It is the final countdown US Open Polo Championship, the most important tournament of the United States and the highlight of the prestigious Gauntlet of Polo. The semifinals are set to be played on Thursday April 20, at the USPA-owned National Polo Center Wellington, in Wellington, Florida. Reingning champions, Pilot, Valiente, Park Place and MAG, will go head-to-head for the two spots in one of the most remarkable championship games of the international polo calendar. The culminating contest of the polo season in the United States sees thirteen teams up to 22 goals, split in five leagues, in participation.
Both teams went through different paths towards the semifinals; for the current title holders, it was a long a winding road, having reached a 2-2 record by the time of the quarter finals. It was much easier for Valiente, led by the one and only Adolfo Cambiaso; the Colorado-based lineup remains unbeaten. It is north to note that Valiente and Pilot teams have already met in the final of the CV Whitney Cup, on February 26, the opening competition of The Gauntlet of Polo, with the former victorious 10-9. Up next, Park Place, one of the most powerful organisations, will clash against one of the biggest suprises in the US, MAG, the Magrini brothers team (Santino and Kristos). Like Valiente, both Park Place and MAG are still unbeaten.
US OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP – SEMIFINALS – THURSDAY APRIL 20
1.30pm: PILOT vs. VALIENTE
Pilot: Curtis Pilot 0, Matias Gonzalez 4, Facundo Pieres 10, Matias Torres Zavaleta 8. Total: 22
Valiente: Bob Jornayvaz 0, Peke Gonzalez 6, Lucas Criado Jr. 6, Adolfo Cambiaso 10 . Total: 22.
Umpires: Kimo Huddleston & Gastón Lucero. Third man: Martín Pascual.
4pm: PARK PLACE vs. MAG
Park Place: Andrey Borodin 0, Juan Britos 9, Hilario Ulloa 10, Jason Wates, 3. Total: 22.
MAG: Santino Magrini 4, Keko Magrini 5, Santi Toccalino 8, Nachi Viana 5. Total: 22.
Umpires: Julian Appleby & Martín Pascual. Third man: Steve Dalton.
The final of the US Open Polo Championship will take place on Sunday April 23.