The Silver Cup 2020 continued with a match between Zedan Polo and Dubai Wolves Polo at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club.
The match concluded with a score of 9 goals to 7 in favour of Zedan Polo team.
Santiago Laborde of Zedan Polo scored the opening goal, and the teams were at a tie by the end of the first chukker. Spectators witnessed a tight match as Zedan Polo had a 1-goal advantage by the end of the second chukker with a beautiful backhand shot from Juan Juaretche.
The mid-chukker rolled and saw Juan Zubiaurre score 2 goals for Dubai Wolves only to be matched by Santi and Juaretche maintaining Zedan’s lead.
Habtoor Al Habtoor, patron of the Dubai Wolves team delivered 2 goals during the penultimate chukker and placed the team ahead. He further supported this lead with another goal at the beginning of the final chukker. Zedan Polo was quick to recover with 2 penalty goals and another 2, securing the win for the team.
Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series was founded in 2009 by Mohammed Al Habtoor, patron of the Habtoor Polo team.
Growing rapidly every year, the Gold Cup (Dubai Open) was recognised by the World Polo Tour (WPT); in January 2014, the WPT committee credited the Gold Cup tournament as the highest competition in terms of points within the WPT Challenge Cup category, elevating it to 50 points for the winner. 2015 marked the first time ever that the WPT upgraded the Gold Cup Tournament from ‘Challenge Cup’ to the highly coveted ‘WPT Cup’, resulting in winners receiving 60 points. In 2017, the tournament was moved up to WPT Championship Cup – the highest competition point-wise, awarding its winners with 125 points.
The Silver Cup is ranked under the WPT Cup category, with 50 points for winners and the Dubai Challenge Cup falls under the WPT Challenge Cup Category, awarding its winners with 20 points.
Mohammed Al Habtoor, Founder of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series and patron of the Habtoor Polo team, recently said: “We are proud to have reached another milestone as we celebrate a decade of high-goal polo in the UAE with the Silver Cup tournament. This achievement would not have been possible without the support of sponsors, team patrons, and the city of Dubai.”
The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2020 was kicked-off on Friday with the Silver Cup as it opened with two exciting matches with four strong teams - UAE Polo, AM/UAE Polo, Habtoor Polo and Ghantoot Polo.
The Silver Cup, an 18-goal handicap tournament, saw Tomas Panelo score the opening goal of the match and the UAE Polo team had control during the chukker given their 1.5 handicap advantage and the consecutive goals from Tommy Beresford. AM/UAE Polo worked to close in on its opponent by the third chukker as Santiago Cernadas delivered 3 goals for the team, closing halftime at 7.5 to 6 goals in favour UAE Polo.
Both teams delivered their best game with a notable score from the young Nour Abu Khadra as he shot his first goal on his debut to the high goal league. Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the patron of UAE Polo team, scored one for the team close to the end of the chukker that allowed them to maintain their lead.