Dubai Wolves and AM Polo secure spots in Silver Cup qualifiers

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The second day of the 13th edition of the Silver Cup featured two games at the grounds of Al Habtoor Polo Club.

The first match of the day was between Dubai Wolves by Cafu and Bangash Dodson & Horrell Polo.

Habtoor Al Habtoor, the patron of the Dubai Wolves, scored the first goal of the game and the team earned a three-goal lead with consecutive goals from Teodoro Lacau and Carlos Ulloa.

Tomasito Llorente Jr. tried to cut the gap during the second chukker, but the Wolves kept their lead.

Haider Bangash, the patron of Bangash Polo, saved a penalty shot and inched the team closer by halftime. The last two chukkers saw the Dubai Wolves by Cafu take over the game with 8 goals and sealed the win for the wolf pack at 14 goals to 8.

The next game between AM Polo and UAE Polo teams saw Isidro Strada take the lead for AM Polo by the end of the first chukker, and the teams were tied at 3 goals before halftime. Tommy Beresford took the lead for UAE Polo during the third chukker; and Lucas Monteverde Jr. displayed skills that drove home 3 back-to-back goals during the penultimate chukker.

AM Polo managed to tie the scores close to the end of the game and ultimately snatched the win with a last second goal from Cesar Crespo.

Silver Cup is the first tournament of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series (DPGCS) being played at a 20-goal handicap for the first time since its inception 13 years ago.

Five tournaments fall under the umbrella of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series including Silver Cup Gold Cup, Dubai Challenge Cup, Polo Masters Cup, and Dubai Cup.

The World Polo Tour (WPT) recognises all the tournaments played under the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series and ranks them amongst the top polo competitions in the world.

The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series started in 2009 with tournaments carrying a handicap of 10-12 goals and has grown to host teams playing in 20-goal handicap matches, which are on a par with world-class polo events held in Argentina, USA, UK, and Spain.

The final of the Silver Cup will take place on February 4. Five teams are taking part in the competition including UAE Polo Team AM Polo Team, Bangash Polo Team, Dubai Wolves, and Habtoor Polo Team.

The Silver Cup 2023 is being played under the banner of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), with strict international supervision according to the HPA rules and provision of its umpires.

The tournament falls under World Polo Tour’s WPT Cup Category, where winners will be awarded 60 points, finalists with 30 points, semi-finalists with 15 points and remaining players with 8 points.