Both Polo Park Zurich and Deauville International Polo Club qualified for the final of the Polo Rider Cup after claiming respective semifinal wins against Empire Polo Club and Hong Kong on Friday, June 18. The tournament, underway at Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly, sees twelve teams, up to 12 goals, compete.
The first match of the day way hard fought. Halfway into the game Empire pushed harder and put the pressure on Polo Park Zurich. However, the Swiss team had taken a crucial advantage at the start of the match, allowing them to hold Empire back and secure a spot in the final.
The second semifinal was quite different. Deauville took an overwhelming advantage at the start, going 5-0 up in the two first chukkas. Hong Kong made a comeback, narrowing the difference down to just one goal, but Pierre-Henri N’Goumou and Tete Storni scored a goal apiece to seal the deal for Deauville.
The results mean that Polo Park Zurich and Deauville will go head-to-head in Sunday’s final, playing to become the first winners of the Polo Rider Cup, the World Championship of Clubs.
THE POLO RIDER CUP IS STREAMED LIVE HERE.
POLO RIDER CUP – SEMIFINALS:
POLO PARK ZURICH 6-5 EMPIRE POLO CLUB
POLO PARK ZURICH: Richard Harris 0, Elena Venot 1, Min Podestá 7 (4 goals), Carlos Solari 4 (2).
EMPIRE POLO CLUB: Clément Smith 0, Marcos Harriott 4 (1 goal), Tito Ruiz Guiñazú 7 (4), Derek Smith 1.
Score Polo Park Zurich: 3-0, 4-2, 5-3, 6-4, 6-5.
BPP: Mia, ridden by Tito Ruiz Guiñazú.
DEAUVILLE 7-5 HONG KONG
DEAUVILLE INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB: Ulysse Eisenchteter 0 (1 goal), Patrick Eisenchteter 1, Pierre-Henri N’Goumou 6 (2), Juan José Storni 5 (4).
HONG KONG: Edouard Costes 0, Thierry Vetois 3, Adrien Le Gallo 3, Brieuc Rigaux 6 (5 goals).
Score Deauville: 2-0, 5-0, 5-3, 7-4, 7-5.
BPP: Galan, ridden by Brieuc Rigaux.
The Polo Rider Cup continues on Saturday, June 19:
11am: Moscow Polo Club vs. Las Brisas Polo Club of Chicago
1pm: La Aguada Polo Club vs. Polo Club Düsseldorf
3pm: Hamburger Polo Club vs. Evviva Polo St. Moritz
5pm: Dos Lunas Polo Club vs. Polo Club de Chantilly