In a hotly-contested championship final, Audi captured the World Polo League’s All-Star Challenge Sunday at Grand Champions Polo Club. Audi (Marc Ganzi, 1, Nic Roldan, 8, Jeta Castagnola, 10, Pancho Bensadon, 7) broke open a close game in the fifth chukker to defeat Kaia Polo (Larry Wilson, 0, Lerin Zubiaurre, 7, Mariano Aguerre, 7, Santi Toccalino, 8), 16-13.
“It was a very tough game,” Roldan said. “That team has been playing really well. They have been really successful in the past couple of games leading up to the semis.
“We knew it was going to be tough. We also knew it was going to be long,” Roldan said. “We had to give them four goals to start with. It was a game of patience and sticking to our system and executing.”
In last year’s All-Star Challenge final underdog Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, 3, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Barto Castagnola, 10, Jesse Bray, 7) defeated 2021 champion and tournament favorite Richard Mille (Gilberto Sayao, 0, Gonzalito Pieres, 9, Pablo MacDonough, 10, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7), 14-9. Argentine 10-goaler Barto Castagnola was named MVP Player after scoring a game-high 11 goals.
World Polo League action continues Wednesday with two games for the Founders Cup, which kicked off last Sunday.
FINAL FOUNDERS CUP: AUDI 16-13 KAIA POLO TEAM
AUDI: Marc Ganzi 1 (6 goals), Camilo Castagnola 10 (6), Nic Roldan 8 (3), Francisco Bensadon 7 (1). Total: 26.
KAIA POLO TEAM: Larry Austin 0, Lerin Zubiaurre 7, Mariano Aguerre 7 (1 goal), Santiago Toccalino 8 (8). Total: 22.
Score AUDI: (0-4) 4-5, 5-6, 8-6, 10-9, 14-12, 16-13.
MVP: Camilo Castagnola.
World Polo League BPP: Mas Salsa, owned and played by Mariano Aguerre.
BPP by the AACCP: Polera Famosa, played by Santiago Toccalino.
The American Polo Horse Association BPP: Catwoman, played by Camilo Castagnola.
THE FOUNDERS CUP – TEAMS:
BRACKET ONE
AUDI: Marc Ganzi 1, Camilo Castagnola 10, Nic Roldan 8, Francisco Bensadon 7. Total: 26.
LA IRENITA: Gilberto Sayao 0, Gonzalo Pieres 9, Pablo Mac Donough 10, Tomás Pieres 6. Total: 25.
SENVEST: Rob/Richard Mashaal 0, Facundo Llosa 7, Cristián Laprida 8, Pedro Falabella 7. Total: 22.
BRACKET TWO
KAIA POLO TEAM: Larry Austin 0, Lerin Zubiaurre 7, Mariano Aguerre 7, Santiago Toccalino 8. Total: 22.
CASABLANCA: Grant Ganzi 3, Rufino Bensadon 8, Sapo Caset 9, Hilario Figueras 6. Total: 26.
ALEGRÍA: Agustín Merlos 7, Sugar Erskine 6, Jason Crowder 5, Fred Mannix 7. Total: 25.
BRACKET THREE
PARK PLACE: Andrey Borodin 0, Joaquín Panelo 6, Juan Britos 9, Hilario Ulloa 10. Total: 25.
MALTESE FALCONS: Melissa Ganzi 0, Adolfo Cambiaso 10, Alejandro Novillo Astrada 7, Juan Martín Zubía 9. Total: 26.
TRAVIESO: Tony Calle 3, Felipe Vercellino 7, Martín Jáuregui 6, Juan Martin Nero 10. Total: 25.
WORLD POLO LEAGUE 2024 – FULL CALENDAR:
ALL-STAR CHALLENGE: FEB 17-25
THE FOUNDERS CUP: FEB 22 – MAR 10
PALM BEACH OPEN: MAR 6 – 23
TRIPLE CROWN OF POLO: MAR 20 – APR 13
BEACH POLO WORLD CUP MIAMI BEACH: APR 19 – 21