The 132nd. Argentine Polo Open Championship resumed on Sunday November 23, after the rain delay, that forced to postpone the games due on Saturday November 22. The day saw La Hache Cría & Polo and Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu victorious over la Irenita La Hache and La Ensenada, respectively. Therefore, both lineups will clash for the second spot in the most important championship match of the year, next week.
The two Ulloa’s family teams, La Hache Cría & Polo and La Irenita La Hache – the latter having joined forces with the MacDonoughs, opened fire. What to expect about this match? La Irenita La Hache would play the league decider against Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu, next week; and La Hache Cría & Polo needed a win to stay within the main draw of the 2026 Triple Crown.
Both teams kicked off the game, very determined to achieve their respective goals. The first half was very hard and hard fought, with both teams exchanging goals and on each other’s tails – tha average gap between the two of them was two goals. By half time, La Hache Cría & Polo was only 8-7 ahead
Although La Irenita La Hache claimed a two goal lead by the end of the fifth chukka (11-9), things would not change that much in the second half. Led by a remarkable Joaquin Pittaluga, very well supported by Bautista Bayugar and Iñaki Laprida as well as significant contributions by Toly Ulloa, La Hache Cría & Polo demonstrated to be solid and competitive enough when it came to claim what they wanted; it is indeed a lineup that will be able to keep improving and growing in the near future.
La Irenita La Hache started the seventh chukka with two unanswered goals by Fran Elizalde, that secured a 14-11 lead; but La Hache Cría & Polo had other ideas in mind. Iñaki Laprida and Joaquin Pittaluga produced two goals each to close the gap to one goal again (13-14). Following a failed attempt to score by Toly Ulloa, the rematch came up with only six seconds to go in that chukka – a foul awarded to La Hache Cría & Polo ended up in a successful 30-yards penalty conversion by Joaquin Pittaluga, which meant that they were going to play the last chukka tied at 14-all. It was Joaquin again who converted a 40 yards penalty to secure La Hache Cría & Polo the 15-14 lead, at the start of the last chukka. La Irenita La Hache replied quickly – a penalty from the spot, courtesy of Hilario Ulloa, tied again at 15-all. The clock was running, and many were already thinking of an eventual extra chukka. But with only 30 seconds left in regulation time, Iñaki Laprida picked the ball and ran to the goalposts and produced a great goal that sealed the deal. La Hache Cría & Polo won 16-15, and achieved their goal – to stay within main draw of the 2026 Triple Crown.
The second contest of the day saw Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu and La Ensenada. The Pieres-Heguy combo aimed to reach the league decider undefeated, while La Ensenada, with no chances at all to play the final, searched for a farewell win in the 2025 Argentine Open.
The first half of the match was quite similar to the previous one – very even, very tight, reaching half time with Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu leading by just one goal, 6-5. Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu demonstrated once again that the Pieres brothers and the Heguy cousins fit to perfection – they play very well and tidy. With regards to La Ensenada, Jero del Carril’s remarkable accuracy to convert penalties was crucial to allow them to stay in the game.
After earning a 8-6 lead in the fifth chukka, with goals by cousins Antonio and Cruz Heguy, Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu took off in the sixth chukka; Antonio produced two unanswered goals to widen their advantage to 10-7, which they extended to 12-8 with one chukka remaining. In the eighth and last chukka, La Ensenada outscored Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu 4-2 with goals by Sapo Caset (3) and a penalty conversion by Jero del Carril, but the efforts didn’t pay off. At the end of the day, Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu claimed the 14-12 win, remain still undefeated and will decide League B against La Irenita La Hache next week.
THE 132ns. ARGENTNE POLO OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP WILL CONTINUE ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 24, AS FOLLOWS:
2pm: UAE vs. Los Machitos
4,30pm: La Natividad La Dolfina vs. Sol de Agosto
THE FINAL OF THE 132nd. ARGENTINE POLO OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP IS DUE ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 6.
132nd. ARGENTINE POLO OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP – Teams & Fixture
Cover photo by Matías Callejo/Prensa AAP.