The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series (Dubai Open), an 18-goal competition celebrating its 10th year anniversary under the Patronage of HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, kicked off on Monday, 21 January, as the committee conducted a live draw for the Silver Cup fixture in the Habtoor Ballroom at Habtoor Palace, LXR Hotels & Resorts.
Five tournaments fall under the umbrella of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series: the Silver Cup (18 goal), which will run from 25 January to 8 February; the Polo Masters Cup (10 goal) played from 10 to 15 February; the Julius Baer Gold Cup (18 goal), from 18 February to 8 March; the Dubai Challenge Cup (18 goal), from 15 to 30 March; and the Dubai Cup (6-8 goal), from 2 to 12 April.
The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series, held in the UAE, is one of only five tournaments in the world played in the WPT Championship Cup category, on a par with world-class events held in Argentina, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States. Founded by Chairman Mohammed Al Habtoor in 2009, the club began by hosting 10-12 goal tournaments; now, Al Habtoor has grown to welcome 18-goal teams.
Mohammed Al Habtoor, Founder of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series and patron of Habtoor Polo team, said, “I am very excited about the lineup of players in this year’s Silver Cup. The eight participating teams will feature top-ranking World Polo Tour players, including Facundo Sola (ranked 12th in the world) and Alfredo Capella Barabucci (ranked 27th in the world), who are both 9-goal players. Two 8-goal players have also confirmed their participation: Alejandro Muzzio (ranked 28th in the world) and Juan Gris Zavaleta (ranked 24th in the world), and many others have also come directly from the Argentine Open.
“The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series has long-established the United Arab Emirates position in the international arena as a top destination of the sport of kings in the world.”
The final of the Silver Cup is due on 8 February, from 1pm onwards, at Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club.
Silver Cup Teams:
Abu Dhabi Polo Team (Patron: Faris Al Yabhouni)
Desert Palm Polo Team (Patron: Rashid Al Bawardi)
Dubai Wolves (Patron: Habtoor Al Habtoor)
Ghantoot Polo Team (Patron: HH Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan)
Habtoor Polo Team (Patron: Mohammed Al Habtoor)
Mahra Polo Team (Patron: Rashid Al Habtoor)
UAE Polo Team (Patron: Her Highness Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum)
Zedan Polo Team (Patron: Amr Zedan)
The Dubai Open is the premier regional polo competition of the year, attracting VIPs, society figures, and senior corporate executives from across the region. It has grown in tandem with the city of Dubai. Since 2012, it is the only tournament in the United Arab Emirates that is recognized and certified by the World Polo Tour (WPT).
Under the WPT Challenge Cup Category, the winners of the Silver Cup are awarded 50 points, as well as 20 points within the Dubai Challenge Cup. The Gold Cup tournament is part of the WPT Championship Cup–the highest competition in terms of points–and allots 80 points to its winners. The Dubai Open is played under the banner of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), with the tournaments being played under strict international supervision according to HPA rules and provision of its umpires.
ABOUT DUBAI POLO GOLD CUP SERIES
The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series (Dubai Open) was founded in 2009 by Mohammed Al Habtoor, patron of the Habtoor Polo team. Each year the tournament reaches new heights. In 2012, the Gold Cup was recognised by the World Polo Tour (WPT), and 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. The year 2015 marked the first time ever that the WPT upgraded the Gold Cup Tournament from ‘Challenge Cup’ to the highly coveted ‘WPT Cup’, awarding winners 60 points. In 2017, the tournament moved up to WPT Championship Cup–the highest competition in terms of points, awarding winners 80 points. The Silver Cup and the Dubai Challenge Cup are ranked under the WPT Challenge Cup Category–with winners receiving 50 and 20 points, respectively.
The Dubai Gold Cup Series is proud to be the only Tournament Series with this exclusive accreditation in The GCC and MENA Region, ranking it among the best polo tournaments in the world.