The Dutta Corp, recent champions of the CV Whitney Cup – and La Fe earned wins in the opening day of the US Open Polo Championship, that commenced on Wednesday April 1, at the National Polo Center (NPC), set in Wellington, Florida, United States. The tournament, the highlight of The Gauntlet Of Polo and one of the three Grand Slams of Polo alongside the Argentine Open and the British Open for the Cowdray Gold Cup, sees eleven teams up to 22 goals, partake. Teams are split in two leagues.
The Dutta Corp and Pilot opened fire, in a very balanced match until the fourth chukka; in the fourth chukka, The Dutta Corp outscored Pilot 3-1, to remain four goals ahead. Despite Pilot’s efforts in the last chukka to get back in the score, Timmy Dutta & Co., managed to claim their first win. Up next, La Fe played a remarkable last chukka to beat Park Place – with Hazel Jackson and Jason Wates subbing in for Andrey Borodin and Mariano Obregon, respectively. Park Place maintained the lead until the third chukka. Things started to change in the fourth when La Fe – who had Lucio Fernández Ocampo filling in for Robbie Bilbao – tied at 6-all. However, a reinforced Park Place, re-took the lead in the penultimate chukka, 8-6. But far from giving up, La Fe played an epic sixth chukka – Louis Devaileux’s team outscored Park Place 2-1 to seal the deal. and take home the 10-7 victory.
THE US OPEN WILL CONTINUE AS FOLLOWS:
- Thursday April 2
11am: DUS vs. BTA
1,30pm: La Dolfina Tamera vs. Clinova The Sandbox
5pm: La Dolfina Scone vs. Clarwater
- Saturday April 4
12pm: Park Place (0-1) vs. Coca Cola
5pm: La Fe (1-0) vs. The Dutta Corp (1-0)
- Sunday April 5
11am: Clinova The Sandbox vs. Clearwater
1,30pm: La Dolfina Tamera vs. DUS
The US Open Polo Championship is indeed the crown jewel of polo in the United States. The tournament was played for the first time in 1904, at Van Conrtlandt Park, in the Bronx borough of New York City, and showcased only two teams partake, The Wanderers and The Freeboters. Four 15-minute chukkers were played, with a seven-minute break between each chukker. After a pause, the US Open resumed in 1910, when six teams played at Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island; it remained there for several years until it was relocated it what would be the tournament’s longtime home, Meadowbrook Polo Club in Old Westbury, New York. In 1954, the US Open moved to Oak Brook, where it remained for 22 years, followed by an eight year-stint at the Retama Polo Center in San Antonio, Texas. In the 1980s and the 1990s, it was held in several clubs throughout the United States, until 2004, which marked the centenary of the US Open. By then, the contest was relocated to Wellington, Florida, where it has been held ever since. The U.S. Open Polo Championship perpetual trophy was first presented in 1910. Stolen in 2002, it was recovered a few weeks later and is currently kept in the care and custody of the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in Lake Worth, Florida.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH OF THE US OPEN IS SET TO BE PLAYED ON SUNDAY APRIL 26.
US OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP – Teams & Fixture
2026 GAUNTLET OF POLO – FULL CALENDAR
CV WHITNEY CUP
February 13-March 1
Winners: The Dutta Corp.
USPA GOLD CUP
March 4-April 5 (the final originaly set to be played on Sunday March 29, was delayed due to rains, and rescheduled for Sunday April 5)
US OPEN
April 1-26
Cover photo by Agustina Fonda.