Casablanca defeated Alegria 14-12 and won the Founders Cup, the second competition of the 2025 World Polo League, hosted by Marc and Melissa Ganzi’s Grand Champions Polo Club, in Wellington Florida. The final took place on Sunday March 2, and the tournament saw four teams up to 26 goals, partake. It’s worth to notice that Casablanca captured their second title in a row, after winning the first of the series, the All-Star Challenge.
In a very hard fought championship match, both teams presented a tough battle thoroghout the six chukkas of play, that saw very balanced scores, with a total of eleven lead changes and many ties, until Rufino Bensadon managed to break an 11-all in the sixth chukka with three minutes remaining in regulation time. Casablanca sealed the deal in that last chukka, under the command of Sapo Caset, who produced no less than 10 goals. Caset seized the reins and produced two unanswered goals that secured Casablanca the 14-12 win and the second consecutive title of the current edition of the World Polo League.
The Subsidiary went to Travieso, after beating Maltese Falcons 9-8, in another tough contest, that ended with a goal scored by Pipe Vercellino within the last seconds of play.
FOUNDERS CUP – FINAL – SUNDAY MARCH 2
CASABLANCA 14-12 ALEGRIA
Casablanca*: Grant Ganzi 3 (1 goal), Rufino Bensadón 8 (2), Guillermo Caset 9 (10), Hilario Figueras (6). Total: 26.
*1 goal on Penalty 1.
Alegría: Nic Roldán 7 (4 goals), Jason Crowder 5 (1), Fred Mannix 7 (3), Tommy Collingwood 5 (1). Total: 24.
MVP: Guillermo Caset.
WORLD POLO LEAGUE BPP: Sapo Prada, ridden and owned by Guillermo Caset.
BEST POLO ARGENTINO BRED: Luca Penélope, ridden by Rufino Bensadon.
AMERICAN POLO HORSE ASSN. BPP: Pite Hipótesis, ridden and owned by Fred Mannix.
FOUNDERS CUP – PARTICIPATING TEAMS
Maltese Falcons: Marc Ganzi (0), Pablo Mac Donough (10), Juan Martín Nero (10), Mariano Gonzalez (5). Total: 25.
Alegría: Nic Roldán (7), Jason Crowder (5), Fred Mannix (7), Tommy Collingwood (5). Total: 24.
Casablanca: Grant Ganzi (3), Rufino Bensadón (8), Guillermo Caset (9), Hilario Figueras (6). Total: 26.
Travieso: Teo Calle (3), Felipe Vercellino (7), Juan Martín Zubía (9), Santiago Toccalino (7). Total: 26.
The two remaining tournaments of the World Polo League are the Palm Beach Open (March 5-23) and the Triple Crown of Polo (March 26-April 12).