POLO IN THE SNOW

The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz was a resounding success despite doubts over icedepth just weeks ago. The team worked round the clock, even using helicopters, to ensure the event lived up to the benchmark sports it is known for.

St. Moritz has played host to the world’s pre-eminent snow polo tournament since 1985. Besides being the first-ever snow polo tournament, the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz is the only “high goal” polo tournament played on snow. This year’s highlights:

DAY 1

Match 1

Azerbaijan Land of Fire vs Flexjet, 5-3 ½ to Azerbaijan Land of Fire The first match saw last year’s champions Azerbaijan Land of Fire take on Flexjet. With the team unchanged from their win in 2022, Azerbaijan Land of Fire came out of the starting gates with a well-drilled rhythm which saw powerful teamwork combined with individual skill. Tito Gaudenzi seemed in excellent form with a very impressive goal from 60 yards out. Flexjet, on the other hand, seemed hesitant and the half-time score reflected this resting at 5 goals to Azerbaijan

Land of Fire. The second half was a different matter with Flexjet finding their snow form, scoring three goals. However, it was a case of too little too late and Azerbaijan Land of Fire capitalized on their early success to bag a 5-3½ win.

St. Moritz vs World Polo League, 4½-4 to St. Moritz

The second match was a family affair with World Polo League led by Melissa Ganzi, the first-ever woman to win the tournament in 2019, joined by her son Grant; in opposition, Spencer McCarthy and his son James joined St. Moritz stalwarts and five times tournament winners, Max Charlton and Nacho Gonzalez.

World Polo League’s Melissa Ganzi, showing her experience on the ice and keeping a cool head, calmly scored from the penalty spot to get World Polo League onto the scoreboard. St. Moritz finally found their form in the fourth chukka, taking the lead for the first time in the match with just 3½ minutes left, while World Polo League were unable to reply and Nacho Gonzalez and his teammates bagged him the best birthday present with a win in their opening match.

To end a perfect day of adrenaline-fuelled action, the last two teams took to the frozen lake for the battle. Nic Roldan opened up the scoring for Clinique La Prairie with an impressive field goal and followed it up with another 3 goals to single-handedly notch up the winning 4 goals for his team. The Kusnacht Practice in reply, while strong individually, with the highest handicapped player in the tournament, Alejo Taranco, was impressive at back, and kept the pressure on throughout but notched up only 3 goals.

The sun was shining and the Perrier-Jouët flowing on day two of the Snow Polo World Cup.

The Kusnacht Practice vs. Flexjet, 5-3.5 to The Kusnacht Practice

Packed grandstands enjoyed the first match of the day between The Kusnacht Practice and Flexjet who started with a halfgoal handicap advantage. The Kusnacht Practice got off to a somewhat shaky start but soon got their flow going with Argentine Alejo Taranco, the highest-rated player in the tournament on 9 goals, notching up a hat trick of goals, while Flexjet struggled to find form and at half-time, the scoreboard read 4-1½. The talented Patrick Maleitzke was all over the action in the second half and scored for Flexjet, but even with a goal from his teammate Clemente Delfosse, it was unfortunately too little, too late, with the final score resting on 5-3½ for Kusnacht Practice – their first win in the tournament.

Azerbaijan Land of Fire vs. World Polo League, 5-4 to Azerbaijan Land of Fire

The Semi-Final between team Azerbaijan Land of Fire and team World Polo League began with the crowds standing for the Swiss National Anthem set against the stunning, sunsoaked Engadin mountains. Team Captain Elcin Jamalli raced to the goalposts to score in the opening 24 seconds, swiftly followed by Adrian Laplacette jr. combination and an under-the-neck shot from Jamalli to take it to 3-0 at the end of the first chukka – Team Azerbaijan was truly on fire. But it was not over yet, a duo of goals from Alejandro Novillo Astrada and the Queen of Snow Polo, Melissa Ganzi, saw World Polo League jump into life with a 3-3 tie at half-time. The second half was fast and frenetic – as the seconds ticked down to the final bell, it was Jamalli who seized the victory for his team with an unbelievable play to secure a 5-4 win in the dying seconds, and with it, Azerbaijan Land of Fire’s place in the Final.

Match 3

Clinique La Prairie vs. St.

The last Semi-Final of the day saw team St. Moritz take on team Clinique La Prairie for the last spot in the coveted Final and both teams meant business from the first throw-in. The fastpaced opening play saw Nacho Gonzalez score for St. Moritz, who had already received a 1½ goal handicap advantage, and the team went from strength to strength with their goal-scoring domination seemingly unstoppable. Clinique La Prairie struggled to score from the field but capitalized on their penalty opportunities, getting four on the board. Despite flashes of brilliance from Nic Roldan, Clinique La Prairie struggled to find his form and the four Englishmen comfortably emerged winners, 8½-4, securing place in the Final to jubilant cheers from the crowds.

The results of day 2 meant that St. Moritz will play Azerbaijan Land of Fire in the Final for The

Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz, Clinique La Prairie vs Kusnacht Practice in the Subsidiary Final for The St. Moritz Trophy and Flexjet vs World Polo League will play for The Casablanca Trophy (5th and 6th place).

