MAG and Park Place qualified to the semifinals of the US Open Polo Championship,the most important tournament of the United States and the highlight of the prestigious Gauntlet of Polo. In the last quarter final games, played on Sunday April 16, MAG at the USPA-owned National Polo Center Wellington, in Wellington, Florida, MAG narrowly beat La Fe while Park Place claimed a win over La Elina. The culminating contest of the polo season in the United States sees thirteen teams up to 22 goals, split in five leagues, in participation.
MAG, the Magrini brothers lineup (Kristos and Santino) managed to beat La Fe by a narrow 12-11. The latter remained in the lead thoroghout five chukkas, having reached a comfortable 11-8 advantage by the start of the last chukka. But MAG had another ideas in mind; they made an impressive comeback to outscore La Fe 3-1, which led them to the tight 12-11 win. It is worth noting that MAG already defeated La Fe in the league stage, on March 29, and by the same score. Up next, Park Place, the 2022 semifinalist, defeated La Elina, runner up in 2022, by a 14-9 score.
SUNDAY APRIL 16
QUARTER FINA #3 – MAG 12-11 LA FE
MAG: Santino Magrini 4, Keko Magrini 5, Santi Toccalino 8, Nachi Viana 5. Total: 22.
La Fe: Louis Devaleix 1, Lucas Diaz Alberdi 6, Francisco Elizalde 9, Robi Bilbao 6. Total: 22.
Score MAG: 2-4, 3-5, 3-7, 7-10, 8-11, 12-11.
Umpires: Kimo Huddleston & Gastón Lucero. Third man: Steve Dalton.
BPP: Inocencia, ridden by Francisco Elizalde.
QUARTER FINAL #4 – PARK PLACE 14-9 LA ELINA
Park Place: Andrey Borodin 0, Juan Britos 9, Hilario Ulloa 10, Jason Wates, 3. Total: 22.
La Elina: Jared Zenni 6, Jeff Hall 6, Matt Coppola 5, Nico Escobar 5. Total: 22.
Score Park Place: 4-1, 4-3, 7-5, 10-6, 10-8, 14-9.
Umpires: Martín Pascual & Héctor Galindo. Third man: Julian Appleby.
Sunday Game Awards:
MVP: Jason Wates.
BPP: Latia Kavaska, ridden by Hilario Ulloa.
IMAGES
QF #3 & #4 – MAG vs. La Fe // Park Place vs. La Elina
The road to the championship match of the US Open Polo Championship is due on THURSDAY APRIL 20, with the following order of play:
1,30pm: Valiente vs. Pilot
4pm: Park Place vs. MAG
The final of the US Open Polo Championship will take place on Sunday April 23.