo Caset and Gonzalito Pieres; 7-goaler Alejandro Novillo Astrada; and hometown favorite Nic Roldan, the second highest ranked American at 8 goals. The world-class league will run through April 21.
In the season-opener, Saturday at 11am, Travieso plays Kaia Polo at GCPC’s Field 3 in the single-elimination tournament. Last year Casablanca started off the eight-team tournament as underdogs and finished as champions. Casablanca posted an impressive 14-9 victory over 2021 champion and tournament favorite Richard Mille.
ALL STAR CHALLENGE – TEAMS:
ALEGRÍA: Sugar Erskine 6, Jason Crowder 5, Felipe Vercellino 7, Fred Mannix 7. Total: 25.
AUDI: Marc Ganzi 1, Camilo Castagnola 10, Nic Roldan 8, Francisco Bensadon 7. Total: 26.
CASABLANCA: Grant Ganzi 3, Rufino Bensadon 8, Guillermo Caset 9, Hilario Figueras 6. Total: 26.
KAIA POLO TEAM: Larry Austin 0, Lerin Zubiaurre 7, Mariano Aguerre 7, Santiago Toccalino 8. Total: 22.
LA IRENITA: Gilberto Sayao 0, Gonzalo Pieres 9, Pablo Mac Donough 10, Tomás Pieres 6. Total: 25.
MALTESE FALCONS: Melissa Ganzi 0, Martín Jauregui 6, Alejandro Novillo Astrada 7, Juan Martin Nero 10. Total: 23.
SENVEST: Rob/Richard Mashaal 0, Facundo Llosa 7, Cristián Laprida 8, Pedro Falabella 7. Total: 22.
TRAVIESO: Teo Calle 1, Agustín Merlos 7, Ignacio Novillo Astrada 8, Juan Martín Zubía 9. Total: 25.
ALL-STAR CHALLENGE – FULL FIXTURE:
Saturday Feb 17:
11am: Travieso vs Kaia Polo Team, at GCPC Field 3
Sunday Feb 18:
10:30am: Alegria vs Maltese Falcons, at GCPC Field 1
1pm: Casablanca vs Audi, at GCPC Field 3
4pm: La Irenita vs Senvest, at GCPC Field 2
Wednesday Feb 21:
Semifinals
Sunday Feb 25:
4pm: WPL All-Star Challenge Final, at GCPC Field 2
WORLD POLO LEAGUE 2024 – FULL CALENDAR
ALL-STAR CHALLENGE: FEB 17-25
THE FOUNDERS CUP: FEB 22 – MAR 10
PALM BEACH OPEN: MAR 6 – 23
TRIPLE CROWN OF POLO: MAR 20 – APR 13
BEACH POLO WORLD CUP MIAMI BEACH: APR 19 – 21
During the winter polo season, Grand Champions Polo Club, nestled in the heart of the world’s winter equestrian capital, hosts a wide range of tournaments: 6, 8, 12, 20, and 26-goal leagues, The Polo School Women’s Polo League, WCT Finals, several PTF junior tournaments, World Polo League, World Polo League Pride and Sunset Chukkers & Cocktails at both Grand Champions and Santa Rita.