The excitement was palpable as the most glamorous and spectacular snow polo event in the world reached its climax, with more than 25,500 spectators.

Match 1

World Polo League beat Flexjet, 7-5½

The first match of the day saw Flexjet take on World Polo League for The Casablanca Trophy in a fast and flowing match. Flexjet’s Clemente Delfosse opened the scoring, but World Polo League quickly dominated the play for the first half. After halftime, Flexjet began to flex muscles but were unable to catch the mother and son Ganzi duo’s World Polo League, who emerged winners 7-5½. Stephen Alexander, Chief Executive of Casablanca, presented the trophy to a delighted Melissa Ganzi. Match 2

Clinique La Prairie beat The Kusnacht Practice, 3-2

The record-breaking crowds were in for a treat with the second match of the day between Clinique La Prairie and The Kusnacht Practice in the Subsidiary Final for The St. Moritz Trophy. Clinique La Prairie’s Matthias Normann wasted no time in opening the scoring.

The Kusnacht Practice struggled to find form in the first half, with fantastic defense from Clinique La Prairie hampering each attempt on goal. With evenly matched teams, the match was fastflowing, open, and thrilling to watch, and the 1-0 score at halftime did not reflect the efforts of both sides. The start of the third chukka saw Alejo Taranco equalize, but he was effectively marked out of the second half.

Juan Guerrero took the lead to the delight of their supporters, which brought on frenzied efforts from Clinique La Prairie to equalize, which they managed with a strong penalty from Marc Ganzi which meant that with just 20 seconds left on the clock, the match was pushed into a sudden death, golden goal overtime period. With all to play for in this pivotal part of the match, an expectant hush fell over the crowd. After a frenetic battle for possession, a penalty was given in favor of Clinique

La Prairie which ‘The Cobra’ Ganzi effortlessly sent home to secure the second win for the Ganzi family today.

FFinal/Match 3:

Azerbaijan Land of Fire beat St. Moritz, 6-5

St. Moritz team faced last year’s winners, the well-drilled Azerbaijan Land of Fire team, in front of capacity crowds.

Sparkling sunshine, music pumping out courtesy of DJ Mr. Mike, and ‘on tap’ Perrier Jouët champagne meant the fur-clad, uber-glam spectators were in high spirits as the first ball was thrown in.

The pressure was on for Azerbaijan Land of Fire to deliver. Their line-up had also seen a tactical change of players to allow the Final to take place between teams of even handicaps. So the talented Tito Gaudenzi who plays off 2 goals and had played in the team’s two winning matches was replaced by Tarlan Gurbanaliyev for the Final.

Azerbaijan Land of Fire were determined to bag the Trophy for a second year running, whilst St. Moritz players Max Charlton and Nacho Gonzalez were both planning a sixth victory in the prestigious tournament.

As expected from the first throw-in, the action was fast-paced and passionate with fast, flowing attacking play matched with skilled, strong defense from both teams

Azerbaijan Land of Fire played from the outset with usual enthusiasm, which was matched by team St. Moritz. With little dividing the teams, it was too close to call at half-time, with the score at 3-2 to Azerbaijan Land of Fire. At the start of the fourth chukka, the scores were even and despite both teams playing off all cylinders, the result was still tied at five goals apiece at the end of the chukka. Play then went into extra time for only the second occasion in the last 15 years of the tournament’s history. Despite valiant efforts from team St. Moritz, Adrian Laplacette Jr of the Azerbaijan team converted a penalty in the golden goal period to claim the Trophy for the second year running.

The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz Trophy, sponsored by World Polo League was presented by Piero Dillier,

President of the Board of Evviva Polo St. Moritz, to the delighted Azerbaijan Land of Fire team, who each received a “Tank Française” Cartier watch. The runners-up were each presented with a voucher for a ski outfit from Fusalp by Tamara Baraghin.

Spencer McCarthy won The Best Playing Patron Award, presented by Etienne Dalancon of Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, winning a five-night stay at the exclusive resort. The Most Valuable Player was awarded to Adrian Laplacette Jr, who received a pair of Cartier sunglasses, sponsored by The World Polo League and presented by Melissa Ganzi. Whilst the Polo Times and Evivva St. Moritz Best Playing Pony was awarded by Nick Hine to Max Charlton for Cicatriz, the gelding which played so brilliantly in the third chukka and which is owned by Spencer McCarthy; Max received a bespoke pony rug and 200 Swiss Francs for the grooms. After three days of truly worldclass polo, which saw nine matches played at the highest level on the frozen lake of St. Moritz, the event drew to a close.

UAE won the IFZA Silver Cup in an exciting victory over AM Polo, marking their first title in four years. The Dubai Gold Cup Series final was played at Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club and featured two very distinct halves. Throughout the first three chukkas of play, Alia Al Maktoum’s lineup was unquestionably the dominant force, and they went into halftime with a comfortable 7-4 advantage.

https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2023/02/05/uae-polo-beat-am-polo-in-thriller-to-clinch-ifza-silver-cup-title