How time flies! Here we go, the 132nd. Argentine Polo Open Championship, the most important polo tournament in the world that’s underway at Palermo, the Cathedral, is stepping into the last stages, with significant games to be played both on ground 2 and ground 1.
The two teams that will be able to clash for the most coveted polo trophy worldwide will be revealed through Saturday November 29 and Sunday November 30. But the two games due on ground two are very significant as well – this means that depending on the results, there are a couple of lineups who could be dropped of next year’s competition.
Let’s give a look at what’s expected.
- League A – Saturday November 29
La Zeta Kazak and Los Machitos will open fire on ground 2. Everything’s well on Los Machitos headquarters; they have 4.000 points in the general standings, so they are able to play the 2026 Triple Crown. For La Zeta Kazak is more difficult – they have 2.800 points, and although they beat Sol de Agosto on November 15, they need a win in order not to be dropped from next year’s competition.
La Natividad La Dolfina vs. UAE will be the follow-up, in the first league decider; a very much expected clash of the unbeaten, although very different. La Natividad La Dolfina – winners of the Hurlingham Open and the Tortugas Open – have been undefeated thoroghout the whole Triple Crown, sweeping every contender. The Cañuelas foursome have their sights on a sole objective – reach the final in order to win the Triple Crown. In the meantime, UAE will attempt to avoid it.
- League B – Sunday November 30
Sunday’s opening match is also crucial – La Ensenada vs. La Dolfina II. The latter is tied on points with La Zeta Kazak (2.800), and they also need to win. With regards to La Ensenada, and despite they will play the 2026 Triple Crown, they were unable to win at Palermo, and will go for a farewell victory. Fact – La Dolfina II already won one match, against La Hache Cría & Polo on November 17, and they have a sort of missile named Gonzalo Ferrari, who happened to sub in for La Ensenada’s Sapo Caset in Hurlingham and Tortugas, while the latter was recovering from an injury he suffered during the last Open de France.
The second league decider will see Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu and La Irenita La Hache. While the former is unbeaten, La Irenita La Hache were unable to reach the results they expected in this Triple Crown. And although the kicked off Palermo with a remarkable win, the next two games they lost Pablo MacDonough, due to a broken collarbone; his place was taken by his nephew Matias MacDonough Jr, “Vizcacha”. And last week they lost to their “younger brother”, La Hache Cría & Polo. However, Pablo will be back on the saddle to play the league decider.
THE ORDER OF PLAY OF THE LAST MATCHDATES OF THE 132nd. ARGENTINE POLO OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE WEEKEND, ARE THE FOLLOWING:
- SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29
2pm: Los Machitos vs. La Zeta Kazak
4,30pm: La Natividad La Dolfina vs. UAE (league decider)
- SUNDAY NOVEMBER 30
2pm: La Ensenada vs. La Dolfina II
4,30pm: Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufu vs. La Irenita La Hache (league decider)
THE FINAL OF THE 132nd. ARGENTINE POLO OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP IS DUE ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 6.
132nd. ARGENTINE POLO OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP – Teams & Fixtur
Cover photo, La Natividad La Dolfina vs. UAE, 2025 final of the Hurlingham Ope, by Matías Callejo/Prensa AAP.