The Gold Cup 2022 (Dubai Open) was announced on Tuesday, February 8, during a press conference and live draw at Al Habtoor Polo Resort hotel. The event welcomed sponsors, media, and participating teams.
The Dubai Open forms part of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series, the most prestigious polo event in Asia and the Middle East, held under the Patronage of HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
The tournament is set to kick off on Monday, February 14. The finals are set for Saturday, March 5. Eight teams, up to 18 goals, will battle for the coveted title. Abu Dhabi and Ghantoot join the teams that played the Bentley Emirates Silver Cup in fighting for the Dubai Open title.
Now in its thirteenth edition, the tournament is recognised and certified by the World Polo Tour (WPT). The Gold Cup forms part of the WPT Championship Cup, one of the competition that awards the most points. The winner will get 125 points, while 65 points will go to the finalists, 45 points go to the semi-finalists, and 30 points other participating players. The Gold Cup is the only tournament in the UAE that is played on par to similar competitions in Argentina, Spain, UK and USA: under the rules of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) and the supervision of its umpires.
Mohammed K. Al Habtoor, Vice Chairman & CEO of Al Habtoor Group, founder of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series and patron of Habtoor Polo Team was joined by His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council; Gareth Bernett-Jones, Managing Director of Auto Millennium Group; and Santiago Torreguitar, Tournament Director of the UAE Polo Federation.
“We are proud to host another year of the Dubai Open,” said Mohammed Al Habtoor. “The tournament has grown from a 10-12 goal tournament in 2009 to an internationally recognised 18 goal tournament in the Middle East since 2015. The milestones that we have achieved over the years were made possible thanks to the confidence of our sponsors, polo patrons, and athletes. The last two years were as challenging for us as for the rest of the world, and yet we continue to tread in to our thirteenth consecutive year, hosting a world-class polo event that will serve as an impetus to developing a new generation of polo athletes in the country.”
THE GOLD CUP (DUBAI OPEN) WILL BE STREAMED LIVE ON POLOLINE TV.
GOLD CUP (DUBAI OPEN) – TEAMS:
ABU DHABI: Faris Al Yabhouni 0, Segndo Amadori 4, Jerónimo del Carril 7, Santiago Cernadas 7.
AM POLO: Sheikha Alia 0, Pablo Urquiza 4, Benjamín Urquiza 6, Alejandro Muzzio 8.
BANGASH DODSON & HORRELL: Haider Bangash 0, Federico Von Potobsky 5, Benjamín Panelo 7, Nicolás Corti Maderna 5.
CLINOVA SCONE: Raja Karim 0 / David Paradice 0, Marwan Elafandy 1, Guillermo Terrera 9, Facundo Fernandez Llorente 8.
DUBAI WOLVES BY CAFU: Habtoor Al Habtoor 1, Alfredo Cappella 8, Toly Ulloa 6, Charles Cooney 3.
GHANTOOT: Nasser Al Shamsi 1, Kian Hall 3, Pablo Llorente 7, Marcos Araya 7.
HABTOOR: Mohammed Al Habtoor 0, Bautista Bayugar 8, Juan Jauretche 6, Matías González 4.
UAE POLO: Sheika Maitha 0, Lukin Monteverde 5, Tommy Beresford 6, Jacinto Crotto 7.
ZEDAN: Amr Zedan 0, Tomás Panelo 7, Manuel Plaza 6, Gonzalo Ferrari 5.