Ghantoot beat Habtoor by a close 7-6, and won the Ghantoot International Polo Championship, in the championship match that was held on Saturday February 8, at Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The final was played at night, with artificial lights, in order to allow Muslim players to eat and drink water, due to the holy Ramadan month.

Habtoor, who was unable to win any title thoroghout the season in the United Arab Emirates, aimed to win this cup, but, and despite the leveled scores, Ghantoot demonstrated to be a difficult contender. Habtoor was one goal up by the end of the fourth chukka, but a couple of great goals, courtesy of Gonzalo Ferrari and Juan Ambroggio, Ghantoot earned a crucial advantage over Habtoor in the fifth chukka.

But Mohammed Al Habtoot and Co. were far from giving up. With six seconds in regulation time, a great collective play ended in a goal by Bartolomé Bayugar to tie the scores at 6-all, and sent the game into extra chukka. A foul awarded to Ghantoot in OT, ended up in a 30-yards penalty, successfully converted by Marcos Araya, which meant that Ghantoot won 7-6 and captured the title.

GHANTOOT INTERNATIONAL POLO CHAMPIONSHIP – FINAL – SATURDAY MARCH 8

GHANTOOT 7-6 HABTOOR

GHANTOOT: Nasser Al Shamsi 1, Juan Ambroggio 5 (1 goal), Gonzalo Ferrari 7 (2), Marcos Araya 7 (3). Total: 20.

HABTOOR: Mohammed Al Habtoor 0 (1 gol), Bartolomé Bayugar 5 (2), Bautista Bayugar 8 (3), Juan Jauretche 7. Total: 20.

Score Ghantoot: 1-1, 2-3, 2-3, 4-5, 6-6, 7-6.

Umpires: Matías Baibiene & Peter Wright

Third man: Santiago Torreguita.

MVP: Gonzalo Ferrari.

BPP: Atrevida, ridden by Gonzalo Ferrar.

BEST POLO ARGENTINO BRED PRESENTED BY THE ARGENTINE POLO PONY BREEDERS ASSN.: JM Rania, ridden by Juan Jauretche.

RELIVE THE FINAL OF THE GHANTOOT INTERNATIONAL POLO CHAMPIONSHIP ON POLOLINE TV HERE.

GHANTOOT INTERNATIONAL POLO CHAMPIONSHIP – Teams & Fixture

Cover photo by Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club.